No, Governor, Don’t Try to Ban Immigrant Detention Facilities

Originally published by the Santa Fe New Mexican 

This piece was co-authored by Sen. Crystal Brantley

Last November, the American people sent a clear message at the ballot box: They want secure borders, strong immigration enforcement and leaders who put the safety of our citizens first. Under President Donald Trump’s leadership, we have begun delivering on that mandate, building the most secure border in decades, dismantling cartel networks and restoring law and order at the southern border.

But instead of standing with the American people and the president’s historic gains, New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham is moving in the opposite direction. Her latest proposal would ban local and state governments from contracting with federal immigration authorities for detention services. On paper, she calls it “compassion.” In reality, it is a direct assault on public safety, economic stability and the progress we have fought so hard to achieve, especially in our Southern New Mexico border communities.

The intent behind this proposal isn’t hard to see. By eliminating contracts with federal agencies, the governor is effectively attempting to shut down immigration detention facilities in New Mexico entirely. Because these facilities are typically privately operated under federal contracts, banning them would end our ability to detain those who violate immigration law, including individuals with serious criminal backgrounds.

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