Amid Immigration Debate, New Mexico Seeks More Oversight of Private Detention Centers

Some New Mexico lawmakers expressed support Monday for reining in private prison growth in the state or doing away with private prisons altogether amid a roiling national debate over housing immigrant detainees. During the meeting of an interim legislative committee at the Roundhouse, several legislators suggested New Mexico could follow in the steps of California, which has enacted laws blocking the expansion of private prisons run for immigrant detainees and empowering state officials to inspect them. "If we don't take action as a Legislature, we are committing a criminal act," said Rep. Christine Trujillo, D-Albuquerque, during Monday's hearing, which drew a crowd of roughly 200.