Many critics regard President Trump’s proposition to use the military for handling crime and unrest in urban areas as a disturbing possibility—viewing it as a potential precursor to martial law that could threaten democracy.
However, starting next month, Albuquerque, a city with strong Democratic roots in New Mexico, will see the presence of numerous National Guard troops. Their deployment, orchestrated by Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham, a Democrat, aims to support the overwhelmed police force in tackling the rising violent crime and fentanyl-related issues.
“The crisis in Albuquerque has reached an unacceptable level,” she commented. “We cannot rely on conventional measures any longer.”
Residents wouldn’t dispute the growing violence in the area that runs alongside Route 66, known for its numerous auto shops, immigrant businesses, and working-class homes. Officially called the International District, many locals refer to it as the War Zone.
The governor’s decision to send Guard troops—a sight typically associated with natural disasters—has sparked division among residents, mirroring the internal conflict within the Democratic Party regarding issues of crime and disorder. This has already started to shape discussions among potential Democratic candidates vying to take over her position in Santa Fe.
Some locals welcomed the Guard’s presence, believing it could help enforce order ahead of the upcoming centennial celebration of Route 66, which is expected to attract many tourists. Others criticized the move as an unwarranted invasion of a marginalized neighborhood that requires improved housing and services.
“What distinguishes Trump from the governor if both are deploying military forces?” questioned Enrique Cardiel, a veteran community organizer involved in local gatherings.
The governor has outlined plans for the Guard to operate throughout Albuquerque, particularly around Route 66, an area now notorious for homelessness, closed motels, public drug use, and a corner market that has reported seven murders since 2020.
Residents mention that the area has long faced gang warfare and drug-related violence, but problems have intensified since the Covid pandemic. Many businesses have closed, and individuals have fortified their homes with steel fences.
Yet, there remains debate about the necessity for military intervention. The governor and her supporters stress that their approach significantly differs from Trump’s earlier suggestions.
“This is not about militarizing our streets,” Ms. Lujan Grisham stated in an email sent during her recent trip to Asia, framing the deployment as “bold and decisive action.”
She emphasized that the Guard’s role in assisting law enforcement will be distinct from domestic military actions proposed by Trump, such as border patrol and quelling protests.
“We are differentiating between aiding law enforcement with specialized support and deploying troops for law enforcement duties,” she clarified. “This is a targeted approach, strategically planned at the request of local officials facing this crisis.”
Ms. Lujan Grisham, nearing the end of her second and final term in 2026, has prioritized addressing New Mexico’s acute violent crime rates as a key issue for her remaining time in office, influencing the Democratic primary race for her successor, which includes candidates like Sam Bregman, Albuquerque’s district attorney, and Deb Haaland, the progressive former congresswoman.
Earlier this spring, Ms. Lujan Grisham criticized her fellow Democratic colleagues in the state Legislature for their inaction on new laws addressing rising juvenile crime rates. Following a recent shooting that left three dead in Las Cruces, she suggested reconvening lawmakers for a special session to address “our ongoing public safety crisis.”
Her deployment decision was prompted by a request from Albuquerque’s police chief, Harold Medina, in March. City officials claim the 950-officer police department is severely understaffed, akin to many across the nation, and that using Guard troops in supportive roles could allow more officers to focus on patrolling, handling complaints, and investigating violent crimes.
Approximately 60 to 70 National Guard members will be sent to Albuquerque, and they are not authorized to make arrests or perform direct police duties, officials confirmed. They won’t be armed, wear uniforms, or travel along Route 66 in military vehicles. Instead, they’ll don polo shirts and khakis, equipped with radios and potentially pepper spray, according to officials. This initiative is expected to cost the state around $750,000 monthly.
Guard members may assist with transporting detainees, managing traffic around accidents or crime scenes, monitoring security footage, or aiding with airport security, as per officials. Some may even assist fentanyl users or distribute water to homeless individuals during the scorching summer temperatures.
This is not the first instance of Guardsmen being called to support beyond natural disasters. Many engaged in the 2020 protests following George Floyd’s death, and Governor Kathy Hochul of New York allocated troops to aid with a surge of migrants two years ago. In Texas, Governor Greg Abbott sent armed Texas National Guard members as part of a border security initiative.
In New Mexico, Guard troops were utilized as substitute teachers during the pandemic and responded to unprecedented wildfire challenges. Several members expressed that deployment in Albuquerque presents a chance to tackle a different kind of emergency.
“This is definitely not an invasion,” asserted Staff Sgt. Richard Aragon. “The military’s mission is to support the police and the community.”
However, critics argue that placing Guard members on Albuquerque’s streets assigns them a complex role. Should they be required to wear body cameras like police officers? What happens if they find themselves in a physical altercation while securing a crime scene?
Sheriff John Allen of Bernalillo County, which includes Albuquerque, expressed concerns about significant liability in a social media update. He stated he wouldn’t be allowing any National Guard members to take on deputy roles. “Lines can be blurred. I don’t want anyone feeling that our community is being militarized,” he explained.
The complexities of their role were evident last week when numerous Guard troops were gathered in an auditorium, learning about prisoner transport through a slide presentation. An instructor from the New Mexico State Police discussed a range of challenges: safely securing prisoners, searching for drugs or weapons, checking if the handcuffs were too tight, preventing escapes, and the proper techniques to escort someone in custody.
“You may need to give testimonies,” the instructor warned. “You will always be in the spotlight.”
In the International District, some residents were positive about the Guard’s impending deployment, while others viewed it as just another effort in a sequence of cleanups and crackdowns. Heather Still, 49, a retired nurse, recently called 911 for assistance when a woman overdosed near her apartment, stating she would welcome any support from any source.
“It’s become really severe,” she remarked.
Officials in Albuquerque assert that they are making headway. This year, property crimes like auto theft, burglary, and shoplifting have decreased significantly compared to 2024, and homicides have dropped around 40% compared to last year, according to police reports. The city has dismantled encampments and established tiny-home communities. A public safety initiative, spearheaded by Mr. Bregman, the Bernalillo County district attorney, alongside the county sheriff and others, has led to over 500 arrests and the confiscation of 35,000 fentanyl pills and 40 firearms, officials stated.
Tony Johnson, a deacon at Highland Baptist Church, expressed skepticism about meaningful change. He noted that it’s common for people to camp and use drugs on church grounds, and recalled an incident from last year when he asked three men to leave—one of them hit him with a metal pipe, crushing bones in his hand. It remains scarred and swollen, and some church members now hesitate to leave their homes after dark.
“People feel hopeless,” he said while driving past an apartment where a 17-year-old was arrested in a fatal shooting two days later. “What are 15 or 16-year-olds doing with guns? But is it really the National Guard’s role to solve that issue?”
