“If anyone can say 'go back,' it's Native Americans. My Pueblo ancestors, despite being targeted at every juncture - despite facing famine and drought - still inhabit this country today. But indigenous people aren't asking anyone to go back to where they came from.”

American politician, governor-elect of New Mexico

Debra Anne Haaland is an American politician and enrolled member of the Laguna Pueblo. She is the governor-elect of New Mexico and has served in national and state Democratic politics. Haaland served as the 54th United States secretary of the interior from 2021 to 2025. Before that, she represented New Mexico’s 1st congressional district in the U.S. House from 2019 to 2021 and led the New Mexico Democratic Party from 2015 to 2017. Her public work places her at the center of Indigenous representation and New Mexico politics.