New Mexico bill would ban contracts for migration detention

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico legislators are sponsoring a bill to prohibit local governments and state agencies from entering into contracts with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and private detention facilities to detain immigrants in civil cases. The bill could unwind contractual arrangements at a major immigrant detention center in southern New Mexico and spur closer oversight at others. Democratic state Sens. Jerry Ortiz y Pino and Moe Maestas sponsored the proposal with the backing of advocacy groups. The bill resembles recently enacted legislation in New Jersey, Virginia and Illinois aimed at ending detention in civil immigration cases in local facilities.