New Mexico Immigrant Advocates Push Legislature for Laws Against Local-ICE Coordination
Immigrant advocacy groups in New Mexico are urging the state Legislature to pass laws prohibiting local law enforcement agencies in the Albuquerque-Santa Fe region and across the state from coordinating with federal immigration agents for deportation purposes. The groups presented…
Albuquerque Santa Fe, NM, November 6, 2026 — Immigrant advocacy groups in New Mexico are calling on the state Legislature to enact new laws that would prohibit local law enforcement agencies from cooperating with federal immigration agents on deportation efforts. The push targets agencies operating in the Albuquerque-Santa Fe region and throughout the state.
Advocates assert that collaboration between local police and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) undermines existing state laws and practices. They have presented evidence to the Legislature, detailing instances of individuals being transferred directly from local custody to ICE, a practice commonly referred to as “handoffs.”
The groups argue that these handoffs can lead to the deportation of individuals who may have strong ties to the community or who might otherwise be protected under state or local policies. The specific details of the legislative proposals and the precise nature of the evidence presented were not fully elaborated in the summary provided. The names of the specific advocacy groups involved were also not disclosed.
The core of the advocacy centers on preventing local law enforcement from acting as an extension of federal immigration enforcement, which proponents of the legislation believe can erode trust between immigrant communities and local police. They are seeking legislative action to create a clear prohibition on such coordination, aiming to ensure that state and local law enforcement resources are not used to facilitate federal deportations.
The summary did not specify when these legislative efforts began, the current status of any proposed bills, or the response from state lawmakers or local law enforcement agencies. The potential impact of such legislation on public safety or immigration enforcement within the state remains a subject of ongoing discussion among stakeholders.
Story summarized from the original created by Patrick Lohmann on sourcenm.com, see more information here.
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