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 on May 8. The complaint, United States of America v. State of New Mexico et al., claims that New Mexico’s “Immigrant Safety Act” (HB9) and Albuquerque’s “Safer Community Places Ordinance” unlawfully obstruct federal immigration enforcement and violate the Supremacy Clause of the U.S. Constitution.
The Department of Justice said these local policies block federal agents from using government property and require private businesses to notify individuals about immigration enforcement activities. According to the Department, such measures interfere with voluntary partnerships between local authorities and federal agencies, which it says are important for public safety.
City Councilor Dan Lewis released a 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.”
The City of Albuquerque operates under a council structure where members elect leadership annually, set goals, approve budgets, and preserve merit systems through their duties, according to the official council history on its official website. The city spans nine geographic districts shaped by historical developments like the railroad era in New Mexico, as outlined by the city’s timeline.
Albuquerque also serves as a cultural landmark through venues such as the KiMo Theatre—a site blending Pueblo Deco architecture since 1927—which has fostered community gatherings for decades, according to its official history page.
