Governor announces deployment of National Guard into Albuquerque (2025)

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham (D-NM) on Tuesday declared a state of emergency in Albuquerque and announced the deployment of National Guard personnel into the state's largest city to assist police in dealing with heightened levels of juvenile crime and fentanyl.

Lujan Grisham's office said in a press release that between 60 and 70 Guard personnel will be introduced into Albuquerque in mid-May.

“The safety of New Mexicans is my top priority. By deploying the 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,” Lujan Grisham said.

The press release states that members of the Guard are already undergoing training from the APD, New Mexico State Police, New Mexico Department of Public Safety and New Mexico Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management.

What the governor's office describes as a strategic deployment will free up APD officers and resources for enforcement while ensuring that essential services will continue to be provided.

“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 press release stated.

Duties in which Guard personnel will assist include humanitarian and medical assistance along Central Avenue, assistance with prisoner transport, heightened transit security, providing security in Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court, security at the Albuquerque International Sunport, security and traffic control at certain scenes and operational assistance with the APD drone program.

The governor's action comes in response to a memorandum dated March 31 from APD chief Harold Medina, who stated that while there has been progress made in reducing the city's high crime rates, challenges persist for law enforcement.

Medina stated that the fentanyl epidemic and the increase in juvenile crime can only be effectively addressed through a consistent and visible presence of APD officers on the streets.

Republicans responded to the announcement by accusing Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller, a Democrat, of presiding over a city plagued by rampant crime.

“Make no mistake, this is an election year, and New Mexico’s Democrat(ic) Governor is giving cover to a Democrat(ic)-run city entrenched in crime," Amy Barela, chair of the Republican Party of New Mexico, said in a press release in response to the news of the deployment.

Special session

The announcement comes as Lujan Grisham has warned that she may call New Mexico lawmakers into a special session after they failed to pass legislation meant to deal with juvenile crime.

At a press conference in Santa Fe on Tuesday, Lujan Grisham, who has often taken a more aggressive approach to crime and public safety, said that she and Democrats, who control both legislative chambers, have been engaged in active discussions about a possible special session focused on juvenile crime.

But she indicated that many lawmakers in her party are not yet on board.

“I have not got a 'yes, let's go ahead.' I think I've gotten a warm sense that we should be talking more about it, not less,” she said.

Nonetheless, Lujan Grisham said that she continues to believe the session is necessary, especially in the wake of high-profile shootings, such as the March 21 shooting at Young Park in Las Cruces where two groups of people opened fire on each other, resulting in three deaths and 15 others being wounded.

Tomas Rivas, 20, and three juveniles ranging in age from 14 to 17, have each been charged with murder in that case.

Lujan Grisham explained that New Mexico's juvenile code needs to be updated, and the state needs to be afforded more authority to hold them.

“When we have this kind of crime with youthful offenders who are openly carrying assault weapons, we don't have a system to deal with this,” she said.

Gun violence involving youth remains all too common, Lujan Grisham said, and the state's current juvenile code does need to be amended to take into account the new realities of juveniles committing adult crimes, and that because of current law, some of them might soon have to be released, regardless of the danger they may pose.

“We do not have a body of law that takes these issues into consideration, and we must,” she said.

Republicans had called on Lujan Grisham to call them back into session after adjourning last month to deal with juvenile crime.

Senate Majority Floor Leader Peter Wirth (D-Santa Fe), who was at the press conference, expressed openness to reforming the juvenile code.

“We've not really addressed the juvenile code and the children's code for a long time here and so that is something that needs to be worked through,” he said.

Wirth said he and his counterparts in the House will have to gauge support among members of their caucus.

However, Wirth said the better approach might be for lawmakers to vet proposals related to juvenile crime in the Courts, Corrections and Justice Interim Committee and have a proposal ready for the 30-day regular session in January.

He noted that was the path taken that produced House Bill 8 (H.B. 8), an omnibus crime package that included what had been a top priority for Lujan Grisham, reforming the state's criminal competency code. That bill was passed and signed into law halfway through the recent regular session.

Wirth compared that outcome to the one from a special session Lujan Grisham called in July that ended after five hours without any action on the items she directed lawmakers to take up.

“We certainly got a road map on how to do it and not how to do it,” Wirth said, alluding to a public safety-centered special session called in July but without action on any of her agenda items.

Lujan Grisham agreed that the interim committee was a good vehicle, but lawmakers should start getting to work right away and stressed what she sees as the urgency of the issue.

“Between three and four days a week, I have a teenager with a near-fatal shooting situation,” she said.

Reeb backs special session

The top Republican behind the unsuccessful push in the recent regular session for a bill that would expand the list of criminal offenses for which a juvenile could face adult penalties said she hopes a productive session can be held to deal with youth crime.

“I am hoping that she does call a special session if she wants to address juvenile crime. I think that would be great if we could get that done,” said state Rep. Andrea Reeb (R-Clovis).

Reeb said that if a session was called, she would hope that House Bill 134 (H.B. 134), the juvenile justice bill she sponsored and was backed by the governor.

That bill lowered the age at which a juvenile can be tried as an adult from 15 to 14 and expanded the list of offenses for which a juvenile could be tried as an adult and face adult penalties.

H.B. 134 was ultimately tabled by the House Consumer and Public Affairs Committee.

Reeb said that for the legislation to avoid the same fate this time, the public will need to put pressure on Democratic lawmakers to support it.