New Mexico State Senator Bill Sharer said Senate Bill 36, which was passed by Democrats, undermines federal law enforcement and prioritizes illegal immigrants over citizen safety. Sharer made these remarks in Santa Fe, New Mexico, on February 24, 2025.
"They are politicizing the enforcement of federal laws," said William Sharer. "I, alongside my fellow Republican lawmakers, support legal immigration into the United States. This measure puts the protection of illegal immigrants over the safety of New Mexico citizens."
Senate Bill 36 prohibits employees of New Mexico state agencies from disclosing sensitive personal information such as public assistance status, gender identity, medical conditions, and immigration status. Violators of this bill face civil penalties ranging from $250 per incident to a maximum of $5,000. As of February 21, 2025, the bill has passed the Senate and is currently under review by the House Government, Elections & Indian Affairs Committee.
According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection data from December 2024, the U.S. Border Patrol recorded 47,330 encounters between ports of entry. The total number of irregular encounters at the southwest border reached 52,082 during that period. From June to December of the same year, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) removed or returned over 271,000 individuals to more than 160 countries through Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), which conducted over 860 repatriation flights. In fiscal year 2024 alone, DHS completed approximately 700,000 removals and returns.
The Southwest Public Policy Institute reports that illegal immigration costs New Mexico taxpayers $717 million annually. This figure is based on data from the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR) and covers expenses related to education, healthcare, and law enforcement. Nationwide figures indicate that educating children of illegal immigrants cost $68.1 billion in 2019 while healthcare for approximately 5.8 million uninsured illegal immigrants costs $7 billion annually. The net fiscal drain per illegal immigrant is estimated at $68,000 over a lifetime despite some tax contributions.
Sharer's website indicates he is a former U.S. Army officer and business owner who has represented Farmington in the New Mexico State Senate since 2000. He is an alumnus of both the New Mexico Military Institute and New Mexico State University.
