An Eastern New Mexico law enforcement agency has become the first in the state to partner with federal immigration authorities to assist in the Trump administration’s deportation efforts.

The Curry County Sheriff’s Office on May 9 signed a formal deal with Immigration and Customs Enforcement to place an ICE-trained warrant service officer in the county jail to carry out duties that otherwise would fall to ICE agents.

While hundreds of local agencies nationwide have agreed to aid in the federal immigration crackdown, Curry County is the first in New Mexico to do so, and the deal comes despite attempts from the state Legislature and resolutions by elected officials in more liberal locales to prohibit such cooperation.

ICE has 641 active partnerships with local and state agencies, with 82

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