Governor Signs Bill To Make Human Trafficking A State Crime

SANTA FE (AP) – Human trafficking will be a separate, felony crime in New Mexico under a new law taking effect in July.

Gov. Bill Richardson signed the human trafficking legislation into law on Friday in Las Cruces. The measure was sought by Attorney General Gary King and was sponsored by Sen. Mary Jane Garcia, a Dona Ana Democrat.

New Mexico was the only border state that did not have a separate crime against human trafficking.

Proponents of the legislation warned that New Mexico could become a corridor for what they said was the equivalent of modern-day slavery.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)