City Councilor Dan Lewis Issues Statement on Federal Lawsuit Against Mayor Keller, City of Albuquerque Regarding Immigration Enforcement Policies

ALBUQUERQUE, NM – Today, the United States Department of Justice filed a federal lawsuit and a motion for a preliminary injunction against the State of New Mexico and the City of Albuquerque. The complaint, United States of America v. State of New Mexico et al., alleges that state and local policies—specifically New Mexico’s "Immigrant Safety Act" (HB9) and Albuquerque’s "Safer Community Places Ordinance" (SCPO)—unlawfully obstruct federal immigration enforcement and violate the Supremacy Clause of the U.S. Constitution.

The federal complaint highlights that these policies seek to block federal agents from utilizing local government property and require private businesses to alert individuals of immigration enforcement activities. The Department of Justice argues these measures interfere with longstanding, voluntary partnerships between local and federal authorities that are essential for public safety and the integrity of the federal immigration system.

City Councilor Dan Lewis, representing District 5, released the following statement in response to the filing:

“Mayor Keller deserves to be sued for his reckless promotion of dangerous sanctuary policies that undermine cooperation between law enforcement agencies and put everyone at risk. Sanctuary laws don't protect; they create more victims. I opposed Keller's so-called 'Safer Community Places' ordinance from the beginning. It's nothing more than obstruction of law enforcement and this mayor chose his radical ideology over public safety. Most people in our City agree that there is a public safety benefit when local, state and federal law enforcement work together to enforce the law and protect innocent people.”