NEW MEXICO (KRQE) – State lawmakers got a behind-the-scenes tour at a southern New Mexico facility making headlines for detaining immigrants. The tour comes as Republicans claim Democrats are planning to get rid of these facilities in New Mexico.
A group of Republicans and one Democrat toured the Otero County Processing Center on Monday. It comes ahead of a possible special session, where Democratic Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham has raised the possibility of addressing immigration detention facilities.
"The detention facilities are economic drivers in these communities. Just at the Otero County Processing Center, there was 278, I believe, employees there. It would be putting all of those people out of a job and firing New Mexicans," said Rep. Gail Armstrong (R), Socorro, Minority Floor