The department of Homeland Security named Otero County, New Mexico as one of 23 counties on their target list. These 23 counties are out of the state’s 33. The list was made by the Trump Administration. Only 2 cities in New Mexico made the list for targeting. These two cities are Albuquerque and Santa Fe, per the report.

“Executive Order 14287: Protecting American Communities from Criminal Aliens requires that a list of states and local jurisdictions that obstruct the enforcement of Federal immigration laws (sanctuary jurisdictions) be published. Sanctuary jurisdictions including cities, counties, and states that are deliberately obstructing the enforcement of federal immigration laws endangering American communities. Sanctuary cities protect dangerous criminal aliens from facing consequences and put law enforcement in peril“, per the order verbiage.

The list was created to target sanctuary jurisdictions and issue them a warning by DHS and the Trump Administration. The list was determined by factors like compliance with federal law enforcement. They are also influenced by information restrictions and legal protections for illegal aliens.

Each jurisdiction listed will get formal notification of its non-compliance with Federal statutes. DHS demands that these jurisdictions promptly review and revise their policies. They must align with Federal immigration laws. “They should renew their obligation to protect American citizens, not dangerous illegal aliens, per DHS.

The irony to this listing by Homeland Security and the Trump Administration is that by unanimous vote Feb. 14, 2019 the Otero County Commission allegedly “made it clear it would respect federal immigration laws.” Otero County, New Mexico is the home to the state Republican Chairwoman, Amy Barela. She is a vocal Trump supporter. Cowboys for Trump Founder, Couy Griffin also resides there. Then County Commissioner, Couy Griffin Griffin said at the time “the conservative fabric of the county dictates this move to clarify the issue on federal detainees and illegal entry into the US  by a vote of the commission.”

Otero County officials suggest that the listing as a targeted county by the Department of Homeland Security is “a mistake.” The county will quickly resolve and correct the issue. 

ICE, or Immigration and Customs Enforcement, manages most of the immigration issues in Otero County, New Mexico. They run out of the Otero County Processing Center in Chaparral. Otero County, New Mexico also hosts a border checkpoint between Alamogordo and El Paso, Texas

The Otero County Processing Center in Chaparral has been a hotbed of controversy. In 2019, two Cuban asylum seekers detained at the Otero County Processing Center attempted to commit suicide. They did so by slitting their wrists. About 19 others had threatened to follow suit, immigrant advocates reported in 2019.

Otero County, New Mexico has been listed on several websites as a sanctuary county for those who entered the U.S. illegally to include the Center for Immigration Studies.

Speculation is that is where the confusion with DHS has come in.

The 10 NM counties NOT listed as sanctuary jurisdictions by DHS:

• Catron
• Cibola
• Curry
• Guadalupe
• Harding
• Lea
• Mora
• Torrance
• Union
• Valencia

Amy Barela as County Commissioner of Otero County and Chair of the New Mexico Republican Party spoke with us via Anthony Lucero at KALHRadio.org in response to the DHS listing.

Stay tuned for the next Otero County commission meeting. A response to this Trump Administration listing is sure to be a topic of discussion. Otero County, New Mexico will lose millions of tax dollars if it remains on this list. These funds include matching grants to the sheriff’s department and infrastructure improvement. This is based upon the classification by Homeland Security and the Trump Administration. Stay tuned as this is a developing story…

In other administration news…

Secretary Kristi Noem Visits 4 Countries for Security Cooperation – New Mexico Conservative E-News