Sen. Antoinette Sedillo Lopez, (D-Albuquerque), reacts as Senate Bill 145 fails to pass on the Senate Floor, Tuesday, February 6, 2024. (Photo by Eddie Moore / Albuquerque Journal)
The upper chamber of New Mexico’s Legislature on Tuesday voted to once again reject a proposal that would have barred local governments from hiring federal immigration police to detain people for civil violations of federal immigration law.
In an 18-20 vote on Tuesday afternoon, the New Mexico Senate voted not to pass Senate Bill 145 , which would have prohibited local governments from entering or renewing contracts with Immigration and Customs Enforcement to detain people seeking asylum in the United States.
“We should not be complicit in this detention, and in treating people inhumanely,” said Sen. Antoinette Sedillo-Lopez (D-Albuquerque), one of the bill’s five sponsors. “This bill seeks dignity and not detention.”
Six Democrats joined Republicans on Tuesday to vote down the measure: Sens. Pete Campos (D-Las Vegas), Joseph Cervantes (D-Las Cruces), Robert Gonzales (D-Rancho De Taos), Martin Hickey (D-Albuquerque), George Muñoz (D-Gallup) and Benny Shendo (D-Jemez Pueblo).