Albuquerque, NM (KKOB) – The “Safer Community Places Ordinance”, a city law meant to restrict immigration enforcement in Albuquerque was signed by mayor Tim Keller. The law passed by the city council on a 5 to 4 vote in March creates protected areas around the city such as churches, schools, and hospitals where Immigration and Customs Enforcement are not allowed to enter and arrest people.
Several immigration rights advocates attended the ceremony and thanked the mayor and city council for putting the law in effect, many of them families who are constantly feeling the anxiety of family seperation due to ICE operations.
This is similar to a bill passed by the Bernalillo County Commission last year which extends the protections outside the Albuquerque city limits. Others opposed to the bill say the law undermines public safety and could result in actions against the city by the Trump administration. The city says they are prepared to take any violations to court, meanwhile in a related report by Reuters, hundreds of judges around the country have ruled more than 4,400 times since October that ICE is detaining immigrants unlawfully.
A primary component of the bill prohibits the use of City property, (including parks, offices, and maintenance facilities) as staging areas for civil immigration enforcement. To ensure transparency and security, the City will be required to:
- Post clear signage stating that City property is not for use in civil immigration enforcement.
- Implement physical security measures, such as locked gates or barriers, to secure sensitive areas from unauthorized mobilization efforts.
