Democrats hate President Donald Trump more than they like public safety for their own constituents in New Mexico, according to state Senate Leader Bill Sharer, R-Farmington.
New Mexico's House Bill 9, known as the "Immigrant Safety Act," passed the New Mexico state Senate on Tuesday night by a 24-15 vote and now heads to Democrat Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham's desk for consideration.
"This bill represents everything that's wrong with today's political environment," Sharer said in a fiery statement. "When virtue signaling, political theatrics, and childish antics are more important than public safety and the rule of law, you are in serious trouble.
"Unfortunately for the people of New Mexico, that is the state of our legislature, this is our reality.
"Democrats just made it clear to every New Mexican: They care more about politics than your livelihood and safety."
Senate Republicans remained unified in opposition, Sharer said, warning the measure could further weaken public safety and devastate local economies tied to federal detention facility contracts.
HB 9 prohibits state and local governments from entering into agreements to detain individuals for federal civil immigration violations, a move supporters say ends New Mexico's involvement in the immigration detention system.
Opponents argue the bill could cost hundreds of jobs and strip counties of critical federal funding tied to correctional and detention operations.
"It's simple, Republicans stand in defense of law enforcement officers and New Mexicans working in corrections or detention facilities, Democrats don't," Sharer's statement concluded.
Republicans also criticized Senate Democrats for rejecting a GOP amendment that would have reimbursed counties for economic losses caused by reduced federal support. That amendment failed narrowly, 20-19.
The bill now awaits action from the governor, as debate continues over its economic and law enforcement impacts, particularly in rural counties hosting major detention facilities.
Eric Mack ✉
Eric Mack has been a writer and editor at Newsmax since 2016. He is a 1998 Syracuse University journalism graduate and a New York Press Association award-winning writer.
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