New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham has deployed state National Guard troops to assist local police in combating crime surges and drug epidemics across multiple jurisdictions. The unarmed troops provide non-enforcement support to overwhelmed police departments, with early data suggesting positive impacts on violent crime rates while raising questions about the appropriate role of military personnel in domestic law enforcement.
Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham, a Democrat, authorized the deployment at the request of local governments struggling with violent crime and drug trafficking. The initial deployment sent 60-70 troops to Albuquerque in June 2025, with a recent expansion to Rio Arriba County, Española, and surrounding pueblos announced on August 17 following emergency declarations. Rio Arriba County has the state’s highest overdose death rate, while Albuquerque cited a fentanyl epidemic and juvenile crime crisis as primary concerns.
The National Guard members perform strictly supportive, non-law enforcement duties while wearing civilian-style polo shirts instead of military fatigues. Their responsibilities include monitoring police dispatches, observing traffic cameras, securing crime scene perimeters, and handling administrative tasks – intentionally avoiding arrests, use of force, or immigration enforcement. This contrasts sharply with recent federal troop deployments in other cities, where armed soldiers in combat uniforms have engaged directly in policing activities.
The deployment responds to alarming crime statistics across multiple jurisdictions. Albuquerque police reported being overwhelmed by drug-related violence and juvenile offenses, while Rio Arriba County faces what the governor’s office describes as a ‘significant surge’ in violent crime and trafficking. Early results in Albuquerque show promise, with city officials reporting a 20% reduction in shootings compared to 2024, which they partially attribute to the Guard’s support freeing officers for frontline duties.
Governor Grisham has framed her deployment as a collaborative state-local partnership, directly contrasting it with President Trump’s federal interventions in Washington D.C. and Los Angeles, which she criticized as ‘executive overreach.’ Legal experts note that while governors command their state’s National Guard, federal deployments face ongoing court challenges regarding potential violations of the Posse Comitatus Act – a 19th-century law restricting military involvement in domestic policing.
As the expansion to new jurisdictions begins, questions remain about long-term effectiveness and appropriate scope. The New Mexico model demonstrates how Guard resources can supplement local law enforcement without direct policing, though experts caution that military personnel traditionally train for external threats, not community policing. Meanwhile, federal courts continue examining the legality of presidential deployments elsewhere, with rulings likely to influence future military-civilian law enforcement relationships nationwide.