The New Mexico Advisory Committee voted in October 2024 to initiate an inquiry into civil rights in the state’s three immigrant detention centers which are located in Otero, Cibola and Torrance Counties. The selection was based upon ongoing reports of due process violations, unsafe conditions, systemic contracting concerns in these facilities, a federal complaint regarding the Torrance facility and a wrongful death lawsuit. Around 1,500 individuals, primarily asylum seekers, are detained in New Mexico in privately managed detention centers, under contracts between ICE and respective counties.
As part of this inquiry, the Committee heard testimony via videoconferences held from December 2024 to January 2025. The following report results from a review of testimony provided at these meetings, combined with written testimony submitted during the related timeframe. It begins with a brief background of the issues the Committee considered and then identifies primary findings as they emerged from this testimony. Finally, it makes recommendations for addressing related civil rights concerns. This report and the recommendations included within it were adopted by majority by the Committee on Monday, July 28, 2025.