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.
“The National Guard will serve as a visible, trusted presence supporting law enforcement duties, which will enhance officer presence in high-crime areas and reinforce community trust through visible engagement,” the Tuesday release continues.
Albuquerque reaffirmed its status as an “immigrant friendly” city during President Donald Trump’s first term in 2018, which meant that city agencies, officers and employees were barred from inquiring about anyone’s “citizenship or immigration status” or use city resources to “facilitate the enforcement of federal immigration law.”
“It’s more important than ever to not only reaffirm our commitment to our immigrant brothers and sisters but to go farther and strengthen that commitment,” Albuquerque City Councilor Pat Davis declared at the time.
Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller told KUNM in November 2024 he’s “very concerned” about the incoming Trump administration. “I’ve seen the Trump show before and, more than most cities, we are prepared and I am prepared to stand up for the City of Albuquerque,” he said.
Trump has taken a strong stance against illegal immigration and illicit drug trafficking across U.S. borders, enabling immigration officials to take decisive action to remove any criminal immigrant illegally residing in the U.S. The Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, along with Trump’s border czar Tom Homan, vowed to pursue sanctuary city mayors who defy federal immigration laws.
New Mexico, which shares a border with Mexico, saw illegal immigration surge under the Biden administration, and the city of Albuquerque has had one of the highest rates of crime in the nation. Though rates decreased in 2024, APD told KRQE news in February that law enforcement made more arrests last year than in 2023 by a 28% increase.
Grisham’s office and the Albuquerque Police Department did not respond to the DCNF’s request for comment.
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