Deb Haaland Stands Against Cruel ICE Policies

ALBUQUERQUE, NM – Today, Deb Haaland, who is running to be New Mexico’s next governor, stood against cruel and unchecked ICE actions alongside protesters in Albuquerque.

Haaland is alarmed by ICE agents using violence, rounding people up, tearing families apart, targeting black and brown communities, and breaking the law.

She is also concerned that while state and local law enforcement work hard to protect our communities, ICE agents are under-trained and putting New Mexicans in harm’s way. They are not addressing the real concerns of keeping violent criminals and illegal drugs off our streets. 

At the rally, Haaland doubled down on her commitment to hold ICE officials accountable for breaking the law and to protect our public spaces – like schools, churches, courthouses, healthcare centers, and state government facilities if elected governor. She supports efforts to require ICE agents to identify themselves and remove their masks. Haaland also commends the New Mexico Congressional delegation for voting against funding for the agency that runs ICE and supports current legislative proposals to ban ICE detention centers in New Mexico. 

“I am proud stand up to injustice and the cruel policies of ICE and the Trump administration. Every day, I hear another story of a child, peaceful protester, law abiding human being, getting detained and arrested for nothing. It’s unamerican. As governor, I will always stand up for New Mexicans,” Haaland said. 

As Secretary of the Department of the Interior, Haaland led law enforcement agencies across the department and stood up a law enforcement task force that implemented the highest standards for protecting the public and provided necessary policy guidance, resources, and training to agency personnel. While in Congress, Deb delivered $350 billion for state and local governments and law enforcement agencies. She also co-sponsored legislation that would reform immigration enforcement and restrict family separations.