New Mexico National Guard Plans Española Deployment Amid Crime Surge

The New Mexico National Guard is preparing for deployment to Española, a city facing significant crime, drug addiction, and housing crises, with plans possibly starting in October. This move follows an executive order by Governor Michelle Luján Grisham, which approved $750,000 in emergency funding to support these efforts and authorized the Guard's involvement. Unlike Albuquerque, where the Guard has been actively assisting the police, the exact number of troops and their specific roles in Española are still being determined, with a focus on non-armed support such as administrative duties and prisoner transport. Community engagement is a priority due to historical concerns about the Guard's presence, and efforts are underway to ensure cooperation between the Guard, police, and local residents. Police Chief Mizel Garcia emphasized the Guard would not be conducting arrests or traffic stops but would support the department’s operations to help address staffing shortages and rising crime rates. The deployment represents the state's response to doubling police calls and quadrupling business dispatches in Española over the past two years, as well as a high overdose death rate linked to fentanyl and other substances.