sa国际传媒官网网页入口

Amid a nationwide federal immigration crackdown, Mayor Tim Keller signed a law restricting immigration enforcement in sa国际传媒官网网页入口.

The law returns to a Biden-era policy scrapped by President Donald Trump just days into his second term. The 鈥減rotected areas鈥� policy forbade Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers from arresting people at sensitive locations like churches, schools and hospitals.

The bill-signing at City Hall on Tuesday afternoon was met with tears and chants by immigrant rights groups, for whom family separation is a constant anxiety. 

鈥淣ow, I can drop off my kids at school and know I will be able to pick them up,鈥� Mirna Lazcano said, in Spanish, before the bill-signing. Lazcano, originally from Chihuahua, Mexico, paused to shed a tear and her voice grew hoarse.

鈥淭hank you for listening to the people,鈥� she added.

While immigration rights advocates, local politicians and city staff applauded the bill- signing, some leaders and residents say the law undermines public safety and invites retribution from the Trump administration.

The 鈥淪afer Community Spaces Ordinance鈥� passed the City Council in March on a 5-4 vote, with a core of conservative-leaning councilors voting no, including Councilors Brook Bassan, Dan Champine, Ren茅e Grout and Dan Lewis.

Officials at the Department of Homeland Security and ICE could not be immediately reached for comment Tuesday.

鈥楢 strong consensus鈥�

This legislation is just the latest in a series of laws at the city, county and state levels attempting to protect immigrant communities from the federal government.

In November, the Bernalillo County Commission enacted a similar law that applies across the county, including in sa国际传媒官网网页入口. Months later, during the 30-day legislative session, New Mexican lawmakers passed a bill to prohibit counties and municipalities from contracting with ICE in an attempt to shutter immigration detention centers in the state.

鈥淚 think in New Mexico there is strong consensus,鈥� Keller said after signing the bill into law. With the law on the books, he said that the next step, actually enforcing it, may prove more difficult.

ICE is currently embroiled in thousands of wrongful detention lawsuits. As of mid-February, judges ruled that ICE unlawfully detained someone in 4,400 cases, according to an by Reuters.

Despite surges of ICE operations in cities like Minneapolis and Los Angeles, Keller said he believes the constitution and legal system will ultimately prevail.

鈥淭he courts are going to outlast this president,鈥� Keller said.

Working with a coalition of other cities across the nation, sa国际传媒官网网页入口 is prepared to take any violations of the new law to court, he said.

鈥淚n many ways, cities are at the front line in America holding our democracy together,鈥� Keller said.

Gillian Barkhurst is the local government reporter for the Journal. She can be reached at gbarkhurst@abqjournal.com.