Albuquerque- Bernalillo County has approved an ordinance to limit immigration enforcement in county locations and businesses. In a 4 to 1 vote, the ordinance follows Article 9, Section 12 of the New Mexico Constitution and will require businesses in unincorporated areas of the county to post signs and notify employees within 24 hours prior to an I-9 inspection. The ordinance restricts immigration enforcement in sensitive areas like schools, hospitals and community clinics, unless federal law enforcement shows a judicial warrant, which is required by law. More than 100 business owners and organizations have voiced their support for the ordinance, which officials say protects legal residents, immigrants as well as U.S citizens. “The actions of Immigration Enforcement throughout America who have unfettered authorization to violently target and detain immigrants compelled us to present an ordinance to amend the Bernalillo County Code and create a new chapter establishing Safer Community Places,” says Vice-Chair Adriann Barboa. “People should not have to feel threatened, terrified or unsafe by their own government.” “ICE’s violent tactics targeting the very workers, taxpayers, and small business owners who form the backbone of our economy is not only inhumane, but it is bad economic policy”, says Fabiola Landeros, Immigrants’ Rights Organizer, for El CENTRO de Igualdad y Derechos. Over the last few months, there have been numerous reports of U.S citizens being arrested or detained by ICE agents and other federal law enforcement officers during raids around the country. A report in ProPublica, indicated that as of October, more than 170 U.S citizens have been arrested or detained by ICE across the county, the vast majority Hispanics residents.
