New Mexico Senate Passes Immigrant Safety Act, Sending Historic Legislation to Governor's Desk

SANTA FE, NM – The New Mexico Senate today passed the Immigrant Safety Act, House Bill 9, with a vote of 24-15, sending the landmark legislation to Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham's desk for her signature. The legislation prohibits state and local governments from entering into agreements to detain individuals for civil immigration violations, stops the use of public land for immigration detention, and bans 287(g) agreements that turn local law enforcement into immigration agents.

The governor has voiced her support for the bill. Her signature would mark a defining moment in New Mexico's history – a clear statement that this state refuses to be complicit in a system of human rights abuses and stands united with immigrant families against the Trump administration's campaign of violence and fear.

The legislation comes as ICE has become more dangerous and less accountable than ever. Across the country, masked ICE agents are dragging people from their cars, smashing car windows, zip-tying children, and physically harming our neighbors, including U.S. citizens. In 2025 alone, 32 people died in ICE custody – the deadliest year in more than two decades. At least eight people have already died through interactions with ICE in 2026.

New Mexico's three detention centers have facilitated this system of harm, with documented cases of excessive use of solitary confinement, inadequate medical care, lack of clean drinking water and food, and five deaths in custody in recent years.
With this vote, New Mexico stands poised to join eight other states and numerous localities to comprehensively reject involvement in the Trump administration's mass detention and deportation system.

Advocates across the state celebrated the Senate's passage and called on Governor Lujan Grisham to sign the historic legislation:

"Today is a historic victory for immigrant families across New Mexico. Our state has always been a place where we take care of our neighbors and stand up for what's right, no matter the pressure from Washington," said Carla Law with the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of New Mexico. "Governor Lujan Grisham has the opportunity to cement that legacy – to be the leader who said New Mexico won't be bullied by the Trump administration's campaign of virulent racism and violence against our immigrant communities."

"This is a watershed moment for New Mexico – a testament to years of organizing by immigrant communities and allies who refused to accept our state's complicity in mass deportation," said Fabiola Landeros, Immigration Organizer with EL CENTRO de Igualdad y Derechos. "The Senate's passage of the Immigrant Safety Act shows that when communities unite and demand change, we can stand up to even the most powerful forces. Now we call on Governor Lujan Grisham to complete this historic achievement with her signature."

"The Immigrant Safety Act promotes real public safety by breaking the link between local law enforcement and ICE," said Andres Esquivel, campaigns manager with the New Mexico Dream Team. "When local police are entangled in immigration enforcement, crime victims and domestic violence survivors become afraid to seek help. States that have passed similar laws have deportation rates up to four times lower. This bill ensures all New Mexicans can approach law enforcement without fear of being turned over to ICE agents."

“HB 9+ is a big victory for New Mexico and a powerful step toward real safety and dignity for our communities,” said Jared Berenice Estrada, political director at The Semilla Project. “By banning 287(g) agreements, ending the use of public land for immigration detention, and limiting state and local participation in civil immigration detention, this bill draws a clear line between our communities and a federal system that causes harm. HB 9+ helps ensure immigrant and mixed-status families can live and move through New Mexico without fear, including taking their children to parks, visiting public lands, and enjoying the outdoors without worrying about surveillance, detention, or family separation. Our public lands should be places of belonging and joy for families and youth. We urge Governor Lujan Grisham to sign HB 9+ into law so we can build a stronger, more powerful New Mexico for all.”

"Eight people have already died through interactions with ICE this year, and 32 died in custody in 2025 alone – the deadliest year in more than two decades," said Miles Tokunow, executive director of Contigo Immigrant Justice. "Every day we delay, more families live in terror that a traffic stop could separate them from their children. New Mexico's detention centers have been sites of human rights abuses for years. Governor Lujan Grisham must act now to stop our state's complicity in this deadly system."

“Conservation Voters New Mexico celebrates the passage of HB 9 in the Senate and awaits the governor’s signature,” said Arturo Castillo, director of equity & culture at Conservation Voters New Mexico. “Our mission is to care for our land, air, and water because we care deeply about all New Mexicans.The private prison companies using local government to skirt federal oversight are doing so while polluting our water, destroying our land, and abusing and neglecting those in their detention centers. These companies are also taking advantage of rural communities, whose access to precious life saving water is already tenuous. It is past time for New Mexico to stand in our values, which means protecting our communities, our land, our water and our air. We thank those legislators who helped pass HB 9 and showed we care for all our people.”

“For years, people inside of ICE prisons in New Mexico have courageously spoken up against the ongoing abuse they face, from medical neglect and public health violations to racist mistreatment and physical attacks by facility staff,” said Ian Philabaum, director of legal organizing with Innovation Law Lab. “The passage of the Immigrant Safety Act is a key step in ensuring that the state’s public institutions will prioritize supporting our immigrant community members and keeping New Mexican families together. We urge Governor Lujan Grisham to promptly sign the bill into law.”

“Immigrant rights are human rights, and today our government affirmed that New Mexico is putting human dignity ahead of profits, and public safety and privacy ahead of federal overreach. We congratulate the legislators, immigrants, advocates and everyday citizens who have worked tirelessly over years to make the Immigrant Safety Act a reality and we hope for a quick signing by Governor Lujan Grisham,” said Sylvia Ulloa, NM Comunidades en Accion y De Fe (NM CAFe).

“Immigrant workers in the oil patch generate hundreds of millions of dollars for our local economy. These resources should be used to protect our communities – not to target them with violence and civil rights abuses,” said Marcela Díaz, executive director of Somos Un Pueblo Unido. “Immigrant safety is public safety and our communities are safer when everyone can live with dignity – without fear of being detained, deported, or targeted by federal immigration enforcement. A strengthened HB 9 will ensure all New Mexicans will feel safe with their local governments.”