Innovation Law Lab is proud to mark the passage of the Immigrant Safety Act (HB9) in the state of New Mexico. The landmark bill ends the participation of the state’s counties in the atrocious industry of immigration detention, which has amassed a vast record of abuse and death in the state.
Importantly, the bill also blocks activity that amounts to ICE’s deputization of local police through 287(g) agreements, which the current US president has sought to expand.
The bill was signed into law by New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham on February 5, 2026. The law takes effect on May 20, 2026.
Innovation Law Lab has met with thousands of immigrant community members separated from their loved ones and locked up in New Mexico, providing legal support and uplifting the testimonies of people detained since 2019. Guided by the leadership of the people most intensely harmed by ICE detention, Law Lab and partner organization colleagues in the Dignity Not Detention coalition have sought for several years to advance the legislation just passed. Once the bill becomes law, Torrance, Cibola, and Otero Counties will be obligated to end their contracts with ICE to detain thousands of people.
It remains to be seen whether and how ICE and the multi-billion-dollar prison company CoreCivic might try to continue operations at the Torrance and Cibola prisons using direct contracts, which they had previously avoided due to federal procurement law.
Otero, the largest of the facilities, is owned by the county and would appear to have the most difficulty in continuing operations as an ICE facility run by Management and Training Corporation.
Advancement of the Immigrant Safety Act positions the state of New Mexico to shift fully into a position of support for immigrant community members. Innovation Law Lab remains committed to the fight to end the profound and widespread harm of ICE detention in New Mexico and beyond.
