In 1956, President Eisenhower held a White House Conference to develop ways for promoting positive international relations and world peace. Plans were forged for the organization of worldwide sister cities, intended to promote friendship and international understanding through "People to People" contacts.

Today, over 1,000 US cities are paired with more than 1,700 foreign cities, involving all 50 states and 122 foreign countries.

Las Cruces has two Sister Cities Affiliations:

Lerdo, Mexico- since 1982, formalized in 1989

Nienburg, Germany- since 1993, formalized in 1995

In 1994, the Las Cruces Sister Cities Foundation was formed as a private, non-profit 501 (c)3 organization to oversee and coordinate all sister city affiliations.

Each sister city has its own committee, which serves as the liaison, arranges the exchanges and sets the programs for that affiliation.

The Las Cruces Sister Cities Foundation spans all religious, economic and political lines to bring people together. The Foundation facilitates opportunities for citizens to travel to our sister cities, participate in exchanges, host guests from these cities, share information, develop greater understanding of different cultures and form many special friendships.