New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham declared a state of emergency on Wednesday in response to a spiraling wave of violent crime and drug trafficking in Rio Arriba County, encompassing the city of Española and nearby Native American pueblo communities. The executive order unlocks $750,000 in emergency funding to bolster local law enforcement and address the escalating public safety crisis overwhelming the region’s resources.

The affected area, stretching from Española—25 miles north of Santa Fe—to the Colorado state line, has long grappled with a severe opioid epidemic, marked by the highest overdose death rates in the state, particularly from fentanyl. Recent years have seen a surge in violent crime, with police calls in Española doubling and business-related dispatches quadrupling over the past two years. This spike has fueled homelessness, family instability, and a growing number of fatal overdoses, placing unprecedented strain on local governments and police departments.

“When our local leaders called for help to protect their communities, we responded with decisive action,” Lujan Grisham said in a statement. “We are deploying every available resource to restore safety and stability to these hard-hit areas.” The emergency declaration, formalized under Executive Order 2025-358, empowers the Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management to coordinate response efforts, including potential National Guard deployment, though no immediate troop mobilizations were announced.

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The crisis has deeply affected Native American communities, with Santa Clara Pueblo’s tribal governor, James Naranjo, highlighting the toll of fentanyl and alcohol abuse. In a July letter to Lujan Grisham, Naranjo noted that the pueblo has spent thousands addressing the crisis, particularly to protect children impacted by parental addiction. “We are not an isolated community,” he wrote, emphasizing that the ripple effects of drug abuse, crime, and homelessness extend across the region.

This marks Lujan Grisham’s second emergency declaration this year, following a similar order in April for Albuquerque, where rising crime prompted National Guard assistance. In 2020, federal agents were deployed to Albuquerque under President Donald Trump to curb violent crime, reflecting a recurring challenge in the state.

Local leaders, including those from Española and nearby Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo, have welcomed the state’s intervention, citing stretched resources and the urgent need for support. The funding will cover overtime for police, equipment purchases, and coordinated operations to combat drug trafficking and violent crime. As Rio Arriba County battles its opioid crisis and rising lawlessness, the emergency measures aim to restore order and address the root causes of the region’s deepening struggles.

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