The bill establishes a new "Border Security Division" within the New Mexico Department of Public Safety, tasked with preventing illegal entry and enforcing immigration laws, including operating checkpoints. The division will be led by a director appointed by the Secretary of Public Safety and will provide technical assistance to local law enforcement. Additionally, the Governor is empowered to create an interstate compact for border security with other states to enhance intelligence sharing and resource allocation against illegal activities at the border.

Moreover, the legislation revises penalties for drug trafficking offenses, particularly those resulting in death, by introducing stricter sentencing guidelines, such as a minimum of twelve years for first offenses leading to death and life imprisonment for first-degree felonies in similar cases. It also imposes new fines for specific felonies, including $17,500 for first-degree felonies resulting in a child's death and $12,500 for second-degree felonies related to drug trafficking that results in death. The bill allocates substantial funding for public safety initiatives, including $30 million for border patrol security, $15 million for fentanyl addiction services, and $10 million for local law enforcement equipment, with an immediate effective date to address urgent public safety concerns.

Statutes affected:
introduced version: 9-19-4, 30-31-20, 30-31-21, 30-31-22, 31-18-15