New Mexico DOJ Invalidates Otero County's ICE Contract Renewal Decision

The New Mexico Department of Justice (NMDOJ) has declared the Otero County Commission's recent vote to renew its contract with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) as invalid, citing violations of the state's Open Meetings Act. The commission's emergency meeting on March 13 was deemed improperly classified, as the NMDOJ found no legitimate emergency circumstances justifying the bypass of public notice. This decision comes after Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham's Immigrant Safety Act was signed in February, which prohibits local governments from renewing contracts for federal immigration enforcement. The NMDOJ has mandated the commission to take corrective actions to comply with state law, emphasizing the importance of transparency in governmental decisions.

Key Details: • Otero County Commission held an emergency meeting on March 13, 2023. • Emergency meeting classification was deemed invalid by NMDOJ. • Governor signed the Immigrant Safety Act in February 2023, affecting local contracts with ICE. • NMDOJ requires the commission to outline steps for legal compliance.