Jamiesfeast – A bill aimed at preventing New Mexico detention centers from housing immigrants has been unsuccessful in the state Senate. The bill intended to prohibit public bodies from entering agreements to detain individuals for federal civil immigration violations and would have terminated existing deals. For years, one detention center in Torrance County has faced criticism for allegedly subjecting immigrants to unsanitary and unsafe conditions.
Democratic Senator Antoinette Sedillo Lopez, one of the bill’s sponsors, argues that individuals seeking asylum in the United States are being unjustly treated as criminals. In contrast, Republican Senator William Sharer raised concerns about the efficacy of the vetting process at the border during the Senate floor session on Tuesday.
According to Senator Sedillo Lopez (D-Albuquerque), the individuals are thoroughly vetted using their passports. If their background checks come back clear, most of them have sponsors or family members they can rely on.
According to Senator Sharer, the situation at the border doesn’t align with what he observes. He notes that he sees a constant flow of individuals who seem to lack any form of identification. Additionally, he points out that these individuals do not seem to possess passports.
Only 18 out of the 42 state Senators cast their vote in favor of the bill.