Democratic Gov Deploys National Guard To Sanctuary City Over ‘Fentanyl Crisis And Juvenile Crime’

New Mexico Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham recently approved the deployment of the state’s National Guard personnel to support Albuquerque, a sanctuary city reeling under criminal activity.

Grisham signed an executive order Monday declaring an emergency in the city of Albuquerque and authorizing $750,000 in emergency funds for the state’s National Guard, ordering the service to provide “military support to civil authorities.” The order came in response to an emergency request from the Albuquerque Police Department (APD) which said the “fentanyl epidemic” and “juvenile crime” require “immediate intervention” on March 31.

The governor authorized 60-70 National Guard personnel to be deployed to the city in Mid-May, according to a statement released Tuesday.

“The safety of New Mexicans is my top priority,” Grisham said. “By deploying our National Guard to support APD with essential duties, we’re ensuring that trained police officers can focus on what they do best – keeping our communities safe. This partnership represents our commitment to addressing the fentanyl crisis and juvenile crime with every resource at our disposal.”

The National Guard personnel are training under the supervision of the New Mexico Department of Homeland Security, Department of Public Safety, State Police and APD, according to the press release. This “strategic employment” will support the city in several areas to “improve public safety and quality of life for Albuquerque residents by addressing immediate needs while working toward long-term solutions to the city’s most pressing public safety challenges,” the statement reads.