New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham declared a state of emergency in Albuquerque due to rising crime and will deploy 60–70 National Guard troops along Route 66 starting mid-May.

The troops will support police by handling tasks like traffic control, prisoner transport, and drone operations—freeing officers to focus on crime.

The move follows a request from Albuquerque’s police chief, citing the fentanyl crisis and youth violence, the Associated Press has reported.

While some crime rates have dropped in 2024, critics like the ACLU warn the deployment could lead to civil rights violations.

Written by B.C. Begley