On Thursday, the Mexican Consulate and community leaders hosted a “Coffee with Community” event at the National Hispanic Cultural Center to discuss new state laws passed during the legislative session aimed at protecting immigrant rights.One of the laws, the Immigrant Safety Act, prohibits local governments from contracting with the federal government to detain people for civil immigration purposes. The law also bars law enforcement agencies from entering into special agreements that allow local officers to work with Immigration and Customs Enforcement on immigration enforcement.”That’s no longer allowed,” House Speaker Javier Martinez said. Another new law, the Driver Privacy and Safety Act, prohibits the use of state-owned license plate reader data for immigration enforcement. Legislation was also passed to open an Office of New Americans.”These are folks who are here as immigrants, refugees, asylum seekers. It’s a one-stop shop for them to be able to access information about adult education programs, maybe business loans,” Martinez said.Not everyone supports the new measures. Senate Republicans issued a statement to KOAT opposing the legislation, saying, “Senate Republicans oppose legislation that undermines the enforcement of federal law. What other federal laws are NM Democrats going to ignore next?” In response to criticism, Martinez said, “It’s too bad because these are New Mexico values. New Mexico welcomes the stranger. New Mexico welcomes the immigrant.” Law enforcement leaders also attended the event to reassure the community about their policies. ” can come and contact our police department and that we are not worried about immigration status. We will never ask anyone their immigration status, nor will we notify federal law enforcement about that contact,” Albuquerque Police Department Chief Cecily Barker said. She emphasized that the city does not allow immigration briefings on city property and offers a language line and bilingual officers. The Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office follows similar policies. “We do not ever ask for immigration either on a traffic stop or for a call for service,” BCSO Sheriff John Allen said. Allen added that ICE had contacted the sheriff’s office before, but the agency did not help. “We did not assist them because they wanted to have a briefing at our substation, which we won’t allow on county property,” Allen said.

On Thursday, the Mexican Consulate and community leaders hosted a “Coffee with Community” event at the National Hispanic Cultural Center to discuss new state laws passed during the legislative session aimed at protecting immigrant rights.

One of the laws, the Immigrant Safety Act, prohibits local governments from contracting with the federal government to detain people for civil immigration purposes. The law also bars law enforcement agencies from entering into special agreements that allow local officers to work with Immigration and Customs Enforcement on immigration enforcement.

“That’s no longer allowed,” House Speaker Javier Martinez said.

Another new law, the Driver Privacy and Safety Act, prohibits the use of state-owned license plate reader data for immigration enforcement.

Legislation was also passed to open an Office of New Americans.

“These are folks who are here as immigrants, refugees, asylum seekers. It’s a one-stop shop for them to be able to access information about adult education programs, maybe business loans,” Martinez said.

Not everyone supports the new measures. Senate Republicans issued a statement to KOAT opposing the legislation, saying, “Senate Republicans oppose legislation that undermines the enforcement of federal law. What other federal laws are NM Democrats going to ignore next?”

In response to criticism, Martinez said, “It’s too bad because these are New Mexico values. New Mexico welcomes the stranger. New Mexico welcomes the immigrant.”

Law enforcement leaders also attended the event to reassure the community about their policies.

“[Anyone] can come and contact our police department and that we are not worried about immigration status. We will never ask anyone their immigration status, nor will we notify federal law enforcement about that contact,” Albuquerque Police Department Chief Cecily Barker said. She emphasized that the city does not allow immigration briefings on city property and offers a language line and bilingual officers.

The Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office follows similar policies.

“We do not ever ask for immigration either on a traffic stop or for a call for service,” BCSO Sheriff John Allen said.

Allen added that ICE had contacted the sheriff’s office before, but the agency did not help.

“We did not assist them because they wanted to have a briefing at our substation, which we won’t allow on county property,” Allen said.