National Guard Supports New Mexico GOP's Crime Dialogue Initiative

New Mexico House Republicans Seek Dialogue with National Guard on Crime-Fighting Efforts

The leadership of the New Mexico House Republican Caucus has taken a proactive step by reaching out to Major General Miguel Aguilar, the Adjutant General of the New Mexico National Guard. In a formal letter, they requested an opportunity to meet with National Guard personnel to gain insights into how their efforts can be improved to better support crime-fighting initiatives in Albuquerque. This move comes as part of a broader effort to evaluate the effectiveness of current strategies and ensure that public safety measures are delivering tangible results.

On Wednesday, July 23, 2025, KOAT conducted interviews with Major General Miguel Aguilar and Republican state Representative Nicole Chavez. The conversation focused on the communication efforts following the letter, which was signed by Leader Gail Armstrong, Whip Alan Martinez, and Caucus Chair Rebecca Dow. The letter underscores the importance of understanding the role of the National Guard in supporting the Albuquerque Police Department (APD), especially in light of the city’s ongoing challenges.

Representative Chavez emphasized the need for transparency and factual analysis. “We want answers, especially as lawmakers. We’re here to look at the facts and see, I think from their fresh eyes perspective, since they are currently helping an overwhelmed police department help fix the crisis. Is what they’re doing working?” she said.

Chavez also raised critical questions about the impact of the National Guard’s involvement. “Is crime really going down? Is this helping the issues of fentanyl trafficking? Is this helping the issues of homelessness crime at all? Because if not, then we need to go to plan B, and we won’t know what plan B is until we know that plan A isn’t working,” she explained. She added that the upcoming legislative session is only 30 days long, making it crucial to gather data and insights now to inform future legislation.

Despite these concerns, House Republicans expressed appreciation for the bravery and professionalism of the National Guard personnel. According to the governor’s office, 60-70 National Guard members were deployed to Albuquerque in May 2025 to assist with public safety. This deployment followed Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham’s authorization on April 8, 2025, in response to public safety challenges, particularly along Central Avenue and other high-risk areas.

The emergency request from the APD highlighted the urgent need to address the fentanyl epidemic and rising violent juvenile crime. Additional support was deemed necessary to maintain progress in tackling these issues.

Major General Aguilar responded positively to the initiative, stating that he welcomes open dialogue with any elected officials. “It’s a great idea, I think, that Republicans are asking this question about what’s happening in Albuquerque. I did respond. So, we’re working through scheduling that opportunity. I, the governor— we’re always welcome to open and constructive dialogue with any elected official, regardless of which party, about the initiatives we are having related to making New Mexico safer,” he said.

Aguilar further explained that the National Guard is prepared to provide the lawmakers with an overview of their missions and share some success stories. “We’ll have them meet with some of our members of our guard, to provide an overview of what the missions are like. Maybe some vignettes about some of the successes that we’ve had. So, they understand the commitment the governor’s made, not just financial, but in putting our guardsmen on the street to help support the city of Albuquerque,” he said.

Areas of Support Provided by the National Guard

The National Guard is assisting in multiple key areas to enhance public safety in Albuquerque:

• Scene security and traffic control at critical incidents
• Medical assistance and humanitarian efforts along Central Avenue
• Prisoner Transport Unit assistance
• Transit security enhancement
• Metro Court security support
• Aviation/Sunport security assistance
• Shield Unit case preparation support
• APD Drone Program operational assistance

This comprehensive approach aims to strengthen the collaboration between the National Guard and local law enforcement, ensuring a more effective response to public safety challenges. As the situation continues to evolve, the dialogue between lawmakers and the National Guard remains essential in shaping policies that protect communities and address emerging threats.