NEW MEXICO (KRQE) – In a head-to-head discussion, lawmakers debated about whether New Mexico should consider closing immigration detention facilities. Lawmakers toured the federally run Otero County Processing Center on Monday. Republican leaders said they were happy with the way it was run, while the lone Democrat said she saw people who were not criminals detained.

After the tour, lawmakers yet again debated about House Bill 9, which failed to pass earlier this year. It would prohibit public property from being used to detain people for federal immigration violations. Those for the shut down of the facilities say they worry about the safety at the centers... While those against it say either way, those inside will be moved elsewhere, and they worry about the job loss at the facilities.

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