New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham is considering legislation to ban federal immigration detention centers in the state, a move that has sparked concern among both Republicans and Democrats. The governor expressed interest in a special legislative session to address this issue along with federal budget cuts affecting healthcare benefits for New Mexicans.
State Sen. Crystal Diamond Brantley, a Republican, criticized the potential legislation as a misuse of taxpayer dollars for political gain. "Right now, our president has taken illegal immigration to [the] lowest numbers ever, and it is visible down here on the border," she told The Daily Signal.
During New Mexico's 2025 legislative session from January to March, a bill was proposed to prevent state and local governments from contracting with the federal government for detaining illegal aliens. Although it passed the Democrat-controlled House, it stalled in the Senate. Holly Agajanian, general counsel for the governor’s office, indicated that Lujan Grisham might renew efforts to pass similar legislation.
Democratic State Sen. Joseph Cervantes voiced concerns about relocating migrants out of New Mexico. He said that while conditions at detention centers need addressing, sending migrants elsewhere could result in worse treatment. "We really have no opportunity to assure that those individuals are being held in humane conditions," he said.
Despite these concerns, Brantley does not foresee bipartisan support strong enough to block such legislation if brought to vote. State Rep. Christine Chandler noted that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents tend to make more arrests when detention centers are nearby.
Closing these centers could impact crime-fighting efforts and lead to job losses, according to Brantley. She highlighted New Mexico's high violent crime rate and recent drug busts as evidence of ongoing challenges.
State Sen. Gabriel Ramos expressed worries about the potential economic impact on counties relying on federal inmate services if ICE contracts were terminated. "We’ve done so much to secure our borders," Ramos said, emphasizing his opposition to changes that might reverse progress.
Gov. Lujan Grisham's office did not respond to requests for comment on this matter.
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