The New Mexico National Guard has been deployed to Albuquerque to help local authorities manage what officials call a major crime crisis.
Around 60 to 70 troops are now assisting the Albuquerque Police Department after an emergency request from the city, citing a fentanyl epidemic and a rise in violent crime involving juveniles.
Unlike recent high-profile federal troop deployments to cities like Washington, D.C. and Los Angeles, these National Guard troops are not carrying weapons and are not making arrests. Instead, they are performing support roles, such as:
Listening to police radio calls
Monitoring traffic cameras
Securing crime scene perimeters
Managing traffic during investigations
The decision came after Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham, a Democrat, issued a state of emergency for Rio Arriba County, the city of Española, and nearby pueblos. Those areas have been struggling with drug trafficking, violent crime, and high overdose rates—Rio Arriba has the highest overdose death rate in the state.
“The Guard’s role is clearly defined and focused on support without enforcement,” said Albuquerque Police Chief Harold Medina, addressing concerns about militarization.
Officials say the Guard will not arrest, detain, use force, or participate in immigration enforcement. They are there to free up police officers for frontline law enforcement.
Early results show some progress: shootings in Albuquerque are down 20% compared to last year, according to city data.
This approach contrasts sharply with former President Donald Trump’s decision to send armed federal troops to major cities like Washington and Los Angeles in recent years, often without requests from local officials. Governor Grisham criticized Trump’s actions as “executive overreach,” saying her approach works with local leaders rather than overriding them.
Meanwhile, legal debates continue over whether federal troop deployments violate the Posse Comitatus Act, which bars the military from engaging in domestic law enforcement. Experts warn that using troops for policing sets a dangerous precedent.
For now, New Mexico’s strategy is to support police without crossing into enforcement, as communities hope for relief from rising crime.
