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She said a nondiscrimination resolution passed Tuesday by the County Commission had prompted discussion at the jail about current practices.

“As a result, the administration was alerted that on occasion ICE has asked to be alerted when a specific inmate is being released, and MDC’s records department has complied,” Hopkins said in a written statement in response to Journal questions. “This practice, and the practice of allowing ICE inside the facility to access records, will no longer continue as a result of this resolution.”

Maggie Hart Stebbins, chair of the Bernalillo County Commission, said Wednesday evening she was “mortified” by the revelation, saying she was unaware jail staff had been contacting ICE.

“I am shocked and disappointed to find that that practice was taking place after we passed the 2017 (immigrant-friendly) resolution. That was clearly in violation of the directive that no county resources be used to support ICE’s federal responsibilities,” Hart Stebbins said. “I had no idea this was happening.”

The commission two years ago declared the county “immigrant-friendly” with a resolution that banned the use of county resources to identify any individual’s immigration status or apprehend anyone based solely on their immigration status, unless otherwise required by law.

The commission reiterated its position this week with a new resolution outlining additional guidelines and restrictions.

It prohibits using county resources to help enforce federal immigration law. It also bans county agencies, employees and contractors from releasing certain personal information about individuals obtained in the course of conducting county business. That includes Social Security numbers, addresses, national origins, and inmates’ release dates, with some exceptions such as to aid state courts or in response to public records requests for information not exempted by law.

The new resolution also says the county will refuse federal immigration agents access to nonpublic areas of county property for the purpose of enforcing federal immigration law unless they have a judicial warrant.

That effectively bans the jail’s yearslong practice of allowing ICE agents without warrants into secure parts of the facility about once a week to check MDC’s inmate record database, which includes information such as birthplaces, addresses and Social Security numbers.

Hart Stebbins said she also did not know until this week that the jail had been granting ICE agents such access.

She said learning about the contacts with ICE “only reinforces my belief that (passing the new resolution) was the right thing to do.”

The resolution, sponsored by Steven Michael Quezada, passed with a 5-0 vote. About 20 members of the public spoke in favor of the new policies prior to the decision.

But ICE says the new rules will make it harder for the federal agency to do its job.

ICE spokeswoman Leticia Zamarripa said deportation officers from the Criminal Alien Program regularly visit MDC to review records for every newly arrested inmate and “identify removable aliens following their criminal arrest or conviction.”

It places “immigration detainers” on those it identifies, which ask that authorities notify ICE when they are being released and keep them for up to 48 additional hours until ICE can assume custody.

But it is unclear to whom ICE submits the detainers in Bernalillo County; Zamarripa did not answer that question, and Hopkins said the jail does not get them, honor them or hold inmates past their release date for the federal agency.

“Since MDC currently does not honor ICE detainers, preventing ICE’s access to MDC’s on-site public files would further hinder ICE’s public-safety efforts,” Zamarripa said in a written statement.

Corey Price, field office director for ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations in El Paso, said the agency will continue its push.

“ICE remains committed to taking aggressive action against threats to our local communities despite the misguided efforts of those who ultimately want to shield dangerous criminals from being deported back to their home countries after they are ordered deported following their legal due process,” he said in a written statement.

But those who support the resolution say the measure could actually improve public safety. It can help build more trust in the county, including among immigrants who want to report crimes or access public safety services, said Marian J. Méndez-Cera, a community organizer from the advocacy group El Centro de Igualdad y Derechos.

“What we know is that the local uptick of ICE activity under the Trump administration terrorizes our communities, separates parents from their children, and has had a chilling impact on public safety,” she said in a written statement. “The resolution will not limit or prevent local law enforcement officials from arresting a person who has been charged with a crime and holding that person accountable by the justice system.”