A federal judge has ruled that a DACA recipient whose detention has been challenged in court must be released from custody. Late Wednesday, U.S. District Judge William P. Johnson of the U.S. District Court of New Mexico granted a petition for a writ of habeas corpus directing the federal government to immediately release 28-year-old Paulo […]
Author Archives: Alex Ross
Alex Ross is a senior politics and legislative reporter for the New Mexico Political Report. He began his career in daily journalism in Montana and previously worked as a breaking news and politics reporter for the Roswell Daily Record and as the Roswell Bureau Chief for KOB.
Posted inHealthcare
Report: New Mexico Medicaid more expensive, with diminished quality
Access to healthcare services in New Mexico has, in many cases, not improved, and the burdens on the state’s Medicaid have increased in recent years, according to a new report. Staff from the Legislative Finance Committee discussed the findings from the 2025 Medicaid Accountability Report with state lawmakers on Tuesday during an interim committee meeting […]
Posted inPolitics & Elections
Bregman would back ban on local immigrant detention centers, limit arrests of immigrants without other crimes
New Mexico Democratic candidate for governor Sam Bregman expressed opposition Friday to using state and local resources to enforce federal immigration law, unless it involves a criminal suspect who represents a serious threat to public safety. Bregman, who is also the Bernalillo County district attorney, told New Mexico Political Report in a phone interview on […]
Posted inCourts, Justice & Safety
Española police chief addresses unease over National Guard deployment
New Mexico National Guard troops could soon be deployed to Española and Rio Arriba County to address a surge in crime and public safety concerns. Española Police Chief Mizel Garcia told members of the Courts, Corrections, and Justice Committee of the New Mexico Legislature that his department and the New Mexico National Guard have been […]
Posted inPolitics & Elections
Former APD detective, state legislative candidate seeks to challenge Rep. Vasquez in CD-2
A retired Albuquerque Police detective and two-time candidate for the New Mexico House of Representatives will challenge Rep. Gabe Vasquez, D-NM-02, next year in a key congressional swing district. Punch Bowl News reported last week that Gregory Cunningham is mulling a run for the Republican nomination to take on Vasquez in 2026. On Monday, Paul […]
Posted inCongress & Federal Gov
New Mexico Democrats stand against GOP federal funding plans without healthcare cost fix
Two bills to avert a government shutdown each went down to defeat in the Senate on Friday. One of the proposals, a continuing resolution that would keep the federal government funded up through Nov. 21, cleared the U.S. House of Representatives 217-212. Reps. Melanie Stansbury, D-NM-01, Gabe Vasquez, D-NM-02, and Teresa Leger Fernandez, D-NM-03, voted […]
Posted inPolitics & Elections
Gubernatorial race heats up: Bregman challenges Haaland to policy showdown
Democratic candidate for governor Sam Bregman unveiled a sweeping set of policy plans Thursday and challenged his chief rival for the party’s nomination, Deb Haaland, to engage him in a policy debate on the campaign trail. “She can bring her plans, or if she doesn’t have them, she can debate mine. I am sure we […]
Posted inNew Mexico
Contractors push back on immigrant detention center closures
The companies that manage the three New Mexico immigrant detention centers are pushing back against a new report that recommends closing those facilities due to concerns over the alleged mistreatment of detainees and unsafe conditions. Last week, the New Mexico Advisory Committee to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights released a report entitled “Civil Rights […]
Posted inNM Legislature
Lujan Grisham, GOP at odds over special session
Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham (D-NM) and legislative Republicans are openly clashing about the necessity for next month’s special legislative session and what the priorities should be taken up when lawmakers return to Santa Fe. Top Republicans, in a letter to the governor released on Monday, called for her to provide them with additional information, including […]
Posted inPolitics & Elections
Zuni Pueblo leaders back Haaland’s bid for governor
Leaders of the Zuni Pueblo have declared their support for former Interior Secretary Deb Haaland’s bid for the Democratic nomination for governor. New Mexico Political Report was the first to report the endorsement. The Haaland campaign later revealed the endorsement in a press release, which featured a statement from Zuni Pueblo Governor Arden Kucate, describing […]