City Councilor Dan Lewis Demands Accountability to Proposed New Sanctuary Law
The amendment establishes protections for victims when City ordinance interferes with execution of lawful federal arrest warrants.
ALBUQUERQUE, NM – City Councilor Dan Lewis (District 5) today announced a floor amendment to proposed ordinance O-26-15, citing grave concerns that the bill dismisses decades of cooperation between federal and local law enforcement. The amendment, to be introduced at the City Council meeting on Monday, March 16, 2026, seeks to hold the City and elected officials legally accountable if the ordinance obstructs the execution of lawful federal warrants.
Councilor Lewis argues that as currently drafted, O-26-15 further embeds "sanctuary city" policies into local law by interfering with federal law enforcement’s ability to use city property for staging and operations.
"My amendment is intended to protect the residents of Albuquerque by establishing liability when a City ordinance obstructs, delays, or otherwise prevents federal law enforcement officers from executing lawful warrants," said Councilor Dan Lewis. "If the City stands in the way of enforcing a lawful warrant and a crime is committed, the victim should be compensated."
Key Provisions of the Lewis Amendment:
- City Liability: If the ordinance prevents federal officers from executing a lawful warrant, the City shall assume liability for any resulting injury, death, or property damage caused by the subject of that warrant.
- Waiver of Immunity: Any City Councilor voting in favor of the ordinance, and the Mayor upon signing it, shall be deemed to have knowingly accepted responsibility for the consequences of its enforcement, effectively waiving legal immunities for related claims.
- Protection of Victims: The amendment ensures that victims of preventable crimes have a legal pathway to hold the City and its leaders accountable for policies that hinder federal law enforcement.
Councilor Lewis represents the vast majority of people in Albuquerque who believe that public safety is compromised when a city actively creates barriers for law enforcement agencies. By removing the "shield" of immunity for officials who support this measure, the amendment demands a higher standard of responsibility for those enacting policies that may impact community safety. Cities should not enact laws that obstruct the safety of its residents and when they do, that City should be held accountable.