NM reacts to Arizona immigration law ruling

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - New Mexicans had their own opinions about the Supreme Court ruling that rejected key parts of Arizona’s controversial immigration law, but how will it affect the state and our policies?

Law makers and enforcement agencies are keeping a close eye on Arizona to see if ruling will have any impact here.

The New Mexico’s American Civil Liberties Union says the decision is both a victory and a loss.

Representatives with New Mexico’s ACLU say the ruling clearly states that immigration laws need to stay in the hands of the federal government.

That is something that state and local law enforcement agencies are sticking with.

"We don't believe it will affect us at all," said Albuquerque Mayor RJ Berry. "We believe the Supreme Court
Decision today validates the approach we took which was a public safety approach not immigration approach. We believe in fighting crime and keeping streets of Albuquerque safe."

 State Police and the Bernalillo County Sheriff's Department both say their policies won't change.

They currently meet Federal standards and only check immigration statuses once a person is booked into jail.

The New Mexico ACLU is concerned though that the ruling will lead to racial profiling because they did not take out the show me your papers provision of the law and officers are still allowed to ask a person their status.

“We remain quite concerned that if Arizona is in fact allowed to enforce that provision it will result in racial profiling illegal detention and other violations of civil rights,” Peter Simonson said.

LULAC the League of United Latin American Citizens also hopes the law won't open the door to racial profiling, and said they are considering issuing a travel alert to New Mexicans adventuring in Arizona. A representative said the ruling should transform the way New Mexico Lawmakers think about immigration reform.

"We want to see a new dialogue directed to root causes of immigration such as economic disparity and disparity in social justice," said LULAC Northern New Mexico Director Dennis Montoya.

Officers in New Mexico are not allowed to ask a person their immigration status.

The ACLU says nationally their organization has already put into place $9 million to fight potential claims of discrimination.