Albuquerque, NM (KKOB) — The Immigrant Safety Act, took effect Wednesday, it bans public bodies from contracting to hold federal immigration detainees as well as banning local law enforcement from cooperating with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The law requires counties to withdraw from contracts as soon as possible, but the Otero County contract included a clause that prohibits the county from withdrawing within the five-year period. On Thursday Sen. Joseph Cervantes, said at a meeting of the interim Courts, Corrections and Justice Committee that they’re acting outside of the authority that is delegated to them under the law, which means they’re going to get sued. Otero County has said it needed to extend the contract by any means possible because of bond payments it’s making on the facility. All three immigrant detention centers in the state plan to remain open despite the law.
