You all provided some great perspective on the unique challenges that your communities face in light of the pandemic, as well as the work being done to meet those challenges. The main concerns that we discussed were the lack of accessible testing and education, as well as the possible spread between multigenerational households and those of differing citizenship status.

    Bertha Silva was able to provide some great information on testing sites, which are essential information to pass along to your families and neighbors! We’ll keep you updated and pass along that information as it becomes available.

    The Children, Youth and Families Department has a great resource page for those with children in school! Those resources are available in English and Spanish at https://cyfd.org/news/covid-19 and they cover topics from how to talk to your children about COVID-19, how to create meaningful family time, and how to learn at home successfully! In particular, there is a video available here for how to visit with family. Beyond that video, the official guidance from NM DOH is 

… New Mexico residents who have left the state for less than twenty-four hours for matters attendant to parenting responsibilities; minor children who visit or live part-time with a parent residing in a neighboring state... Notwithstanding the foregoing, any person who leaves or enters the State for... out-of-state parental visitation, education, or court order shall self-quarantine upon arriving or returning to this state.

We at Health Action New Mexico passed along your concerns about differing citizenship status and were able to get some information from the New Mexico Center on Law and Poverty. A formal “Know Your Rights” flyer is on it’s way, but in the meantime, here are some things to know:

1. COVID testing does not violate public charge restrictions

2. If you are not a permanent resident, don’t apply for testing coverage: EMSA only covers testing and hospital/ICU related COVID-19 treatment.

3. Nobody should get a bill for testing and people don’t have to apply for coverage - payments are taken from the provider, not the patient

4. You do not need to provide a SSN to get testing results back - it is unlikely that DHS will use this information for immigration enforcement, but providing a SSN is optional for the purpose of testing and treatment.

If you or someone you know has been required to give a SSN or immigration information for testing or treatment for COVID, please report that immediately to the New Mexico Center on Law and Poverty and the New Mexico Immigrant Law Center

New Mexico Center on Law and Poverty: +1(505) 255-2840,

, 924 Park Avenue, SW | Suite C | Albuquerque, NM 87102

New Mexico Immigrant Law Center: +1(505) 247-1023, 625 Silver Ave. SW | Suite. 410 | Albuquerque, NM 87102