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Jobs on the line: Dems won’t even step inside the ICE facilities they want to ban

20 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham has declined Republican lawmakers’ invitation to tour New Mexico’s largest immigration detention facility, citing a “busy schedule,” even as her party faces mounting criticism for canceling a long-promised legislative tour of the same center.

Republican legislators Rep. Andrea Reeb and Sen. Crystal Brantley had invited the governor to join them on Monday at the Otero County Processing Center in Chaparral, where an average of 863 detainees are currently held. But the governor’s spokesperson, Michael Coleman, brushed aside the request. “The governor has a busy schedule on Monday and won’t be joining in the tour,” he said, adding that no final decision has been made yet on whether the governor will seek to include a statewide ban on ICE facilities in her upcoming special session call.

The refusal coincides with a new controversy surrounding the Courts, Corrections, and Justice Committee (CCJ), which abruptly canceled its own long-planned visit to Otero. Records show the cancellation followed objections from Vice-Chair Christine Chandler (D–Los Alamos), a vocal opponent of ICE facilities. Committee Chair Sen. Joseph Cervantes (D–Las Cruces) has since issued two conflicting explanations, raising further questions about the real motivation.

In his most recent statement — circulated after Brantley arranged her own visit — Cervantes said the Otero stop was “not a sanctioned CCJ activity” and claimed Otero County could not “assure cooperation from ICE.” He also cited logistical concerns involving transportation, meals, and timing.

But in an earlier message to colleagues, Cervantes gave a different story. He claimed ICE had “not returned phone calls” and suggested committee members might be required to submit to background checks as a condition of entry — something he said “some members might reasonably object to.” In the same message, he admitted canceling the tour “in consultation with Rep. Chandler.” Background checks are standard for such tours, and using that as an excuse is objectively farcical.

Ironically, Chandler’s district has the most to lose if the move to attempt to shutter ICE facilities prompts the federal government to pull out of the vehemently hostile New Mexico, as her district encompasses Los Alamos National Labs, worth billions in revenue to the state. She still appears to want to poke the bear and anger the Trump administration, despite the consequences.

The shifting accounts have fueled accusations that Cervantes’ claims about ICE were little more than cover for partisan politics. Republicans note that Brantley successfully scheduled her own tour with a simple request, undermining the narrative that access was impossible. They argue the cancellation was prompted not by logistics, but by left-wing protests and internal opposition.

Instead of seeing the facility firsthand, Democrats on the committee have reworked the agenda to hear from Otero County commissioners, the governor’s staff, and proponents of legislation banning ICE contracts. Critics say this one-sided approach silences the voices of employees, families, and local officials who depend on the facilities.

The economic stakes are significant. According to federal data, Otero houses an average of 863 detainees daily, Torrance 444, and Cibola 223 — more than 1,500 people statewide. Together, these facilities sustain hundreds of jobs for correctional officers, medical personnel, and support staff. They also pump tens of millions of dollars into rural county budgets through federal contracts. Closing them would cripple local economies already struggling with limited revenue streams.

Moreover, closing facilities in New Mexico would not end immigration detention — detainees would simply be transferred elsewhere, including facilities in Texas, Florida’s “Alligator Alcatraz,” or even Guantanamo Bay. For New Mexico, that would mean all the economic loss without changing federal enforcement practices.

Republicans insist it is irresponsible to even begin to debate shutting down detention centers without lawmakers — and the governor — even setting foot inside to see operations firsthand. “Before we take any action with such far-reaching implications, it is essential that we have a clear understanding of the conditions within these facilities,” Reeb and Brantley wrote in their invitation to the governor.

While Democrats point to scheduling conflicts, logistical issues, and background check requirements, Republicans are moving forward with their tour on Monday. They say the public deserves transparency, and that decisions of this magnitude should be made with facts, not political spin.

For now, the contrast is sharp: Republicans are willing to confront the issue directly, while the governor and her legislative allies decline to see the facilities they are proposing to close — leaving New Mexico communities to wonder how their livelihoods and budgets will be protected if those doors are shuttered.

Jobs on the line: Dems won’t even step inside the ICE facilities they want to ban Read More »

Fatal oversight: New Mexico failed to enforce law, now 3 are dead

28 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

The U.S. Department of Transportation is blasting multiple states, including New Mexico, for failing to follow federal trucking rules that could have prevented a deadly crash in Florida earlier this month. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy announced Tuesday that the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has launched a full investigation into the crash, which killed three people, and preliminary findings directly implicate New Mexico.

“This cannot happen again,” Duffy said, calling the tragedy a direct result of state negligence. “If states had followed the rules, this driver would never have been behind the wheel and three precious lives would still be with us. The failures here are despicable.”

The crash involved a driver working for White Hawk Carriers, Inc. According to FMCSA investigators, the driver did not speak English and failed a federally required English Language Proficiency (ELP) assessment. Out of 12 verbal questions, he answered only two correctly and could identify just one of four highway traffic signs.

Despite these deficiencies, the driver managed to secure licenses in three different states. Washington State improperly issued him a full-term Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) in 2023, even though asylum seekers and illegal aliens are not eligible. California later issued a limited-term CDL in 2024, which is now under federal review.

But perhaps most troubling, New Mexico State Police stopped the driver on July 3, 2025, for speeding. During that roadside inspection, officers issued a ticket but did not administer the English proficiency assessment — even though federal rules requiring ELP enforcement as an “out-of-service” condition had already been in effect since June 25.

“New Mexico failed to conduct an English Language Proficiency test when they pulled the driver over for speeding,” Duffy explained. “Had they done this, the driver would not have been on the road.”

The Secretary described the situation as a consequence of “non-enforcement and radical immigration policies” that have allowed unqualified foreign drivers to get behind the wheel of 40-ton vehicles. He vowed to hold states accountable and restore road safety.

FMCSA investigators began their compliance review of White Hawk Carriers on August 14 at the company’s California premises. They examined driver qualification files, reviewed in-cab video footage of the crash, and interviewed company personnel. The Department is also assisting Florida authorities in their ongoing criminal case.

Duffy emphasized that President Trump’s administration has already taken decisive steps to tighten standards, including ordering mandatory English proficiency for truck drivers and launching a nationwide audit of how states issue non-domiciled CDLs. “President Trump and I will restore safety to our roads. The families of the deceased deserve justice,” Duffy said.

As the investigation unfolds, one fact is clear: had New Mexico enforced existing federal rules during its July traffic stop, the driver would have been pulled off the road — and three innocent lives in Florida might have been spared.

Fatal oversight: New Mexico failed to enforce law, now 3 are dead Read More »

Ruidoso to Santa Teresa: Sec. Noem, Trump team show up for New Mexicans

10 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

At the direction of President Donald J. Trump, the southern border wall will now be painted black—a move aimed at strengthening America’s defenses and further discouraging illegal crossings. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced the policy Tuesday during a stop at the Santa Teresa Port of Entry, where she stood alongside Border Patrol agents and thanked the President for his unwavering commitment to border security.

“A nation without borders is no nation at all,” Noem declared. “And we’re so thankful that we have a president who understands that and understands that a secure border is important to our country’s future.”

Noem explained that the black paint will serve a dual purpose: protecting the steel barrier from rust while also making it more difficult for illegal immigrants to scale the wall. Under the desert sun, the metal will heat up, creating another deterrent. When asked about critics calling the measure harsh, Noem gave a simple response: “Don’t touch it. They have a choice.”

The move comes as Border Patrol data show historic success under Trump’s leadership. Apprehensions of illegal immigrants have plummeted, with the El Paso Sector—covering New Mexico and West Texas—reporting the lowest levels in decades. “In 2023, we had one day where there were 2,300 people apprehended by the U.S. Border Patrol,” Interim Chief Walter Slosar noted. “We are now apprehending, by a seven-day average, about 41 people a day.”

Noem’s visit to New Mexico underscored her dual role: enforcing national security while also lending federal support to disaster-stricken communities. Earlier in the day, she joined local officials in Ruidoso, where repeated flash flooding devastated homes and infrastructure this summer.

“It’s nice to have someone from the federal level have such a great grasp on what is going to be needed to start rebuilding,” Ruidoso Mayor Lynn Crawford said. “Secretary Noem recognizes the cascading events that continue to happen and the mitigation efforts that are going to be needed for the Forest Service lands, the Village of Ruidoso, Ruidoso Downs and down into the Hondo Valley.”

From Ruidoso, Noem traveled to Santa Teresa, where she celebrated President Trump’s progress at the seven-month mark of his second administration. She pointed to the estimated 1.6 million illegal immigrants who have left the country, according to data from the Center for Immigration Statistics, and highlighted the administration’s sweeping legislative win—the “Big Beautiful Act.” That package invests $165 billion in Homeland Security, with $45.5 billion dedicated to border wall construction, $4.1 billion for staffing, and nearly $6 billion for advanced surveillance technology.

The results are undeniable: illegal border crossings down, communities safer, and enforcement stronger than at any time in recent history. Noem praised Trump’s leadership for making it possible, telling Border Patrol agents that this administration has their backs.

By showing up in both Ruidoso and Santa Teresa, Noem demonstrated the Trump administration’s commitment to both securing the homeland and helping New Mexicans recover from natural disasters. Her visit left many in the state reassured that, with Trump back in the White House, Washington is once again listening to New Mexico.

Ruidoso to Santa Teresa: Sec. Noem, Trump team show up for New Mexicans Read More »

Two NM Dems quit Fair Districts Task Force to side with leftist gerrymandering

8 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

The ongoing redistricting fight in Texas spilled into New Mexico this week, as two Albuquerque Democrats abruptly resigned from the state’s Fair Districts Task Force. But Republicans were quick to point out the glaring irony: the very same party now decrying Texas for “rigging” its maps just finished gerrymandering New Mexico to erase conservative voices.

On Monday, State Sen. Harold Pope and State Rep. Cristina Parajón announced they were stepping down from the panel, citing GOP efforts in Texas as a reason for federal intervention.

“Fairness is not changing the rules in the middle of the game because you’re suddenly afraid you might lose, as Trump is doing in Texas,” Parajón said. She added, “And fairness is not trying to play professional baseball with wiffle ball bats.”

Pope likewise declared that “the state-by-state approach to independent redistricting will only make the playing field more uneven. To protect the free and fair elections that are the bedrock of our democracy, we need strong national legislation to end partisan gerrymandering once and for all.”

But Republicans were quick to slam the move as nothing more than political theater. Sen. Jay Block, R-Rio Rancho, who still serves on the task force, accused Democrats of breathtaking hypocrisy.

“Senator Pope actually had the audacity to claim that Texas leaders are using their power to ‘systematically disenfranchise communities of color and redraw maps that protect their own political survival,’ ” Block said. “Where was his concern when his own party — led by a white, male Speaker of the House — targeted several Republican districts in New Mexico, particularly those held by two minority women: former State Representative Jane Powdrell-Culbert (a black woman) and former Congresswoman Yvette Herrell (a Native American woman)?”

Following the 2020 census, Democrats used their control of the legislature and governorship to redraw district lines in a way that broke up conservative-leaning areas. Those changes directly contributed to Republicans losing congressional representation, leaving New Mexico with an all-Democrat delegation today.

Now, with Republicans in Texas attempting to strengthen their own position, Democrats are suddenly calling foul. The juxtaposition, Block argued, proves the party is only interested in “fairness” when it benefits them politically.

Parajón tried to spin her resignation as a principled stand, saying in a phone interview that “the rules are being changed halfway through the game, and it was going to be very hard for me to go to a meeting tomorrow, flirting around this topic of redistricting without addressing the real issue at hand, that this is a national issue that is not being addressed.”

Yet Republicans say the “real issue” is not Texas, but New Mexico Democrats’ own gerrymander. By splitting conservative communities like Hobbs and Roswell and carving up Republican districts, they ensured their political survival at the expense of voter choice.

The resignation of Pope and Parajón may grab headlines, but for many in New Mexico, it only highlights the double standard: Democrats had no problem manipulating maps when it secured them power at home, but they are now crying foul when Texas plays by the same rules.

Two NM Dems quit Fair Districts Task Force to side with leftist gerrymandering Read More »

10th Circuit crushes MLG’s anti-gun law as unconstitutional

14 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit delivered a major blow to Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s gun control agenda Tuesday, striking down New Mexico’s 2024 law that forced citizens to wait seven days before taking possession of a firearm.

In Ortega v. Grisham, the court found that the so-called “cooling-off” period likely violates the Second Amendment by blocking lawful citizens from acquiring arms even after they pass an instant federal background check. The majority opinion, authored by Judge Timothy Tymkovich, declared: “One cannot keep or bear arms if one cannot acquire them,” emphasizing that waiting periods are not supported by the nation’s historical tradition of firearm regulation.

The ruling reverses a lower court decision that had allowed the law to remain in place. The case was brought by Samuel Ortega, a retired law enforcement officer, and Rebecca Scott, both of whom attempted to purchase firearms and were denied immediate possession despite clearing background checks. Represented by former U.S. Solicitor General Paul Clement, the Mountain States Legal Foundation, and the NRA, the plaintiffs challenged the Waiting Period Act as an unconstitutional infringement.

The National Rifle Association celebrated the victory, declaring on social media:

“🚨 NRA Victory! 10th Circuit holds New Mexico’s 7-day waiting period unconstitutional in Ortega v. Grisham, a case brought by NRA and @MSLF, with the support of @NSSF.”

The New Mexico Shooting Sports Association also hailed the outcome as a vindication for law-abiding citizens, who they argue were unfairly targeted by the governor’s “anti-gun crusade.”

The 2024 statute, signed by Gov. Lujan Grisham, mandated a seven-day delay for nearly all firearm purchases, regardless of whether the buyer immediately passed a background check. The law imposed no exceptions for citizens facing threats to their safety. Supporters, including national gun-control groups Brady and Giffords, argued the law would reduce suicides and impulsive acts of violence.

But the court found the opposite: blanket waiting periods are unconstitutional burdens that strip law-abiding citizens of their rights. Tymkovich compared the delay to unconstitutional restrictions on other fundamental liberties, noting that a one-week waiting period for publishing a news story or attending church would never survive judicial scrutiny.

Judge Scott Matheson dissented, claiming that under prior Tenth Circuit precedent, the law was a “presumptively lawful” condition on commercial sales. But the majority rejected that reasoning, ruling that New Mexico had “no historical analogue” to justify its law.

The decision sends the case back to the district court to determine the scope of injunctive relief. For now, however, the seven-day waiting period is effectively dead — a significant defeat for the governor and gun-control lobby, and a decisive win for New Mexico gun owners and the NRA.

10th Circuit crushes MLG’s anti-gun law as unconstitutional Read More »

NRCC savages Vasquez for indefensible, dangerous socialist record

15 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

The National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) has rolled out a new paid advertising campaign aimed squarely at Rep. Gabe Vasquez (D-NM), branding him a radical tied to “Project 2026,” a plan Republicans say would fundamentally reshape the country in destructive ways.

The digital ad, released this week, ties Vasquez to high-profile national Democrats such as House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Rep. Dina Titus, and New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani, a self-described socialist. Republicans argue that Vasquez is aligned with this wing of the Democratic Party and will push policies that hurt working families.

“If Gabe Vasquez were to get his way, the result would be tax hikes on working families, impeaching President Trump, a border invasion, defunding the police, and turning America into a socialist, crime-filled dystopia. House Republicans are the only thing standing between you and the nightmare of ‘Project 2026.’” said NRCC spokesman Zach Bannon in a statement announcing the campaign.

The ad features a clip of Vasquez from before his election to Congress in which he advocates defunding the police, a position Republicans have frequently highlighted as proof of his radical record. The video does not name Vasquez but instead places him alongside prominent left-wing Democrats and socialist figures to underscore the NRCC’s message that he is part of a broader ideological movement.

According to the Santa Fe New Mexican, which first reported on the ad, the NRCC is running the spot exclusively on digital platforms. The piece notes that while Vasquez’s police-defunding clip has circulated in the past, Republicans continue to use it to highlight what they view as his dangerous positions on law enforcement and public safety.

The ad begins with the phrase: “Project 2026. Hakeem Jeffries’ plan to remake America. Raise taxes on working families, impeach President Trump.” The video then shifts to snippets of Democratic leaders, culminating with Mamdani declaring, “We are unapologetic about our socialism.”

Fox News reported the ad is part of a larger NRCC strategy targeting 25 vulnerable House Democrats ahead of the midterms, with Republicans warning voters of what they describe as the Democratic agenda for 2026.

The NRCC’s strategy reflects broader Republican efforts to frame the upcoming elections as a choice between stability and chaos, portraying Democrats like Vasquez as threats to economic security and public safety. With New Mexico’s 2nd Congressional District expected to be competitive, Vasquez has become a top target for GOP messaging.

By linking Vasquez to “Project 2026,” Republicans hope to draw attention to issues of taxes, immigration, crime, and law enforcement—issues they believe will resonate with voters concerned about the direction of the country. The ad underscores the NRCC’s intent to nationalize the race and tie local Democrats to the most controversial figures in their party.

As NRCC spokesman Zach Bannon emphasized: “House Republicans are the only thing standing between you and the nightmare of ‘Project 2026.’”

NRCC savages Vasquez for indefensible, dangerous socialist record Read More »

Ex-Lujan Grisham secretary lands contracts designed to skirt bidding laws

10 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

Less than a year after leaving Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s Cabinet, former Tourism Secretary Jen Paul Schroer has turned her insider status into lucrative consulting work, landing more than $232,000 in state contracts without ever facing a competitive bidding process.

According to records obtained through the state’s sunshine portal and inspection requests, Schroer’s newly launched firm, JJS & Associates, has secured contracts with the Public Education Department (PED), the Children, Youth and Families Department (CYFD), and the Department of Cultural Affairs. The payments include $24,000 from PED, $64,911 from CYFD, and $16,228 from Cultural Affairs. Additional contracts already awarded or pending for fiscal year 2026 would bring the total haul to well over $232,000.

Critics say this reveals a cozy arrangement that skirts procurement safeguards designed to protect taxpayers. “Good to know the rules so you can go around them,” Senate GOP Floor Leader William Sharer of Farmington remarked after learning of the deals.

Under New Mexico’s procurement code, contracts over $60,000 require competitive bidding. But Schroer’s deals conveniently came in just under that threshold before gross receipts tax was added, allowing them to be issued directly. Joe Vigil, a spokesman for the General Services Department, admitted the contracts were structured this way, saying, “The contracts fell under the threshold of $60,000, then GRT was added for a total of $64,000.”

This technicality raises questions about whether the governor’s administration is playing games with taxpayer money. Schroer, who was making nearly $200,000 a year as a Cabinet secretary just months before leaving government, stepped down from the Aging and Long-Term Services Department in September 2024. By December, she already had a $64,000 contract with CYFD in hand.

Schroer defends her actions, saying she hired private legal counsel and that the contracts “went through a rigorous procurement process” with “multiple layers of oversight.” However, when pressed, the state’s Department of Justice could not confirm its alleged involvement in approving the deals.

CYFD praised Schroer’s work, claiming she “exceeded national benchmarks in foster family recruitment” and attracted 1,200 job candidates. PED likewise insisted the contracts followed procurement rules, though the agency refused to answer follow-up questions.

The Governor’s Office is also brushing off concerns. Spokeswoman Jodi McGinnis Porter insisted, “There is nothing inappropriate about former Secretary Schroer having contracts with state agencies.”

But for many New Mexicans, the optics are hard to ignore: yet another political insider cashing in on her connections with Lujan Grisham’s administration. With contracts carefully structured to avoid scrutiny and more public dollars on the way, critics say this is less about serving New Mexicans and more about taking care of the governor’s inner circle.

Meanwhile, Senate Democrats like George Muñoz of Gallup defended Schroer, shrugging off concerns. “If that’s the best they can find, or they know her work, I would say maybe it’s good,” he said.

For taxpayers, however, the episode highlights a troubling pattern under Lujan Grisham: bending the rules, rewarding loyalists, and treating state coffers like a revolving door for political allies.

Ex-Lujan Grisham secretary lands contracts designed to skirt bidding laws Read More »

MLG ousts GOP commissioner who dared challenge eco-left narrative

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Far-left Democrat Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham has abruptly removed Republican state Game Commissioner Sabrina Pack of Silver City in what many see as a politically motivated attack engineered by radical environmental groups.

Pack — appointed to the commission in 2024 to represent rural southwestern New Mexico — was informed Wednesday she was out, after left-wing activists at the Western Watersheds Project used public records requests to accuse her of a “conflict of interest” over her employer’s work on a marketing campaign supporting more flexible management of the federally protected Mexican gray wolf. Ironically, this comes after the governor appointed her own brother to be a regent at New Mexico Highlands University, a massive conflict of interest, which forced her brother, Greg Lujan, to withdraw.

The governor’s office offered vague allegations that Pack “failed to disclose a conflict of interest” and didn’t recuse herself from unspecified “pertinent votes,” according to spokesman Jodi McGinnis Porter. Notably, the administration has yet to identify a single actual commission vote on wolves.

“I did not take any votes related to Mexican wolf management and would have recused myself from future votes,” Pack told The New Mexican, adding her employment with SkyWest Media was discussed in detail with the governor’s office before her appointment. She stressed she is not an owner of the company and that her professional role is “entirely separate” from her volunteer service as commissioner.

Pack said she was “saddened” by the decision, noting her work to bridge divides on the contentious wolf issue: “I’ve worked really hard to listen to all sides… and really try to bring people together who are from opposing sides.”

The campaign in question — “Wolves Among Us” — aimed to highlight the real-life impacts of wolf reintroduction on rural residents through social media and video storytelling. Rural leaders say it sought to bring balance to a conversation long dominated by urban environmentalists and dark-money eco-groups like WildEarth Guardians.

Tom Paterson, president-elect of the New Mexico Cattle Growers Association, called Pack “an outstanding advocate to represent the voices of rural New Mexico” and rejected the idea she had any conflict. “There has never been a Game Commission vote on wolves,” Paterson said. “It’s clear… the wolf advocates don’t want the public to know what it’s like to actually live among wolves.”

Former commissioner Roberta Salazar-Henry — who served in Pack’s seat from 2019 to 2022 — also doubted the justification for removal: “I have a hard time believing that was so egregious to remove her… She’s a good commissioner. We liked her down here.”

The move comes just months after Lujan Grisham line-item vetoed a bipartisan provision in Senate Bill 5 that would have restricted the governor’s power to summarily remove commissioners. Lawmakers had sought to require “cause” such as incompetence, neglect of duty, or malfeasance. Without it, commissioners remain subject to the governor’s whim — a fact critics say the governor exploited to purge a Republican voice on the panel.

WildEarth Guardians wildlife program director Chris Smith, whose organization has taken extreme anti-grazing, anti-hunting stances, openly cheered the removal, citing his “red flag” concerns about Pack’s work. The group is part of the eco-left’s well-funded dark money network that has long targeted rural livelihoods under the banner of “wolf recovery.”

While the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service — not the Game Commission — controls the wolf reintroduction program, Lujan Grisham’s decision ensures one fewer advocate for rural New Mexicans at the table. For many, it’s another example of the governor using her office to silence dissenting voices and reward the demands of radical environmental special interests.

MLG ousts GOP commissioner who dared challenge eco-left narrative Read More »

Days after blasting Trump’s crime crackdown, MLG declares her own

17 Comments / New Mexico, News, Politics / By

Just days after denouncing President Donald Trump’s decisive crime crackdown in Washington, D.C., New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham has declared her own emergency order to address violent crime—this time in Española, Rio Arriba County, and the area Pueblos. The move is raising eyebrows over the governor’s apparent double standard when it comes to executive action on public safety.

In a Wednesday announcement, Lujan Grisham said she was responding to urgent pleas from local leaders to confront a “significant surge in violent crime, drug trafficking, and public safety threats” overwhelming local resources. Police calls in Española have more than doubled in the past two years, with dispatches to businesses quadrupling. Rio Arriba County now leads the state in overdose deaths, driven by fentanyl and other illicit drugs.

“When our local leaders called for help to protect their communities, we responded immediately with decisive action,” Lujan Grisham said in her statement. “We are making every resource available to support our local partners on the ground and restore public safety and stability to these areas that have been hardest hit by this crisis.”

Under Executive Order 2025-358, the governor authorized up to $750,000 in emergency funding for the Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management to coordinate the response, provide law enforcement support, and address related needs such as temporary shelter, health care, and food. The order also allows for the deployment of the New Mexico National Guard if necessary.

This local emergency declaration stands in stark contrast to Lujan Grisham’s recent rhetoric toward President Trump’s federalization of the D.C. Metropolitan Police and deployment of 800 National Guard troops to combat surging violent crime in the capital. In a joint statement with Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller, she condemned Trump’s action as “massive executive overreach,” accusing him of making “unilateral decisions that appear politically motivated.” She argued that his move “sets a dangerous precedent,” despite his citing years of skyrocketing homicides and carjackings.

Critics note that the language of her own order mirrors the urgency and scope of Trump’s D.C. operation. Both actions involve direct intervention to bolster local law enforcement, mobilize state or federal resources, and restore public safety in areas deemed unable to manage the crisis alone. The difference appears to be political rather than procedural.

Her order cites a host of public safety crises—rising homelessness, family instability, and fatal overdoses—that echo the conditions Trump pointed to in Washington. Yet while she touted her “state and local cooperation” model in criticizing Trump, the Española emergency involves sweeping state-led measures and potential Guard activation—precisely the type of “outside intervention” she claimed to oppose.

Lujan Grisham’s crime emergency will remain in effect until all authorized funds are spent or officials determine the crisis has subsided. But the timing of her decision, so soon after lambasting the president for deploying similar tools, is already fueling charges of hypocrisy and political opportunism.

For residents of Española and Rio Arriba County, however, the focus is on whether this sudden intervention will deliver the results years of inaction have failed to produce—and whether the governor’s emergency order will bring lasting safety to one of New Mexico’s hardest-hit regions.

Days after blasting Trump’s crime crackdown, MLG declares her own Read More »

Science over fear: EPA approves WIPP expansion while anti-nuke crowd whines

2 Comments / Editorial, New Mexico, News, Politics / By

New Mexico deserves recognition for stepping up where others have balked. This week, the Environmental Protection Agency granted approval for the U.S. Department of Energy’s plan to create two additional underground storage panels at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP), the nation’s only permanent geological repository for transuranic nuclear material. This isn’t some radical overhaul—it’s the responsible expansion of a proven, scientifically sound facility.

Since opening in 1999, WIPP has safely and securely housed waste such as contaminated tools, clothing, and surplus plutonium from weapons production, buried more than 2,150 feet deep in ancient salt beds that naturally seal fissures over time. The new panels—each comprising seven rooms roughly the length of a football field—will compensate for capacity lost after a 2014 drum rupture that shuttered the site for over two years.

The EPA’s validation of DOE’s modeling—demonstrating that the new rooms meet long-term radiation safety thresholds—is a testament to the rigorous scientific planning behind WIPP. As EPA’s Abigale Tardif stated, the agency “is in general agreement with DOE’s approach and DOE’s interpretation” of safety models.

Critics have predictably cried “mission creep.” Don Hancock of the Southwest Research and Information Center grumbled that a “pilot plant” should not grow. But this is fundamentally flawed logic. WIPP’s measured expansion is not mission drift—it’s public duty. Not to mention that WIPP has a documented record of safety and environmental stewardship unmatched elsewhere.

It’s worth contrasting this with prior drama over Holtec International’s proposed “Consolidated Interim Storage Facility” in Southeast New Mexico, which was slated to store high‑level spent nuclear fuel—far more radioactive and hazardous than WIPP’s existing inventory. In 2023, the New Mexico Legislature passed Senate Bill 53, prohibiting state permits for Holtec’s site, effectively hamstringing the project.

The uproar over Holtec was largely performative. Legislators—under pressure from anti‑nuclear activists—effectively blocked a thoughtfully designed temporary storage proposal vetted by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). Holtec’s spokeswoman likened dismissing the NRC license as tantamount to disqualifying OSHA or the FAA for safety regulation—and she had a point.

Despite the holdup, Holtec scored a victory when the U.S. Supreme Court, in a 6–3 ruling, removed legal obstacles to private interim nuclear waste storage in Texas and New Mexico. That decision underscored the judiciary’s recognition of the need for safe interim solutions—even as New Mexico officials continued reflexively rejecting alternatives to Yucca Mountain status quo.

All told, New Mexico’s embrace of WIPP’s expansion meets a clear national need—responsible, science-based nuclear stewardship in a facility proven for decades. By contrast, the legislative theatrics targeting Holtec highlight how fear, not facts, often drives policy. Let’s celebrate WIPP’s success and support sane, scalable solutions for 21st-century nuclear waste management.

Science over fear: EPA approves WIPP expansion while anti-nuke crowd whines Read More »

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