New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham (D) has proclaimed a state of emergency in Rio Arriba County, including the city of Española and surrounding Pueblo communities, in response to an alarming uptick in violent crime and drug trafficking. The declaration, made on Thursday, enables state agencies to bolster local law enforcement efforts with additional support.
Rio Arriba County, now facing a public safety crisis, is to receive $750,000 in aid from the New Mexico Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management. These funds are designated for coordinating law enforcement operations and supplying necessary resources to the affected communities until the escalation in public safety threats can be effectively managed.
Governor Grisham, in a recent press release, stated, “When our local leaders called for help to protect their communities, we responded immediately with decisive action.” She further emphasized the state's commitment to providing comprehensive support and restoring stability to the areas severely impacted by the crisis.
This emergency declaration is particularly notable, following President Donald Trump's earlier decision to send hundreds of National Guard troops to Washington, D.C., and federalize its police force—a move that Grisham had fiercely criticized as "massive executive overreach" alongside Democratic Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller. They insisted that New Mexico's public safety challenges would be addressed through state and local resources, avoiding federal intervention, as reported by The Daily Caller.
According to police data, emergency calls in Española and neighboring locales have more than doubled over the past two years, and dispatches for business-related incidents have quadrupled. Compounding the problem, Rio Arriba County reports the highest rate of overdose deaths in the state, with fentanyl and other illegal substances significantly contributing to the crisis.
Local law enforcement will join forces with state agencies to deploy additional personnel and resources to critical areas. This includes ramped-up patrols, traffic management, securing crime scenes, and bolstering investigative actions. The goal is to stabilize the region, enabling police to concentrate on essential law enforcement duties.
The strategy extends beyond immediate crime-fighting measures, emphasizing community engagement. State agencies are tasked with orchestrating programs to educate the public on safety protocols, how to report suspicious activities, and drug abuse prevention. Officials are calling upon citizens to actively maintain public safety and collaborate closely with law enforcement to mitigate local risks.
Prior to this declaration, Governor Grisham had also declared a state of emergency in Albuquerque back in April due to a spike in crime, deploying the New Mexico National Guard to assist police. Additionally, she faced bipartisan criticism for ending a temporary public health order in October 2024 that banned carrying firearms in Albuquerque's public parks and playgrounds, a measure initially intended to curb gun violence.
The unfolding situation in Rio Arriba County accentuates enduring challenges in rural parts of New Mexico and mirrors issues observed in other Democrat-led cities across the nation, where escalating violent crime and drug-related fatalities are exerting pressure on local authorities and resources.
