New Mexico Attorney General Agrees to Temporarily Not Enforce Immigrant Safety Act

NM AG Torrez agrees to hold off on enforcing immigrant detention bill amid federal lawsuit

New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez will hold off on enforcing House Bill 9, the Immigrant Safety Act, while a federal Justice Department lawsuit against the state plays out in court, according to a May 13, 2026, filing from Torrez’s office. (Danielle Prokop/Source NM)New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez has agreed not to enforce a new state law related to immigrant detention while a United States Department of Justice lawsuit seeking to …

U.S. DOJ sues New Mexico to halt immigrant detention bill, impacts on Otero County Processing Center

Patrick Lohman Source New Mexico This story was originally published by Source New Mexico on sourcenm.com. The United States Department of Justice on Friday filed a motion urging a federal judge to immediately prohibit New Mexico officials from enforcing House Bill 9, the Immigrant Safety Act, saying the new state law is unconstitutional and would irreparably harm a New Mexico county. The law prohibits public entities like counties from contract…

New Mexico Attorney General agrees to temporarily not enforce Immigrant Safety Act

NEW MEXICO (KRQE) – The New Mexico Department of Justice has agreed to temporarily not enforce a new state law that bans local governments from contracting with ICE. House Bill 9 is set to go into effect in one week. But in March, Otero County renewed its contract with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The county [...]

NMDOJ agrees to stop enforcement of HB9 in response to USDOJ lawsuit against New Mexico anti-ICE laws - The Paper.

A lawsuit by Federal officials to block New Mexico’s new law forcing the closure of ICE detention centers scored its first victory Wednesday afternoon when New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez filed a stipulated motion agreeing to stop pursuing enforcement of the law against the sprawling Otero County Detention Center while the federal suit continues.  […]

DOJ Sues New Mexico and Albuquerque Over Two New Laws Blocking Federal Immigration Enforcement

The Justice Department sued New Mexico and Albuquerque, arguing two new laws block federal immigration enforcement and threaten nearly 300 jobs in Otero County. The United States filed a complaint and motion for preliminary injunction against the State of New Mexico, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, Attorney General Raúl Torrez, the City of Albuquerque and Mayor Timothy Keller. The filing challenges House Bill 9, the “Immigrant Safety Act,” and Albu…

NMDOJ agrees to stop enforcement of HB9 in response to USDOJ lawsuit against New Mexico anti-ICE laws - New Mexico Political Report

A lawsuit by Federal officials to block New Mexico’s new law forcing the closure of ICE detention centers scored its first victory Wednesday afternoon when New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez filed a stipulated motion agreeing to stop pursuing enforcement of the law against the sprawling Otero County Detention Center while the federal suit continues.  In exchange for the U.S. Department of Justice withdrawing its preliminary injunction reque…