New Mexico
New Mexico lawmakers split on DHS funding as shutdown deadline nears
As the House of Representatives voted to end the partial government shutdown Tuesday, one government agency is still in trouble.
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – As the House of Representatives voted to end the partial government shutdown Tuesday, one government agency is still in trouble. The Department of Homeland Security only has funding that will last for another two weeks.
The temporary funding bill for DHS comes from Democrats refusing to fund Immigration and Customs Enforcement as a show of support for Minnesota. New Mexico’s delegation has been very outspoken about funding DHS unless ICE is cut out of the deal.
“Obviously, we don’t want another prolonged shutdown, but when it comes to Homeland Security and the violence that is being unleashed in our communities, we cannot provide any more funding right now for that,” said Rep. Melanie Stansbury (D).
Congressman Gabe Vasquez sent KOB 4 a statement about the bill passing, stating:
“In just the last two weeks, nearly 2,000 New Mexicans have contacted my office to share their anger and frustration over the violence that is playing out across the nation. They are justifiably terrified that they or their loved ones will be detained, arrested, or jailed for exercising their First Amendment rights or profiled because of the color of their skin. They, and thousands more New Mexicans, are demanding DHS accountability and reform, and so am I.”
“I will not vote to give DHS any more funds so long as Congressional Republicans and the Administration continue to violate our Constitution and until they enter into good-faith negotiations for transparency, accountability around use of force, and commitments to comply with the law. As I’ve said before, the first step is relieving Secretary Noem of her duties. We’ve all seen the brutality masked agents acting with impunity have brought upon Americans with our own eyes, and it’s got to stop.”
“Additionally, DHS was granted a $150 billion dollar blank check under Congressional Republicans’ ‘One Big Beautiful Bill.’ That money is better spent helping Americans afford their health care, lowering the cost of groceries, funding critical food assistance programs, and bringing economic relief to working New Mexicans. New Mexicans’ tax money must be used to bring safety and security to our communities, not to detain and kill American citizens.”
KOB 4 also reached out to the New Mexico GOP to hear the Republican perspective on the matter. Chairwoman Amy Barela says Democrats are forgetting that there are more agencies under DHS, not just ICE.
“Border Patrol, Immigration and Customs, the TSA for our airports to the Coast Guard. There are so many agencies that are out there protecting us that are on hold because of a politically driven decision,” said Barela.
Stansbury did say that if the next proposal is packaged by the Senate in a way that would strictly fund TSA and FEMA, she would vote yes on that deal. However, anything that includes funding for ICE is a deal she’s not willing to support.
Funding for DHS will expire on Friday, Feb. 13. That gives Congress two weeks to come up with a plan and make a deal.