In a striking turn of events, New Mexico’s far-left Public Lands Commissioner Stephanie Garcia Richard is now sounding the alarm over what she calls a federal “land grab”—involving just seven acres along the southern border.
The reaction is drawing criticism and raising eyebrows, given Garcia Richard’s past involvement in efforts to dramatically expand government influence over land use across the state.
According to reporting by Source New Mexico, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is seeking to acquire a narrow strip of state trust land near Santa Teresa to expand border infrastructure. The parcel—originally granted to the state in 1898 to help fund public education—has been under discussion for potential purchase for years.
As Source New Mexico reported, federal officials determined the land was needed “to construct new border infrastructure along the United States/Mexico border, namely, steel bollard border barrier, the installation of detection technology, and roads.”
CBP offered approximately $800,000 for the property—an amount the U.S. Department of Justice indicated reflected fair market value. But after the State Land Office did not respond by a federal deadline, officials moved forward with plans to acquire the land through condemnation proceedings, Source New Mexico reported.
Garcia Richard responded forcefully, calling the move a “historic overreach” by the Trump administration.
“Doing business with these thugs was simply not an option,” she said, according to Source New Mexico. “Unsurprisingly, the President threw a temper tantrum when he couldn’t automatically get his way and is now going to forcibly take our state land and deny our school kids the revenue that comes from it.”
Her comments mark the latest escalation in an ongoing conflict between the State Land Office and federal authorities over border wall construction and enforcement activity.
But critics point to a deeper contradiction.
Garcia Richard previously participated—through her office—in Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s “30 by 30” initiative, an ambitious conservation effort aimed at placing at least 30% of New Mexico’s land under conservation status by 2030.
According to a state presentation outlining the initiative, the executive order set a goal of conserving “at least 30 percent of all lands in New Mexico… with an additional 20 percent designated as climate stabilization areas.”
The same materials show that the State Land Office, under Garcia Richard’s leadership, had representation in the working group helping guide the effort, which was tasked with advising the governor and coordinating land-related policy across agencies.
That effort represents a far broader potential impact on land use than the mere seven-acre parcel now at the center of the dispute.
Meanwhile, Garcia Richard has framed the federal action as a threat to education funding, noting that state trust lands are intended to generate revenue for public schools.
Still, the federal government’s position is that the acquisition is necessary for national security infrastructure along the border—part of a broader effort to enhance enforcement and surveillance capabilities.
The dispute highlights a longstanding tension between state control of trust lands and federal authority over border security, particularly in New Mexico, where vast stretches of land intersect with international boundaries.
For now, CBP is expected to proceed with legal action to acquire the parcel, while the State Land Office reviews potential options to challenge the move.
to the democrats law and order is “historic overreach”. the hermit kingdom of NM is a lost cause. all elected democrats are unfit and crazy. voters cant get enough of their madness and stupidity. I just saw a deb haaland commercial. a laundry list of things she has no idea how to fix. its sickening. who can buy into her nonsense ? 60 percent of the state, thats who. They found someone that actually makes MLG look competent. Mission Impossible accomplished. again.
What an idiot!
Shortly after Haaland takes over, we will be reminiscing about the days of MLG.
Seems to me that SHE is Screwing the school kids out of educational funds by not taking the $800k that was offered for a mere 7 acres. Over $100k an acre for that area is insane because it’s not good for anything else and at best worth $25k per acre.
This state has become a communist state because of the overreach. Guaranteed they will steal all of the ranchers land in their overreach. We either vote them out or we are screwed!
this jabroni balks at 800 thousand dollars for 7 worthless acres of land. does she balk at the cost of supporting illegals that crossed the border while MLG said there was no issue ? what a damn joke.
They just hate Trump…if the offer were in the billions the idiot would have turned it down because she hates Trump.
Voters!!!!!! Read the room, she’s a socialist as is the rest of the minions in Santa Fe and DC.
The only reason I can think of for refusing the federal officer is that the land commissioner has already leased the land to a Mexican smuggling cartel.
She is a loose cannon. She’s also trying to kill the data center project in Doña Ana County by denying a right-of-way lease for a portion of the pipeline on state trust land needed for natural gas supply for power generation. The job of the Land Office is to generate revenue. At the hands of the left, it is just another tool to further their agenda.
Is that 7 acres actually bringing in any revenue now? I doubt it. $800K would have been a gift for the fund.
The 30 by 30 scam is an attempt to lock up large amounts of lands to then be treated as wilderness areas. More worthless progressive ideology.
Trump Syndrome strikes again!! If this woman had a brain she would be dangerous!! Won’t be long we will be another California.
I think that you posters have SGR derangement syndrome.
It is probably good that most of the state is already under Federal Control
Another appointee of the Loserjan regime that has no business being in state Govt! New Mexico voters need to wake up and quit voting in the corrupt dembocraps who bring in their “buddies” who are keeping New Mexico at the highest on the list of corrupt states!
Don’t forget the disgraced Secretary of Finance, Demesia Padilla and Tim Keller’s former stint as Senator and State Auditor. Fiduciary responsibility has been misappropriated, misdirected and misused for decades upon decades as a state that violates the citizenry without conscience.
Raping the coffers and demanding more taxes from the people is abhorrent behavior. It’s time for New Mexicans to rescue themselves. Get out however you can … and run for your lives … as if these perpetrators mean to kill you. If you see a means of escape, take it. Sea la luz.
Who’s she kidding? No one. The State just provided FREE daycare and FREE college to state residents. This person is just another squawking DemOrat that has some power. She should have taken the $$ and applied to say- CYFD. They can use some support. Geesh.. this state is pathetic.