NM Lawmakers Push Bills on ICE, Climate Goals

This week on New Mexico in Focus, we return to Santa Fe for the second week of a quick-moving 30-day legislative session.  

The Immigrant Safety Act, introduced by Democratic state Reps. Eleanor Chávez and Angelica Rubio, would ban public entities from contracting with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency to lock up immigrants. Host Nash Jones spoke with both representatives about the bill, as the legislation seems poised to pass both chambers of the Roundhouse. Later, Nash speaks with Cibola County Manager Kate Fletcher, who offered a nuanced perspective on her government’s relationship with ICE and the role prisons play where she lives. 

Earlier this week, hundreds of people from across the state gathered in Santa Fe for the 2026 Immigrant and Worker Day of Action. A group from Farmington traveled hours to make sure lawmakers heard their community’s voice. Reporter Cailley Chella was there as they rallied for safety, privacy and a safe place in New Mexico’s future. 

This month, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reversed course on decades of institutional knowledge and changed its vaccine recommendations for children. The shift has puzzled medical experts, and it leaves the CDC at odds with a longtime partner: the American Academy of Pediatrics. Senior Producer Lou DiVizio sat down with the state’s top doctor, Miranda Durham, to try and unravel the confusion and break down what this all means for families in New Mexico. 

Democratic state Sen. Mimi Stewart has been trying for years to codify climate goals set by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham back in 2017. Stewart tells correspondent Gwyneth Doland why this year’s bill, the Clear Horizons Act, might finally make its way to the governor’s desk. 

Among the changes in this year’s Clear Horizons bill is a requirement for the Environment Department to consult with potentially effected tribal governments before enacting new policies. Ahtza Dawn Chavez, executive director of NM Native Vote, spoke with Gwyneth about that addition, how it protects tribal sovereignty while still moving the state forward toward reducing emissions.  

Capital and Main reporter Jerry Redfern returns to the studio to talk with Executive Producer Jeff Proctor about a seismology equipment funding bill that has more to do with the oil and gas industry than meets the eye. 

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Host: Nash Jones

Segments: 
Bill Would Ban Detention Contracts with ICE in NM 
Correspondent: Nash Jones 
Guests: 
NM Rep. Eleanor Chávez, D-Albuquerque 
NM Rep. Angelica Rubio, D-Las Cruces 

County Manager Says ICE Bill Could Hurt Community 
Correspondent: Nash Jones 
Guest: Kate Fletcher, Cibola County Manager 

Immigrant Workers Rights Group Speaks in Santa Fe 
Correspondent: Cailley Chella 
Guests: 
Jorge Rivera, Farmington Oil Field Worker 
NM Rep. Joseph Hernandez, D-Shiprock 
Rocio Valencia, Community Advocate 
NM Rep. Sarah Silva, D-Las Cruces 

Top State Doctor on Vaccines for Children 
Correspondent: Lou DiVizio 
Guest: Dr. Miranda Durham, Chief Medical Officer, NM Health Department 

Clear Horizons Act Aims to Reduce Pollution 
Correspondent: Gwyneth Doland 
Guest: NM Sen. Mimi Stewart, D-Albuquerque 

Tribal Sovereignty and the Clear Horizons Act 
Correspondent: Gwyneth Doland 
Guest: Ahtza Dawn Chavez, Executive Director, NM Native Vote 

How Seismology Funding Intersects with Oil and Gas Industry 
Correspondent: Jeff Proctor 
Guest: Jerry Redfern, Oil and Gas Reporter, Capital and Main