The proposed bill establishes a new "Border Security Division" within the New Mexico Department of Public Safety, tasked with preventing illegal entry and enforcing immigration laws, as well as 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 bill empowers the Governor to create an interstate compact for border security, facilitating collaboration among states on law enforcement intelligence and resources to combat illegal activities at the border.

The legislation also revises penalties for drug trafficking, particularly imposing harsher sentences for offenses resulting in death, with a minimum twelve-year sentence for first offenses that lead to death. It introduces new definitions and classifications for trafficking and establishes fines for various felony offenses, including $17,500 for first-degree felonies resulting in death due to drug trafficking. The bill allocates significant funding for public safety initiatives, including $30 million for border patrol, $15 million for fentanyl addiction health services, and $10 million for local law enforcement equipment. It emphasizes the urgency of these measures by declaring an immediate effective date for its provisions.

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