Leonardo Castañeda is the director of the Office of New Americans (ONA) at the New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions. The ONA started in late 2024 with a focus on the intersection of immigration and work and in that time has trained hundreds of businesses and workers on evolving immigration policies; launched an immigration law workforce training program; and led a research project to better understand the needs and aspirations of New Mexico’s immigrant workers. Prior to joining the ONA, Castañeda was a policy advocate and communications professional at the ACLU of New Mexico following a journalism career in California covering demographics, immigration and government accountability. He lives in Albuquerque with his partner and their overreactive dog and can be found most weekends at any number of estate sales and possibly haunted antique stores.