In recent years, there have been at least five known cases of babies born and abandoned in the state. Two of them died. So, the legislature has submitted bills to close the legal loopholes regarding Safe Haven "baby boxes."
"It was stopped, and it was pulled by the governor," laments Eliza Martinez of the New Mexico Alliance for Life. "A deal was made between the governor of New Mexico, who's a pro-abortion up to birth radical politician, to pull the bill. She then cut a check for funding for every county to receive I believe $10,000. So, $333,000 was allocated for baby boxes."
Though that was in 2022, the vast majority of counties still remain boxless. As of April 2023, only Lea County had used the funds to install one at a fire station in Hobbs, and it has already saved the lives of at least two newborns.
Meanwhile, the state's Safe Haven Law allows new mothers 90 days to surrender a newborn at any hospital, fire, or police station with a staff member present without any criminal charges. The baby boxes simply allow the mother to do so anonymously.
There are no campaigns to let counties know this money is available, but all they have to do is submit a quote to the Department of Finance to receive the funds. Still, Martinez wonders why Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham (D) would get in the way of legislation to get the boxes installed.
"These last two years, the bill has gone nowhere … because the governor is not supportive of this legislation," the pro-lifer explains. "She doesn't want to give a victory to pro-lifers, and she doesn't want to give a victory to any political opponents of hers. So, some counties are not moving forward, and it's so sad, because the babies suffer."
In order to remove any potential legal conflicts in the state, New Mexico Alliance for Life says the Safe Haven Baby Box bill must be passed in the legislature's special session next month.
