New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham (D) declared a state of emergency on Thursday in Rio Arriba County, including Española and nearby Pueblo communities, following a spike in violent crime and drug trafficking that has overwhelmed local resources.
The order authorizes state agencies to provide additional support to local law enforcement and public safety officials.
The state will provide $750,000 to the New Mexico Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management to support local authorities.
These funds will be used to coordinate law enforcement efforts and supply resources to communities until the immediate public safety threats are addressed.
“When our local leaders called for help to protect their communities, we responded immediately with decisive action,” Grisham said in a press release.
“We are making every resource available to support our local partners on the ground and restore public safety and stability to these areas that have been hardest hit by this crisis.”
The emergency declaration comes shortly after President Donald Trump announced the deployment of hundreds of National Guard troops to Washington, D.C., and the federalization of the city’s police force.
The decision prompted Grisham to label the move a “massive executive overreach” in a joint statement with Democratic Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller.
The two officials stressed that New Mexico is managing public safety challenges with state and local resources rather than federal intervention, The Daily Caller reports.
Police reports indicate that calls in Española and surrounding areas have more than doubled over the past two years, while business dispatches have quadrupled.
Rio Arriba County also has the highest overdose death rate in the state, fueled in part by fentanyl and other illicit drugs.
Local law enforcement will work alongside state agencies to deploy personnel and resources where they are most needed.
This includes additional patrols, traffic control, securing crime scenes and supporting investigative efforts.
Officials hope these measures will stabilize the area while allowing police to focus on critical law enforcement responsibilities.
The emergency order also emphasizes community outreach, with state agencies coordinating programs to educate residents on safety practices, reporting suspicious activity and preventing drug abuse.
Officials encourage citizens to participate actively in maintaining public safety and to work closely with law enforcement to reduce local risks.
This is not the first time Grisham has used a state of emergency to respond to rising crime.
She issued a similar order in Albuquerque in April, which included deploying the New Mexico National Guard to assist local police amid a surge in criminal activity.
Grisham also faced criticism in October 2024 after deciding not to renew a temporary public health order that had banned carrying firearms in public parks and playgrounds in Albuquerque.
The order, initially intended to reduce gun violence, drew pushback from both Democrats and Republicans, according to NBC News.
The emergency in Rio Arriba County underscores ongoing challenges in rural New Mexico, highlighting issues that appear to affect other Democrat-led cities nationwide, where rising violent crime and drug-related deaths continue to strain local resources.
The post Gov. Who Slammed Trump’s D.C. Takeover Now Declares Emergency in New Mexico appeared first on Resist the Mainstream.
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Author: Gloriel Howard
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