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DOJ: Bernalillo County Must Hand Over Immigration Data

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — The U.S. Justice Department is including New Mexico's most populous county in an effort to pressure cities to cooperate with federal immigration authorities.

Bernalillo County was one of roughly two dozen jurisdictions to receive warning letters Wednesday from the Justice Department. Federal officials are threatening to issue subpoenas to jurisdictions that aren't relinquishing documents showing they aren't withholding information about the immigration status of people in custody.

The department has repeatedly threatened to deny millions of dollars in important grant money from communities that refuse to share such information with federal authorities.

Bernalillo County spokeswoman Tiffany Chamblee did not immediately respond to an email.

Gabriela Hernandez, executive director of New Mexico Dream Team, says the letters are aimed at terrorizing immigrant communities across the country.