SANTA FE — New Mexico Senate Republican Leader, Senator Bill Sharer, R-Farmington, is criticizing Democratic plans to introduce legislation that would prohibit U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement from contracting with local governments for detention services, arguing the proposal would threaten rural jobs and undermine law enforcement.
In a statement released by the Senate Republican Leadership Office, Sharer said Democratic leaders in the House and Senate have “signaled their intentions” to introduce and pass legislation that would terminate contracts tied to ICE detention facilities operating in New Mexico.
“Instead of addressing the true causes of New Mexico’s crime crisis, Democrat lawmakers have instead focused their attention on political posturing,” Sharer said, adding that the result of “banning” ICE detention facilities would be “the destruction of New Mexico jobs and economic support for local communities.”
Supporters of prior proposals have argued the state should not participate in agreements they say erode trust in communities and expose detainees to poor conditions. At a recent Santa Fe Chamber of Commerce event, Senate Democratic Leader, Senator Peter Wirth (D-Santa Fe), said “enough is enough,” citing the recent clashes between ICE and protesters in Minnesota.
Opponents, however, have warned that detention operations provide significant employment and revenue in rural counties where alternative job opportunities are limited.
In his statement, Sharer said New Mexico has three federal detention facilities that contract with ICE and “employ hundreds of New Mexicans.” He also argued that disrupting detention contracts would interfere with federal immigration enforcement and could endanger communities.
Sharer cited the case of Mahmoud Telfah, whom he described as “an illegal alien from Jordan” convicted in Albuquerque for soliciting a 15-year-old for sex, as an example of the type of offender he believes could be impacted by restrictions on detention capacity.
“We are a land of democratically-instituted laws,” Sharer said. “If people disagree with them, there is a process to change them; in the meantime, Republicans oppose any measure that undermines the enforcement of existing law and endangers our communities.”
A similar proposal in the 2025 session drew sharp debate over impacts in counties that host detention operations. Legislative analysis prepared at the time warned that ending ICE-related detention agreements could affect county budgets and employment in Torrance, Cibola and Otero counties, where facilities have operated under federal contracts.
Democratic leaders have not yet filed a bill for the 2026 session, but the issue is expected to be part of broader immigration and public safety debates when lawmakers convene.
Sharer said Senate Republicans will oppose proposals that, in their view, weaken enforcement and reduce public safety capacity, particularly for rural communities that depend on detention-related jobs and spending.
