State lawmaker proposes 2 new border security bills
SANTA FE, N.M. – Republican state Sen. Crystal Brantley is bringing an entire border security package to the Roundhouse, focusing less on the immigration and deportation issues and more on the resources needed to keep New Mexicans safe.
“Border security is public security, and that’s what I want to focus on,” said Brantley.
Brantley knows there’s some gray area with who’s in charge of dealing with the southern border.
“Our federal delegation has the responsibility to address immigration, including the deportation threats that have come out. It is the state’s responsibility, though, to address the criminal activity that is happening at the border,” Brantley said.
She says that means getting tough on fentanyl, the top drug threat in Albuquerque, according to leaders with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency.
“People bring in fentanyl all sorts of ways, on their person, in their vehicle. There’s no shortage of creative ideas as to how to smuggle it into the country,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge of El Paso Division, Towanda Thorne-James.
Brantley is bringing two new bills to the Roundhouse, increasing the penalties for fentanyl overdoses that result in death and for crimes involving fentanyl distribution.
“This particular bill to increase penalties mirrors a California bill that will mandate an additional three years to any sentences, if it includes the distribution of fentanyl,” said Brantley.
It appears Brantley may receive support across the aisle after House Democrat leaders added a similar measure to their legislative priorities.
“Increasing penalties for fentanyl traffickers,” said state Rep. Christine Chandler.
Brantley is also calling for a $3 million investment for new communication infrastructure in New Mexico’s southern border counties.
“Many miles along our border lands are out of communication zones, and so we have law enforcement, we have the people that live along the border, we have visitors to our beautiful border lands that are in dangerous situations because of the increase of criminal activity there,” said Brantley.
While Brantley says it’s up to the feds to deal with immigration issues, she is sponsoring another proposal banning sanctuary cities in New Mexico, essentially forcing all local governments to work with ICE officials.
“If we’re trying to hold criminals accountable, we need to be accountable ourselves, and saying a law is a law, and we’re going to abide by those laws to keep New Mexicans safe,” said Brantley.
That last proposal will likely face serious pushback if it even moves forward.
Immigrant advocates are pushing for a bill that would essentially turn New Mexico in to a sanctuary state, but we have yet to see an actual proposal.