In a horrifying and heartbreaking development, a newborn was found dead in a dumpster in Albuquerque this week, marking yet another preventable tragedy in New Mexico’s growing list of infant abandonments.
This shocking discovery comes on the heels of several high-profile cases, including the 2022 viral footage of Alexis Avila discarding her infant into a dumpster in Hobbs and the 2023 case of Alexee Trevizo, charged with murder after her newborn was discovered in a hospital trash can in Artesia. Since 2019, New Mexico has recorded at least five such cases—each one stirring public outrage, but little to no action from state lawmakers.
Authorities are now investigating the Albuquerque case, while local officials scramble to respond by considering the installation of a Safe Haven Baby Box—an anonymous, secure surrender site for parents in crisis.
“We are working on it and looking at all the options to get these installed,” said Bernalillo County Fire Department spokesperson William Harris to KOAT 7 News. “We all have our bleeding hearts, and we want these babies to be safe.”
But the grim truth is that this could have been avoided. For five consecutive legislative sessions, the Democrat-controlled New Mexico Legislature has refused to pass legislation that would allow Safe Haven Baby Boxes to be installed statewide. These boxes have saved lives elsewhere and have already proven successful in places like Hobbs and Belen.
“We are hearing of newborns abandoned in the trash every year in New Mexico—yet the Democrat majority in our legislature refuses to pass a law expanding access to Safe Haven Baby Boxes statewide,” said Elisa Martinez, Executive Director of the New Mexico Alliance for Life. “We are dealing with a death cult in the New Mexico legislature that has no value for life before or after birth. The same legislators [who] support abortion up to the moment of birth for any reason are also responsible for blocking the Safe Haven Baby Box bill. How many innocent babies must die alone in a [trash can] before they act?”
In contrast, local efforts have stepped up where the state has failed. Hobbs has seen three safe surrenders in just the past 18 months, and in one touching case, a Belen firefighter who witnessed a baby’s surrender adopted the child shortly thereafter.
“Safe Haven Baby Boxes provide a safe, anonymous way for mothers to surrender infants,” said Sen. David Gallegos (R-Eunice). “Every year, Democrats offer a new excuse to block this life-saving and compassionate bill that has nothing to do with abortion. They’ve controlled both houses of the legislature for nearly a decade, and still—every year—we hear a new excuse.”
Safe Haven Baby Boxes have no connection to abortion and offer a life-affirming, confidential way for desperate parents to ensure their child is cared for. The devices are installed in fire stations and hospitals, alerting personnel the moment a baby is placed inside so the infant can receive immediate care.
As another child is lost to abandonment, the New Mexico Alliance for Life is renewing its call for urgent legislative action.
“This is a matter of life and death,” said Martinez. “It’s time for lawmakers to stop playing politics and start protecting the most innocent among us.”
Unless the Democrat majority relents and allows this life-saving measure to move forward, New Mexico risks repeating this cycle of tragedy again and again.
I believe that Democrats consider dead dumpster babies as late term abortions as they have no issues spending 20 million on abortion clinics but will not use money to prevent newborn and infant deaths. It is very sad and reflects poorly on all New Mexican citizens and should outrage us all to the point of discarding democrats from office.
Amen, Kevin! And if anyone is remotely bothered by this atrocity, TAKE COURAGE, STAND UP and DO SOMETHING to help overcome this evil in our state.
Just curious, asking for a friend…..
Why is it that abortion up to birth is legal but, if a crazed person kills a pregnant lady, wait….. huh… a pregnant FEMALE the killer is charged with double homicide?
I heard Jay Block give a summary of the 60 day session in Santa Fe last night. Very similar to the one John Block gave on this blog.
We need to work, fund , volunteer to make sure we rid the evil intent that the democrats have in destroying our nation our state and our children.
Stop complaining and get involved or we are doomed as a state..
What a shame!! It’s getting to be embarrassing to admit that we live in NM. This could be such a great state if it wasn’t for the politicians who run it to the ground. People! Use your brains when you vote. Get those politicians out of office! They’re destroying this beautiful state and its traditions.
They should change the welcome sign to the state the says Welcome to New Mexico to the land of dead babies
Really sad, the baby was not trash to get taken to the dump. The homeless who found it treated it with more care than the Demonic Dems in Santa Fe. If we need more Safe Haven Baby Boxes to stop this, let’s get them. Have some mega churches sponsor them at the fire stations. Legacy Church let’s do it.