Las Cruces council adopts revised 'welcoming city' resolution after extended public comment

The Las Cruces City Council on Oct. 6 voted to adopt Resolution 26-049, an updated "welcoming city" measure that narrows when city officials may share personal information with federal immigration authorities and clarifies where federal immigration enforcement may operate on city property.

The resolution was approved by council majority after two council amendments and extensive public comment. Councilors who explicitly recorded votes during the roll call included members voting in favor and at least one member voting no; the final motion passed.

The updated resolution reaffirms the city's 1997 human-rights ordinance and says city resources should not be used ‘‘for purely immigration-related enforcement actions.’’ It also directs city staff to provide written policies or training to city employees within roughly six months to a year to implement the policy.

Brad Douglas, the city's legal counsel, outlined the proposed changes and the city's options. He told the council the measure would "prohibit the sharing of personally identifiable information about persons for solely immigration related enforcement actions" and reiterated the city would comply with valid judicial warrants. Douglas also proposed three technical amendments to avoid unintentionally limiting non-immigration law enforcement duties.

Douglas recommended, and the council adopted, a clarifying amendment to the…