County commissioners approved an emergency agreement Friday after YesCare employees at the detention center reportedly missed a scheduled paycheck.

Organ Mountain News report

LAS CRUCES - Doña Ana County commissioners approved an emergency agreement Friday to provide backpay to healthcare workers at the Doña Ana County Detention Center after contractor YesCare Corporation filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

During a special meeting Friday, the Board of County Commissioners approved a memorandum of agreement allowing the county to pay past-due wages owed to YesCare employees assigned to the detention center.

According to the county, the agreement covers employees who were scheduled to receive pay on May 8 but had not been paid as of Friday.

The county said the amount paid to workers will be deducted from an upcoming payment previously scheduled to go to YesCare for May services.

“This agreement is very limited; it does allow us to pay YesCare employees. It does not create an employee-employer relationship with those employees,” County Attorney Cari Neill said in a statement released Friday.

YesCare was contracted in November 2024 to provide healthcare and mental health services at the detention center.

County officials said YesCare filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on May 8.

The county also announced it will begin an emergency procurement process to secure another healthcare provider for the detention center. Commissioners are expected to receive an update on that process during their next regular meeting May 26.

County officials said Friday’s action was intended to ensure healthcare services continue uninterrupted at the detention center.