New Mexico Governor on Using National Guard to Combat Crime

National Guard Deployment in Albuquerque

• 🎯 Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham deployed approximately 70 National Guard members to support Albuquerque police, aiming to enhance public safety.
• 💡 The governor emphasized that this initiative is about cooperation and supporting community policing, not occupation, and provides resources to officers.
• 🚔 The National Guard's role focuses on surveillance, arrest transportation, booking, and dispatch, freeing up police officers for more direct community engagement.
• 📈 This strategic support has led to an increase in policing hours, resulting in more arrests and deterrence.

Distinguishing State vs. Federal Deployments

• 🤝 Unlike federal deployments, New Mexico's approach avoids militarization, with the National Guard operating behind direct community policing efforts.
• ⚖️ The Albuquerque Police Department remains in charge of operations, with state police and the National Guard providing integrated support.

Sustainability and Federal Assistance

• ⏳ While sustainable in the near future, the governor highlighted the need for long-term federal assistance to maintain public safety efforts.
• 🏛️ She requested more federal resources, including federal prosecutors, U.S. Marshals, FBI, DEA, and ATF personnel, to bolster state and local law enforcement capabilities.
• 📉 The deployment addresses a deficit of approximately 1000 police officers in Albuquerque compared to a decade ago.

"Sanctuary Cities" Designation and Immigration Enforcement

• 🚫 Governor Grisham stated that no law enforcement jurisdiction in New Mexico has agreed to cooperate with the Trump administration's request for assistance with immigration enforcement and detention.
• ⚖️ She believes such cooperation would detract from core public safety work and is potentially unconstitutional and indiscriminate.
• 📜 The governor advocates for congressional action on a bipartisan immigration bill to create a legal pathway for entry and address border security.