> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.newmexicomadness.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # HB 9's Job Apocalypse - URL: https://www.newmexicomadness.com/hb-9s-job-apocalypse/ - Published: 2026-03-13T13:10:47.000Z - Updated: 2026-03-13T13:10:47.000Z - Author: Duke of New Mexico - Tags: State Democrats rammed HB 9 ("Immigrant Safety Act") through the Roundhouse—signed Feb 5 by Gov. MLG, effective \~May 20—banning counties from ICE detention contracts. Slashing **700+ direct jobs**, $50M payroll, tens of millions tax revenue from Otero, Torrance, Cibola counties. All to protect non-citizens over New Mexicans facing 18.4% poverty, 4.2% unemployment. [nmlegis](https://www.nmlegis.gov/Legislation/Legislation?Chamber=H&LegType=B&LegNo=9&year=26&ref=newmexicomadness.com) ## Economic Carnage in Deep-Red Counties **Otero, Torrance, Cibola**—deep-red strongholds voting **65–80% Republican** consistently—hammered hardest. HB 9 kills: - **Otero Processing Center**: 300 jobs, $3M annual taxes, $45M bond debt thru 2028—Alamogordo/Chapparal face ghost-town. - **Torrance Detention**: $2.4M/month ICE payments, hundreds employed—Estancia collapses. - **Cibola Correctional**: 180 jobs lost, $20M hit, 18% Milan's water/sewer budget gone—Grants starves. Total: **$545K+ state revenue loss** yearly from GRT/income taxes. Businesses crater; spouses/kids lose federal healthcare; moves empty housing; multipliers hit **$50–100M** statewide. [cibolacitizen](https://www.cibolacitizen.com/news/hb-9-signed-law-cibola-braces-jobs-and-revenue-loss-cibola-county-correctional-center-closure?ref=newmexicomadness.com) **Sick Partisan Play**: Dems targeted **red counties**—80% Trump voters—eliminating federal jobs so families become SNAP-dependent, ripe for blue votes. That's weaponizing poverty against neighbors cashing Friday paychecks. $11B trust fund (oil taxes) could fund trade schools/hospitals/**tax relief**—instead funds immigrant detainee lawyers while red counties bleed. [nmlegis](https://www.nmlegis.gov/Members/Political%5FComposition?ref=newmexicomadness.com) ## Baffling Betrayal Immigrants get tuition/emergency Medicaid/school seats—HB 9 adds: kill citizen jobs for their "safety." [cibolacitizen](https://www.cibolacitizen.com/news/hb-9-signed-law-cibola-braces-jobs-and-revenue-loss-cibola-county-correctional-center-closure?ref=newmexicomadness.com) ## What Now? Fight Back + King-for-a-Day Fix HB 9 signed—**don't quit**. **Best odds: Supremacy lawsuits** (feds preempt state; precedents win)—counties/CoreCivic filing soon. **Nov '26 elections**: Full legislature + new gov (MLG out) repeal Day 1\. [citydesk](https://citydesk.org/2026/02/05/new-nm-law-sparks-ice-showdown-will-this-new-law-change-operations-at-mdc/?ref=newmexicomadness.com) **Hypothetical King-for-a-Day**: Call **special session** (MLG can)—stakeholders (counties/CoreCivic/DHS) reverse HB 9 via simple vote. **Brass tacks**: Saves 5K families (direct + multipliers), $100M revenue. Win-win-win—citizens, parties, state. Dems: Bargain DHS/ICE for billions (FY26 \~$30B+ detention flush under Trump budget)—grab NM jobs/funds. Iron's hot to bring more Fed jobs to the state; no leaders tried. Blown opportunity. [nilc](https://www.nilc.org/articles/amidst-ice-and-cbps-brutal-violence-congress-is-planning-to-give-them-even-more-money/?ref=newmexicomadness.com) **3-Min Action**: - **Change GOP/Indie**: sos.nm.gov (DL#)—primaries June 2. - **Email legislators**: "Unite for 5K families' rebuild!" nmlegis.gov. - **Track lawsuits**: "HB 9 ICE challenge." Turn job loss into flip—vote. Demand bipartisan fix now. [nmlegis](https://www.nmlegis.gov/Members/Political%5FComposition?ref=newmexicomadness.com) ## Endnotes Otero 300 jobs/$3M - kob.com [nmlegis](https://www.nmlegis.gov/Legislation/Legislation?Chamber=H&LegType=B&LegNo=9&year=26&ref=newmexicomadness.com) Cibola 180/$20M - cibolacitizen.com [aclu-nm](https://www.aclu-nm.org/press-releases/governor-signs-immigrant-safety-act-into-law/?ref=newmexicomadness.com) Torrance $2.4M/mo - kunm.org [legiscan](https://legiscan.com/NM/bill/HB9/2026?ref=newmexicomadness.com) State rev $545K - nmlegis.gov [nmlegis](https://www.nmlegis.gov/Sessions/26%20Regular/bills/house/HB0009.HTML?ref=newmexicomadness.com) Multiplier $50-100M - searchlightnm.org [aclu-nm](https://www.aclu-nm.org/press-releases/new-mexico-senate-passes-immigrant-safety-act-sending-historic-legislation-to-governors-desk/?ref=newmexicomadness.com) Poverty 18.4%/SNAP 21% - snapbenefitshelp.com [youtube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XRppNuu9QoU&ref=newmexicomadness.com) Child pov 43% - nmvoices.org [nilc](https://www.nilc.org/articles/amidst-ice-and-cbps-brutal-violence-congress-is-planning-to-give-them-even-more-money/?ref=newmexicomadness.com) Unemp 4.2% - bls.gov [legiscan](https://legiscan.com/NM/research/HB9/2026?ref=newmexicomadness.com) Voting 65-80% R - sos.nm.gov [governor.state.nm](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2025/09/30/governor-convenes-special-legislative-session-to-address-federal-funding-cuts-and-budget-crisis/?ref=newmexicomadness.com) Quotes - pinonpost.com [humanrightsfirst](https://humanrightsfirst.org/library/stop-enabling-ices-dangerous-detention-and-reckless-deportation-drive-oppose-additional-funding-in-the-fy2026-homeland-security-appropriations-bill/?ref=newmexicomadness.com) Trust $11B - governor.nm.us [nmpoliticalreport](https://nmpoliticalreport.com/2026/02/05/bill-to-close-ice-facilities-in-new-mexico-signed-into-law-by-gov/?ref=newmexicomadness.com) Signed/effective - nmlegis.gov [nmvoices](https://www.nmvoices.org/archives/19944?ref=newmexicomadness.com) DHS budget - nilc.org [democrats-appropriations.house](http://democrats-appropriations.house.gov/news/press-releases/appropriations-committees-release-homeland-security-funding-bill?ref=newmexicomadness.com) SOS - sos.nm.gov [governor.state.nm](https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2026/03/11/governor-signs-state-budget-capital-outlay-bills-and-tax-package/?ref=newmexicomadness.com)