Governor of New Mexico Declares State of Emergency Due to Crime

• The governor allocates $750,000 to combat crime.
• The state of emergency is spreading to the Rio Arriba area.
• The increase in crime leads to insecurity and instability in families.

New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham declared a state of emergency in response to the rising crime and drug trafficking in the northern regions of the state, including two communities of indigenous Americans.

This declaration allows for the allocation of $750,000 to support local governments and efforts in the Rio Arriba area, which are struggling with the fight against addiction and problems related to drug trafficking.

The area, which encompasses Española, located 25 miles (40 km) north of Santa Fe, has been suffering from high rates of overdose and elevated death rates from overdoses. In recent years, in more populated areas, encampments of homeless individuals have appeared.

"The increase in crime has led to a rise in homelessness, instability in families, and fatal overdoses from overdoses, which creates an extraordinary burden for local governments and police," said Lujan Grisham in her statement.

In April, the governor declared a state of emergency in the largest city of New Mexico, Albuquerque, where there is also a significant increase in crime.

Although there are no terms to restrict the deployment of military forces in the Rio Arriba area, the new state of emergency allows the authorities to call in the National Guard.

The governor of the Santa Clara Pueblo at the edge of Española urged the state to address the growing crisis of community safety, which has arisen due to fentanyl and alcohol abuse.

"The pueblo has spent thousands of dollars to address this crisis and protect children who are dangerously suffering from parental addiction," wrote Governor James Narando in a letter to Lujan Grisham.

In 2020, President Donald Trump directed federal agencies to Albuquerque to combat local drug-related crime.

Tags: USA/Politics/Crime