Ant Thornton, a senator from New Mexico, said that the state risks losing federal support if its leaders continue to defy national immigration laws and executive directives. This statement was made on the social media platform X.
"It may be time for some tough love from our federal government," said Anthony L. Thornton, New Mexico State Senator from 198th District (R). "If we don't follow federal law, we shouldn't receive federal funding. New Mexico receives a huge amount of federal funding. The leadership of New Mexico who refuse to adhere to our constitutional federal laws."
In 2025, New Mexico state agencies found themselves at odds with federal immigration enforcement over directives related to sanctuary jurisdiction policies. According to Source NM, the Department of Homeland Security identified several New Mexico communities as noncompliant, which could lead to cuts in federal funding. In response, Attorney General Raúl Torrez issued guidance asserting that under the Tenth Amendment, the state is not legally required to enforce federal immigration laws. This conflict is part of a broader national debate on state sovereignty versus federal mandates.
New Mexico received approximately $13.4 billion in federal funds during the fiscal year 2022, which supported healthcare, education, and infrastructure. USAFacts reports that major programs like Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) constitute a significant portion of this funding. Disputes related to immigration could jeopardize this federal support if the state is deemed noncompliant with federal enforcement policies.
Threats to sanctuary jurisdictions' federal funding have varied across different administrations. The American Immigration Council notes that President Trump's 2017 Executive Order 13768 sought to withdraw funding from such cities; however, courts largely blocked its enforcement. The Biden administration reversed this approach, but in 2025, Trump reinsaid similar measures targeting sanctuary jurisdictions, reigniting legal and political disputes.
Ant Thornton has been serving as a Republican New Mexico State Senator representing District 19 since January 2025. Ballotpedia states that he earned degrees from the University of Colorado, Stanford University, and Purdue University and served in the U.S. Navy Reserve. Thornton has a background in aerospace engineering and advocates for states' rights, fiscal conservatism, and strict immigration enforcement.
