LCPD says they won’t assist in ICE raids

Other agencies silent as deportation policies ensue

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The area’s largest, most well-funded police department will not assist in immigration raids and mass deportation in Las Cruces, according to statements made by Las Cruces Police Chief Jeremy Story. 

However, two key local law enforcement agencies — the Doña Ana County Sheriff’s Office and New Mexico State University Police Department — remain silent after multiple queries from the Las Cruces Bulletin. 

“Sheriff (Kim) Stewart does not have any information to share at this time,” a DASO spokesperson told the Bulletin. 

About two hours later, Doña Ana County posted a statement on social media stating that they would not deny services to anyone – but stopped short of saying whether deputies would cooperate with ICE raids.  

A New Mexico State University spokesperson provided a statement that did not address the Bulletin's questions: “From a public safety perspective, the New Mexico State University Police Department remains committed toward our mission of safeguarding faculty, staff, and students. We will continue to achieve this through crime prevention, community outreach, criminal apprehension and criminal prosecution at the state level.”

The city of Las Cruces also did not respond to the Bulletin's multiple inquiries about the subject. However, Story responded to the Bulletin in an interview about another matter and responded to a question about immigration at a town hall on Jan. 24.

The administration of newly-sworn President Donald Trump unleashed a flurry of executive orders in its opening days geared toward enacting a policy of mass deportation. Some of those orders were immediately struck down by courts, and others were criticized but remained in effect. Trump took office on Jan. 21.

Sweeping orders pertaining to immigration dramatically affects Las Cruces and Doña Ana County. In 2023, the Center on Immigration and Child Welfare estimated that about 17 percent of county residents were born outside of the United States, almost double the state average of 9 percent. The same data states that nearly one out of every three children under six years old live in an immigrant family, with most having ties to Mexico.

As the orders came down, the New Mexico Department of Justice issued guidance to local police departments

“Our priority is to protect New Mexico’s families, especially children, from policies that create fear and destabilize communities. We are committed to upholding the rule of law and ensuring public safety, but we must also safeguard the ability of families and children to access education, healthcare, and justice without fear of persecution,” Attorney General Raúl Torrez said in a statement. 

The guidance pointed out that police are not obligated to assist in raids. In fact, it’s illegal for the federal government to “commandeer” local police resources.

However, local departments can assist Immigration and Customs Enforcement, aka ICE, if they choose to do so. 

The guidance goes on to say that assisting ICE incurs liability for police departments, can reduce trust within the community and diverts resources away from preventing and investigating crimes. 

“We do not get involved in immigration matters,” LCPD Chief Jeremy Story said, adding that it’s not common practice for officers to inquire about a person’s immigration status. 

Story also said that LCPD does not collect data about people’s immigration status and would have nothing to provide if asked by ICE.

Story also referred to a city council resolution that LCPD shall provide fair and equitable police service to everyone. 

The same resolution prohibits officers from detaining or arresting people based on their nationality or ethnicity, seeking proof of a person's citizenship status and assisting other agencies in immigration matters.

That resolution passed in 2017 during Trump’s first term, but reaffirmed a resolution and policy from the 1990s. 

Doña Ana County passed a similar resolution in 2014. 

Under the county’s resolution, county employees and deputies are prohibited from using county resources or funds to inquire into an individual's immigration status. They also may not condition services based on immigration status or collaborate with federal officials to investigate immigration status. 

It’s unclear if NMSU has any similar policy or practice.

LCPD, Las Cruces Police Department, Chief Jeremy Story, deportation policies

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