New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham and Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller have criticized President Donald Trump’s recent decision to deploy 800 National Guard troops to Washington, D.C. The two officials issued a joint statement Monday expressing concern that the deployment was made without a request or coordination from local authorities.
“Once again, President Trump is making unilateral decisions that appear politically motivated rather than focusing on building appropriate responses to public safety challenges and strengthening communities. His deployment of 800 National Guard troops to Washington, D.C., without local request or coordination demonstrates a fundamental misunderstanding of effective public safety strategy. President Trump’s massive executive overreach in Washington sets a dangerous precedent and undermines safety in our nation’s capital,” the statement read.
Governor Lujan Grisham and Mayor Keller described New Mexico’s approach as collaborative, involving both local and state resources to address public safety issues. They noted that this allows police officers to focus on community policing efforts and addressing problems such as the fentanyl crisis and juvenile crime, while the National Guard provides support roles like scene security, medical aid, and prisoner transport—without carrying weapons or performing law enforcement duties.
“At a time when we don’t have sufficient police officers anywhere in the country, including here in New Mexico, this collaborative approach creates the right kind of support system that enables local law enforcement to keep our communities safer and effectively address crime,” they said.
The officials also compared Trump’s use of the National Guard with previous actions in California, characterizing them as political moves rather than genuine crime-fighting strategies. “President Trump is attempting to use the National Guard as a city police force in a similar manner he used the military in California, which is about politics, not fighting crime. The contrast couldn’t be clearer: while President Trump uses the National Guard to trample local leadership, New Mexico brings together local and state governments to make our communities genuinely safer. As a result, we are maintaining momentum in reducing crime through the summer months. President Trump’s unilateral actions in Washington, D.C., do nothing to keep Americans safe, and show an alarming contempt for our laws and democratic norms.”
