Los Alamos Reporter

House Passes Immigrant Safety Act

HOUSE DEMOCRATS NEWS RELEASE

Today, the House passed the Immigrant Safety Act by a vote of 40-29. House Bill 9 would prevent New Mexico state and local governments from contracting with federal Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE) to detain individuals for civil immigration violations. 

The bill would also prohibit state and local governments from entering into agreements to deputize local officers or employees to perform immigration functions. It would not interfere with law enforcement’s authority to detain individuals for criminal charges or investigatory purposes. 

“More than a thousand people are currently being held in ICE detention facilities for civil immigration violations right here in our backyard – many in horrific, inhumane conditions,” said lead sponsor Rep. Eleanor Chávez (D-Albuquerque). “House Bill 9 will reinforce protections for New Mexico’s immigrant communities amid a tremendous amount of fear and uncertainty at the federal level.” 

Bill sponsors also include Reps. Angelica Rubio (D-Las Cruces), Andrea Romero (D-Santa Fe), Marianna Anaya (D-Albuquerque), and Senator Joseph Cervantes (D-Las Cruces). HB 9 now heads to the Senate. 

“The Immigrant Safety Act is about protecting our friends, our neighbors, and our family members from pain and suffering at the hands of untrained, unchecked, masked federal agents and for-profit detention facilities,” said co-sponsor Rep. Angelica Rubio (D-Las Cruces). “New Mexico is making a clear statement that we want no part of the Trump administration’s chaotic and increasingly violent deportation machine.” 

HB 9 is one of several bills House Democrats have introduced this session to ensure all New Mexicans feel safe in their communities. A non-comprehensive list of these legislative priorities is below. 

The Roundhouse will be open to the public for the entirety of this year’s 30-day session. Members of the public can also view floor sessions and committee meetings on the New Mexico Legislature’s Webcasts tab, and provide comment via phone or Zoom as directed on the daily schedule.   

Select Community Safety Priorities 

A non-comprehensive list of community safety investments and legislation that has or will be introduced by House Democrats this session includes: 

  • Preventing the state from contracting with private ICE detention facilities to detain innocent immigrants, through the Immigrant Safety Act (HB 9) 
  • Addressing the identification and accountability of federal ICE agents
  • Ensuring routine state surveillance data cannot be misused by ICE (SB 40, SB 53)
  • Addressing juvenile justice proactively, with age-appropriate accountability measures and improved services for at-risk youth
  • Implementing commonsense gun safety solutions, like closing loopholes that allow dangerous individuals to have access to firearms (HB 67, HB 25, HB 49)
  • Continuing investments in law enforcement and our communities to address root causes of crime (HB 2)
  • Increasing penalties for vehicular homicide while driving recklessly or carelessly (HB 162)
  • Combating human trafficking by requiring lodging facilities to display posters with hotline numbers and to train all staff on how to identity and report trafficking (HB 147)