People have asked Linda Vanzi if she is Mexican, Italian, Greek and even Swedish.

The only people who are certain they know Vanzi are Transportation Security Administration and customs officials she’s encountered in the Americas, “nearly all of whom have treated me as a suspect to be interrogated and, with any luck, detained,” she said.

The exception, Vanzi said, are Canadian customs officials, “who are mostly Pakistanis and just wave me along when I go through security there.” She was born in Karachi, Pakistan.

On Tuesday afternoon, Vanzi addressed a joint session of the New Mexico Senate and House of Representatives to commemorate New Mexico Asian American Pacific Islander and Native Hawaiian Day. Multiple community organizations also hosted performances and information tables in the Rotunda.

Vanzi in 2004 became the first Asian-American appointed as a district court judge in New Mexico. She was also the first Asian-American person to serve on the New Mexico Court of Appeals, and “that distinction still holds, unfortunately,” she noted.

“Asians, Pacific Islanders and Native Hawaiians living in New Mexico and elsewhere in the United States feel invisible because we often are so,” Vanzi said. “At the same time, there are very good reasons we fear being seen, given the discrimination, racism and violence inflicted on us at different times throughout history.”

The joint session was presided over by House Majority Floor Leader Rep. Reena Szczepanski (D-Santa Fe), who was the first Asian American to serve in legislative leadership in New Mexico.

It was the second-ever joint session held to commemorate New Mexico Asian American Pacific Islander and Native Hawaiian Day, Szczepanski said.

“In a very real, practical sense, no one really belongs until we all do,” Vanzi said. “Belonging is something that is created and evolves through action, an undertaking that is not without risk, but in order to have a meaningful life, absolutely worth it.”

Bill watch

The House Rural Development, Land Grants and Cultural Affairs Committee unanimously agreed to endorse a proposal to make August officially red and green chile month.

Five lawmakers and the state’s attorney general on Monday introduced a proposed constitutional amendment designed to create more accountability for university boards of regents and administrators.

In all, legislative committees passed 16 bills, including the creation of a licensing enforcement agency, changes to how public schools are funded, and raises for educators.

The package of three behavioral health bills had an initial hearing before the Senate Finance Committee Tuesday, but lawmakers will have additional time and hearings to consider them. 

In a call with Source NM, Senate Majority Leader Peter Wirth (D-Santa Fe) said the plan is still to expedite the passage of the behavioral health package in the Senate, and criminal competency package on the House side within the session’s first 30 days. 

“I’m hoping we could get this on the floor of the Senate by the end of next week, and then over to the House,” Wirth said. “I’m feeling optimistic about that.”

Reporter Danielle Prokop contributed reporting to this story.