As national concern escalates over federal military deployments in Los Angeles, Albuquerque city officials have taken a firm stance against such escalation, reaffirming their commitment to community trust, immigrant inclusion and a strictly civilian role for the State of New Mexico National Guard.
“What we’re seeing in Los Angeles is deeply concerning and runs counter to our core American values,” Mayor Tim Keller said. “Federal escalation risks inflaming tensions, not calming them. Here in Albuquerque, we do things differently, and the National Guard, under the direction of our Governor, is only doing non-enforcement work—helping with traffic, assisting in offices, and supporting logistics.”
The city maintains its support for peaceful protests and values the voices of all residents. While condemning violence and riots, Albuquerque affirms the vital role of immigrants in the community.
“Our communities are safer when everyone feels safe reporting crime, asking for help and seeking services,” Keller said. “No city staff, including police, are allowed to ask about immigration status or document it. That’s our policy, and it’s rooted in the belief that immigrants make our city stronger every day.”
Albuquerque Police Department Chief Harold Medina said that the city’s public safety strategy relies on trust.
“Our public safety strategy is built on community trust,” Medina said. “That trust breaks down when people fear law enforcement will be used for immigration enforcement, and that’s not who we are. The National Guard here works strictly behind the scenes, with no arrests or enforcement duties.”
According to the City of Albuquerque, National Guard members in the city are performing desk work, managing traffic and assisting with logistics. These activities are intended to support the city’s operations without direct public enforcement or interaction with residents.
If a person is submitting their documents properly and ICE stops them from entering the building and detains them, will Albuquerque police come to the scene and help the person? It is one thing to passively include immigrants, and another thing to actively help someone being harassed by ICE.