As New Mexico's National Guard returns from the Guantanamo Bay detention camp in Cuba [See "Git Back"], state Republicans are backing legislation to make sure the Guard's work--handling terrorism suspects and "enemy combatants"--doesn't follow them home.

During the New Mexico House of Representative's Saturday floor session, Rep. Kathy McCoy, R-Bernalillo, introduced her first bill of the session: HB 778, "NO GUANTANAMO BAY DETAINEES IN NEW MEXICO." The bill would prevent the federal government from transporting current or former Gitmo detainees through New Mexico or holding them in the state. The bill also includes a clause specifically barring private prison corporations--New Mexico's got them in excess--from accepting contracts to detain these suspects.

Nearly the entire House Republican caucus signed onto the bill. Republican legislators in Texas introduced identical legislation on Feb. 12.