Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham declared an emergency state in the largest city in New Mexico on Tuesday, saying that a significantly increased in the crime in Albuquerque guarantees the help of the National Guard of New Mexico.
She signed an executive order, cleaning the way for several troops of boxes to be deployed along the historic corridor of Route 66 in mid -May. The order also accumulates state funds for the National Guard to use them as part of the effort.
The training for 60 to 70 troops is already underway, said the governor’s office.
The governors generally call the National Guard to help with natural disasters such as forest fires, earthquakes, tornadoes and hurricanes.
Governors in recent years have also ordered troops to address illegal crosses at the border between the United States and Mexico. In New York last year, the National Guard helped patrol the subway system after a series of high profile crimes.
In New Mexico, the Albuquerque Police Chief, Harold Medina, called him a crucial moment for the National Guard to provide support that gives police officers more time to patrol the streets for the crime.
The mayor of Medina and Albuquerque, Tim Keller, indicated a great duration of the table, a press conference, saying that almost all categories of crimes have decreased since the beginning of the year due to the work that the police force is already doing.
The National Guard will not get involved with the public, they said, but will assume duties that drain the moment of the jurors, such as directing traffic.
Troops can help ensure crime scenes, distribute food and supplies to the population of homeless people through the corridor, transport prisoners, provide court security and perform drones operations used to locate suspects or evaluate incidents, authorities said.
The surveillance groups have Conerns that the militarization of the police will civilize civil rights violations.
Daniel Williams, defender of policy of the ACLU of New Mexico, described the action of the governor as a sample of force, not a solution.
“New Mexico already has one of the highest people’s rates per capita killed by the police in the nation,” said Williams.
“History has shown that military collaboration with the application of the local law for conducting the greatest violations of civil rights, the racial profile and the criminalization of vulnerable populations, particularly those that experience the lack of housing and poverty.”
It is not the first time that Lujan Grisham tries to take advantage of state resources to address high crime rates in Albuquerque.
In 2021, the two -period Democrat temporarily assigned state police officers to the area to help local authorities address vehicles, drug trafficking, aggressive driving and apprehension or violent criminals with warrants.
The previous year, then President Donald Trump sent federal agents, including national security officers, to Albuquerque as part of an effort to contain violent crimes. He also addressed Chicago and other American cities with the increase in resources.
Lujan Grisham’s last emergency statement follows a March 31 application of the Albuquerque Police Chief, who pointed out the fentanyl epidemic and an increase in violent youth crime.
Medina wrote that progress has been done in the leg to reduce shootings and aggravated assaults throughout what is known as Central Avenue, but that more resources are needed.
The New Mexico Legislature was postponed last month, causing many criticisms of the law leaders, prosecutors and even the governor for not properly promoting public security in Albuquerque and other communities in New Mexico.
Statistics published by the Albuquerque Police Department in February showed a 11% decrease in aggravated assaults in 2024 compared to the previous year, while homicides decreased for the second consecutive year.
