A bill which could end a federal contract at the Cibola County Correctional Center will be heard TODAY in the New Mexico State Legislature.
House Bill 9 (HB9) would prohibit state and local government agencies from signing or renewing agreements used to detain people for federal civil immigration violations, and it would require agreements already in place to be ended as soon as contract terms allow.
Supporters say the bill is aimed at stopping reported inhumane conditions and contract violations; those who oppose the bill argue it would eliminate well-paying jobs and shift detention elsewhere rather than ending it.
The Cibola County Commission will be discussing and debating this issue today, Thursday, Jan. 22 at 5 p.m. in the Cibola County Commission Chambers, 700 E. Roosevelt Ave in Grants.
Commissioners are scheduled to hear a UNM economic impact analysis on what a closure scenario could mean locally.
After hearing from UNM, the county commission will consider a resolution opposing HB9, Resolution 2026-16. (Commissioners will debate and vote on this TONIGHT, it is only "proposed" as of publication.)
Before Cibola’s elected commissioners can hear the report, state legislators will begin debate on HB 9 TODAY.
This afternoon will be the first committee hearing for HB9, set for 1:30 p.m. (or 15 minutes after the House floor session ends) in the House Consumer & Public Affairs Committee (Room 317 of the Roundhouse in Santa Fe).
The public can watch the HB9 hearing live at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86074155262 (Webinar ID: 860 7415 5262) OR the NM legislature webcast at https://sg001-harmony.sliq.net/00293/harmony
Before the bill passes completely, it must first pass the House Consumer & Public Affairs Committee, then must pass the House Judiciary Committee, then must pass a vote of the full House of Representatives. It will then be moved to the Senate where it will undergo the same process before reaching the governor’s desk if it doesn’t die at some point in committee or on the floor.
For the record, Cibola County property records list the Cibola County Correctional Center in Milan with a 2023 property tax amount of roughly $808,657.