President Trump’s DOJ puts ABQ on blast for protecting criminal aliens

President Donald J. Trump’s U.S. Department of Justice has officially named Albuquerque as one of the nation’s sanctuary cities that, according to federal officials, undermine immigration enforcement and jeopardize public safety.

The announcement, made Tuesday, follows President Trump’s April executive order directing the Justice Department and the Department of Homeland Security to publicly expose jurisdictions that “violate, obstruct, and defy” federal immigration laws. The list, released this week, includes liberal strongholds like New York City, San Francisco, and Seattle — but also Albuquerque, New Mexico, now in the national spotlight for shielding illegal immigrants from federal law enforcement.

Attorney General Pamela Bondi issued a strong rebuke of sanctuary policies in a press statement accompanying the release.

“Sanctuary policies impede law enforcement and put American citizens at risk by design,” Bondi said. “The Department of Justice will continue bringing litigation against sanctuary jurisdictions and work closely with the Department of Homeland Security to eradicate these harmful policies around the country.”

Albuquerque, under the leadership of Democrat Mayor Tim Keller, has long embraced policies that have turned the city into a haven for criminal aliens. These policies include refusing to honor federal immigration detainer requests, blocking cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and even restricting information-sharing with federal agents — all of which run counter to federal law and now place the city in legal jeopardy.

The inclusion of Albuquerque on the DOJ’s official sanctuary jurisdiction list confirms what many New Mexicans have long suspected: that their state’s largest city has prioritized politics over public safety. Under Trump’s Executive Order 14287, the administration is now moving to hold cities like Albuquerque accountable.

President Trump’s directive explicitly calls for the restoration of law and order, citing that “some State and local officials…continue to use their authority to violate, obstruct, and defy the enforcement of Federal immigration laws.” The executive order lays the groundwork for legal action against non-compliant cities and invites jurisdictions to work with the federal government to get off the list by repealing sanctuary policies.

The move signals a return to the Trump administration’s America First approach to immigration enforcement — one that many New Mexico residents, particularly those near the southern border, welcome after years of unchecked illegal crossings and cartel violence spilling over into the U.S.

While most, if not all, Democrat leaders in New Mexico continue to ignore the consequences of sanctuary policies, the Trump administration’s actions serve as a direct challenge. New Mexico, a border state walloped by illegal immigration, is once again at the crossroads of a national debate on sovereignty, security, and the rule of law.

As lawsuits mount against sanctuary cities across the country — including one recently filed against New York City — Albuquerque may soon face the same legal pressure to abandon its radical approach. The message from Washington is clear: comply with federal immigration law, or face the consequences.