A proposal that would prevent state and local police from detaining or arresting people who are in the U.S. illegally was scheduled to be heard on the Senate floor in Santa Fe this week.
The measure, , would prevent local and state law enforcement agencies from using their resources for immigration enforcement. Sen. Linda Lopez (D-Albuquerque) sponsored the bill.
鈥淣ew Mexico is not in the business of separating families,鈥� Lopez said. 鈥淭here may be a father who has been here for 20 [to] 30 years, married, has a wife who is a U.S. citizen, children too鈥攁nd to have that family separated, should not be done.鈥�
New Mexico鈥檚 60-day legislative session ends on Saturday and the bill still needs approval from the full Senate and the full House. If the measure goes to Governor Susana Martinez, Lopez said she would probably veto the measure. Just last week to Immigration and Custom鈥檚 Enforcement in order to speed up deportations.
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