New Mexico lawmakers plan bill to limit police transfers to ICE

New Mexico immigrant advocates presented email records and other evidence at a state Capitol news conference on Friday, arguing that local law enforcement agencies routinely transfer arrestees to federal immigration agents for deportation.

The group urged state lawmakers to pass legislation during the 60-day session starting in January to restrict these practices. They stated that current state laws intended to keep local resources from aiding federal deportation efforts are being undermined by these transfers.

Teague González, executive director of the New Mexico Immigrant Law Center, described the various methods used for these transfers. These include taking detainees to parking lots where federal agents wait or driving them directly to local U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement offices.

González noted that at least 242 detainees arrived at state immigrant detention facilities since January 2025 through assistance from local police or sheriffs deputies. He cited the case of Brando Chavez Martinez, who was pulled over on Interstate 25 in Sandoval County on May 22, 2026, despite having no criminal history. Deputies transferred him to ICE agents, who then took him to the Torrance County Detention Facility in Estancia.

Lt. John Castañeda, a spokesperson for the Sandoval County Sheriff’s Office, told Source NM that the office does not have a policy prohibiting deputies from coordinating with federal agents. He said the county has no specific rule against helping ICE, unlike Albuquerque where police and jail officials are barred from such coordination.

Advocates said more than two dozen local policies exist statewide that ban the use of public resources for federal civil immigration enforcement, but no uniform policy covers the entire state. The groups filed public records requests in September with all 33 counties and 13 cities and towns to obtain communications with federal immigration entities.

Documents from 10 counties showed some level of communication or collaboration with federal agencies. In Eddy and Lea counties, jail staff provided ICE with a nearly daily list of foreign-born individuals in their facilities. Officials in both counties did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Friday.

Sen. Antoinette Sedillo Lopez and Rep. Cristina Parajón, both from Albuquerque, said they will introduce legislation in the January session to crack down on these referrals. Parajón said she is optimistic the bill will pass in 2027, noting that the group is still in the drafting phase but is dedicated to the effort.