New Mexico Senate Bill SB172

New Mexico 2023 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/23/23
• Report Pass: 2/9/23
• Report Pass: 3/7/23

Caption

No Detaining For Fed Immigration Violations

Impact

The implications of SB172 are profound in the realm of state policy towards immigration. By disallowing state and local law enforcement from detaining individuals based on federal civil immigration violations, the bill aims to protect individuals from potential injustices associated with immigration enforcement. This could lead to a reduced utilization of state resources for federal immigration purposes and promote a more humane treatment of individuals involved in immigration conflicts, highlighting New Mexico's stances on civil rights.

Summary

Senate Bill 172 aims to prohibit the housing or detaining of individuals solely for federal civil immigration violations in New Mexico. The legislation specifically restricts law enforcement agencies from entering into or renewing contracts or agreements for this purpose. Furthermore, the bill mandates that any existing agreements involving the detention of individuals for civil immigration violations must be terminated by January 1, 2024. This significant change directly addresses the intersection of state law enforcement and federal immigration policy, ensuring that state resources are not utilized in federally driven immigration enforcement actions.

Contention

Notably, the bill faced a contentious debate amongst legislators, culminating in a close vote where 18 senators supported and 20 opposed the measure during its final passage on March 14, 2023. Proponents argue that detaining individuals for immigration violations is not only economically burdensome but also morally unacceptable, asserting that these actions undermine community trust in law enforcement. Conversely, opponents of the bill raise concerns about potential increases in illegal immigration and the challenges law enforcement agencies might face in their duties if they cannot collaborate on immigration enforcement efforts. This divide underscores broader national discussions on immigration policy and state versus federal roles.

Last_action

The bill's journey through the legislature concluded with a Senate final passage vote on March 14, 2023, indicating its supporters' commitment to moving forward despite the opposition.