By Julia Goldberg | Editor-in-Chief
Good morning, folks. It’s Wednesday and, if Tuesday serves as any indication, we’re having a busy news week. Below you’ll find the latest on the state’s battle with the federal government over documents related to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein’s time in New Mexico; new data on ICE arrests here and nationwide; and the rising tension in the Democratic contest for lieutenant governor, among many other stories. Find even more to read at sourcenm.com.
Members of New Mexico’s Democratic Party will cast votes starting July 25, 2026, and choose between state Sen. Harold Pope (D-N.M.) and Commissioner of Public Lands Stephanie Garcia Richard for the party’s Nov. 3 general election lieutenant governor candidate. (Courtesy photos)
New Mexico Democratic lieutenant governor race heats up, with ‘mudslinging,’ high-profile endorsements
Four days before an election takes place to name the New Mexico Democratic Party’s lieutenant governor nominee in the Nov. 3 general election, accusations are flying among Democrats supporting the two main candidates. Source’s Patrick Lohmann has the latest in the race between state Sen. Harold Pope (D-Albuquerque) and state Land Commissioner Stephanie Garcia Richard, including actress and activist Jane Fonda’s endorsement for the latter.
The Behavioral Health Reform and Investment Act’s executive committee — from left to right: Dr. Violette Cloud, Behavioral Health Services Division Director Nick Boukas, Health Care Authority Secretary Kari Armijo and Administrative Office of the Courts Director Karl Reifsteck — pictured last August. (Source NM file photo)
New Mexico lawmakers express frustration with long process to rebuild behavioral health system
Democratic and Republican New Mexico lawmakers expressed frustration this week over the slow rollout of a program meant to revive the state’s behavioral health system, Source’s Joshua Bowling reports. “It’s a something-show. I’ll just say that,” State Rep. Elizabeth “Liz” Thomson (D-Albuquerque), who chairs the interim Legislative Health and Human Services Committee, said during a hearing earlier this week.
New Mexico’s two largest immigrant detention facilities have experienced increases in detainees since April, according to newly released data from the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency that also shows a nationwide spike in arrests. (Photo by Nicole Neri/Minnesota Reformer)
ICE arrests reach new high, with increases at 2 New Mexico immigrant detention facilities
Immigration arrests reached 1,593 per day in early July in a new push to detain and deport immigrants, according to statistics released Monday by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement reflecting new bookings into detention facilities. New Mexico’s two largest immigrant detention facilities, the Otero County Processing Center in Chaparral and Torrance County Detention Facility in Estancia, each saw their average daily populations increase by roughly 30 detainees between April and July.
Protesters gather March 8, 2026, near the entrance of Jeffrey Epstein's Zorro Ranch outside of Santa Fe to help rebuild the Survivor Memorial. (Photo by Roberto E. Rosales/Getty Images)
Former New Mexico AG says federal prosecutors haven’t honored Epstein investigation agreement
Federal prosecutors investigating the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein “to this day” have not upheld an agreement to share New Mexico-related materials with the state’s top law enforcement agency. So wrote former New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas in a Monday letter to Attorney General Raúl Torrez, Source’s Joshua Bowling reports.
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