ICE Activity Ramps Up; NM’s Early Dem Primary Slot
This week on New Mexico in Focus, immigrant advocates and local government officials say they’re seeing and hearing about increased federal immigration arrests in Santa Fe and Albuquerque in recent weeks. Host Nash Jones takes you to a news conference at Albuquerque-based nonprofit EL CENTRO de Igualdad y Derechos where City Councilor Stephanie Telles and Bernalillo County Commissioner Adriann Barboa update the public on what that’s looked like and the limits of new local ordinances meant to protect immigrants without legal status. We also hear anonymized testimony from the families of people who ICE detained in Albuquerque over the last week. Executive Producer Jeff Proctor then gets the latest on the capital city, including how ICE has handled one particularly high-profile case, from Santa Fe-based immigration attorney Allegra Love. We round out our look at ICE in New Mexico by revisiting a conversation with state Rep. Eleanor Chávez, D-Albuquerque, about the U.S. Department of Justice suing the state over its ban on local governments contracting with ICE for immigrant detention, and why the new law didn’t end the practice.
Also this week, we dive into the implications of the Democratic National Committee selecting New Mexico to vote fourth in the party’s 2028 presidential primary. State party Chair Sara Attleson and Democratic former lawmaker Dede Feldman join Nash at the table to analyze what the change means here at home and what adding New Mexico to the mix of influential early states could mean for the issues and candidates that find success in the Democratic presidential race.
Finally, Nash breaks down three big updates on the timeline for Project Jupiter, a hyperscale data center underway in southern New Mexico, which hit some snags this week.
Host: Nash Jones
Segments:
ICE Arrests Increase in New Mexico Cities Despite Sanctuary Laws
Correspondents: Jeff Proctor, Nash Jones
Guests: Allegra Love, Santa Fe-based Immigration Attorney
Stephanie Telles, Albuquerque City Councilor, District 1
Adriann Barboa, Bernalillo County Commissioner, District 3
Aylin Chavez, EL CENTRO de Igualdad y Derechos Volunteer
How New Mexico Could Affect the 2028 Democratic Presidential Primary
Correspondent: Nash Jones
Guests: Sara Attleson, Chair, Democratic Party of New Mexico
Dede Feldman, Democratic Former State Senator
Hyperscale Data Center in New Mexico Hits Snags
Correspondent: Nash Jones
The Impact of NM Becoming an Early Democratic Primary State
Correspondent: Nash Jones
Guests: Sara Attleson, Chair, Democratic Party of New Mexico
Dede Feldman, Democratic Former State Senator
Revisiting the DOJ Lawsuit Over New Mexico’s Immigrant Safety Act
Correspondent: Nash Jones
Guests: Eleanor Chávez, New Mexico State Representative, D-Albuquerque