National Guard Deployment in Albuquerque Draws GOP Fire for “Coddling Juveniles”
New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham is facing backlash following her announcement of a National Guard deployment to Albuquerque, aimed at addressing a surge in youth crime and the intensifying fentanyl crisis. Critics, especially Republicans, are calling the move more “performative” than practical.
On April 8, Grisham issued an executive order activating 60 to 70 National Guard members, expected to arrive in Albuquerque by mid-May. The governor cited the need for “immediate intervention” in response to escalating violence involving minors and the deadly drug epidemic.
The deployment comes amid a troubling rise in juvenile crime. As reported by Fox News, recent incidents include the arrest of two boys, ages 11 and 15, and a 13-year-old connected to a homicide investigation. That same 13-year-old had also been implicated in a string of burglaries in mid-2024 — further underscoring concerns about youth offenders.
Meanwhile, the state continues to grapple with a deadly fentanyl wave. The New Mexico Department of Health revealed that fentanyl played a role in 65% of overdose deaths in 2023, making it the dominant factor in overdose fatalities that year.
Local law enforcement has been working to combat the crisis. Bernalillo County Sheriff John Allen highlighted progress under Operation Route 66, a seven-week-old initiative that led to nearly 400 arrests and the confiscation of tens of thousands of fentanyl pills, according to KOB-TV.
However, the National Guard’s mission won’t directly confront the fentanyl trade or juvenile crime. According to Fox News Digital, their duties will be largely supportive, such as “scene security and traffic control, prisoner transport assistance and other roles that don’t involve arrests.”
This limited scope has drawn criticism from state Republicans. Leticia Muñoz, executive director of the New Mexico Republican Party, accused the governor and her party of trying to “coddle juveniles” rather than addressing the crisis head-on.
In an interview with Fox News, Muñoz blasted a proposed pilot program that would provide up to $2,000 in housing support for juvenile suspects — but only “if they’re well-behaved.” She called it emblematic of “the coddling mentality that the Democrats have for any type of juveniles and crime here in the state.”
She further criticized the deployment as insufficient, stating bluntly: “This is definitely not enough.” Muñoz and other Republicans have called for tougher measures, including bail reform and stricter sentencing to deal with repeat juvenile offenders and drug dealers.
While NBC News took a more neutral stance on the deployment, even they acknowledged that some advocates are questioning whether this initiative will truly impact Albuquerque’s deeply rooted crime issues.
Concerns have also been raised about the $750,000 cost of the operation, which The Washington Post reports could potentially be redirected toward hiring more officers or increasing penalties for juvenile crime — a suggestion GOP leaders support.
Supporters of the governor argue that freeing up police through Guard assistance allows officers to focus on high-crime zones. Still, Republicans insist the plan lacks teeth, particularly in dealing with violent juveniles and the drug epidemic.
“As much as we appreciate all the work that the law enforcement is doing here in Albuquerque, we know that their hands are tied,” Muñoz said in her interview with Fox News. “We know that there needs to be bail reform and reform as far as the deterrent of keeping individuals in jail longer.”