New Mexico’s governor has called in the state’s National Guard to help deal with crime. In Albuquerque, the state’s largest city, Guard troops are now monitoring traffic cameras, listening to police radio calls, and helping secure crime scenes. These jobs are not normally part of their duties.
Officials say the Guard was brought in because of a sharp increase in crime. Unlike recent federal troop deployments to Washington, DC and Los Angeles during immigration protests, New Mexico’s Guard members are wearing polo shirts instead of military gear — and they were sent by the state’s Democratic governor, not the federal government.
Last week, Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham also declared a state of emergency in other areas of New Mexico. This allows her to call in even more troops if needed.
Why the Guard Is in Albuquerque
Governor Grisham said her emergency order for Rio Arriba County, the city of Española, and surrounding pueblos came after requests from local officials…