Amid rising crime rates, New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham has declared a state of emergency in Albuquerque and authorized the deployment of the New Mexico National Guard to assist local law enforcement. The executive order, signed Tuesday, marks a significant and unprecedented step in addressing public safety concerns in the state’s largest city.
Beginning in mid-May, 60 to 70 National Guard troops will be stationed along Albuquerque’s historic Route 66 corridor. Their mission will be supportive rather than enforcement-based, focusing on tasks such as traffic control, securing crime scenes, transporting detainees, and operating drones to assist in suspect searches and incident assessments. Additionally, troops will help distribute food and supplies to the area’s growing homeless population.
Governor Lujan Grisham’s order unlocks state funding for the deployment, and training for the Guard members is already underway. This move comes in response to increasing pressure on local police, who have faced mounting challenges amid a surge in violent crime, drug activity, and homelessness.
At a press conference alongside Mayor Tim Keller, Albuquerque Police Chief Harold Medina said the deployment would relieve some of the burden on police officers, allowing them to focus more on crime prevention and community patrols. While he highlighted a recent decline in various crime categories, including an 11% drop in aggravated assaults, Medina stressed that ongoing support is critical to sustaining progress.
“The National Guard will not have direct contact with the public,” Medina explained. “They will serve in a backup capacity, enabling our officers to focus on more immediate law enforcement duties.”
However, the decision has sparked backlash from civil rights groups. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of New Mexico raised concerns over what it calls the “militarization” of policing and warned about potential civil rights violations, especially among marginalized groups.
“This is a show of force, not a real solution,” said Daniel Williams, a policy advocate for the ACLU. “New Mexico already has one of the highest rates of police-involved fatalities in the nation. Adding military presence to law enforcement has historically led to racial profiling and the criminalization of vulnerable communities.”
Though controversial, the deployment isn’t without precedent. In recent years, governors across the U.S. have utilized National Guard units to respond to a variety of crises, from natural disasters to border security. In 2021, Lujan Grisham sent state police officers to Albuquerque to help address rising incidents of vehicle theft, drug trafficking, and reckless driving.
This latest action follows a plea from Chief Medina, who cited the ongoing fentanyl crisis and a troubling rise in violent juvenile crime. His letter to the governor highlighted persistent safety issues along Central Avenue, an area long plagued by shootings and assaults.
The emergency declaration also comes on the heels of a legislative session that ended without significant public safety reforms, disappointing law enforcement officials and the governor herself. Despite progress shown in recent crime data, local leaders remain concerned that without consistent backing from state and federal partners, the improvements could stall.
As the National Guard prepares to take up support roles in Albuquerque, the city stands at a crossroads—navigating the delicate balance between enhancing public safety and protecting civil liberties. This debate is expected to remain front and center as the deployment unfolds in the weeks ahead.
