New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez is warning residents about a surge in online scammers posing as legitimate immigration attorneys, targeting vulnerable immigrant communities through social media platforms. The scammers contact potential victims directly via social media and often use real attorneys’ names and license numbers to appear legitimate, according to a warning issued by […]
Courts, Justice & Safety
Posted inCourts, Justice & Safety
Federal judge orders DACA recipient detained by ICE released from New Mexico detention center
A federal judge has ruled that a DACA recipient whose detention has been challenged in court must be released from custody. Late Wednesday, U.S. District Judge William P. Johnson of the U.S. District Court of New Mexico granted a petition for a writ of habeas corpus directing the federal government to immediately release 28-year-old Paulo […]
Posted inCourts, Justice & Safety, New Mexico Legislature #nmleg
State Rep. Eleanor Chávez: “I’m gonna call it what it is… ICE is acting like the KKK”
A New Mexico state representative didn’t mince words when a state legislative committee overseeing courts and justice policy opened the floor for remarks on Wednesday. During the two-day meeting of the legislature’s Court, Corrections and Justice Committee State Representative Eleanor Chávez, a Democrat from Bernalillo County’s South Valley, recalled stories the committee had been told […]
Posted inCourts, Justice & Safety, Housing & Homelessness
Dineh Benally pleads guilty in Estancia marijuana scheme, using illegal Chinese workers
A man who operated large-scale marijuana growing operations on the Navajo Nation and near Estancia pleaded guilty Tuesday to multiple federal charges, including drug trafficking, immigration violations and environmental crimes. Dineh Benally, who ran what prosecutors called an elaborate scheme involving Chinese investors and illegal workers, agreed to plead guilty to nine counts in U.S. […]
Posted inCongress & Federal Gov., Courts, Justice & Safety
Furniture store fined after employee crushed to death
A local furniture store is facing fines after safety violations led to an employee being crushed to death. According to state records, the fatal workplace accident occurred in February during a furniture delivery by Casa Furniture, a local retailer that operates multiple locations. An employee was reportedly struck and crushed by a 16-foot box truck […]
Posted inCongress & Federal Gov., Courts, Justice & Safety
Cat-astrophe averted: Four departments unite for high-stakes feline rescue
It wasn’t exactly a five-alarm fire, but four municipal departments still answered the call Tuesday when a cat found itself in quite the predicament—stranded at the top of a telephone pole in Mountainair with apparently no exit strategy. What started as one very bad day for a local feline turned into an all-paws-on-deck rescue mission […]
Posted inCourts, Justice & Safety
Española police chief addresses unease over National Guard deployment
New Mexico National Guard troops could soon be deployed to Española and Rio Arriba County to address a surge in crime and public safety concerns. Española Police Chief Mizel Garcia told members of the Courts, Corrections, and Justice Committee of the New Mexico Legislature that his department and the New Mexico National Guard have been […]
Posted inCourts, Justice & Safety
Española police chief addresses unease over National Guard deployment
New Mexico National Guard troops could soon be deployed to Española and Rio Arriba County to address a surge in crime and public safety concerns. Española Police Chief Mizel Garcia told members of the Courts, Corrections, and Justice Committee of the New Mexico Legislature that his department and the New Mexico National Guard have been […]
Posted inCourts, Justice & Safety
Imposter nurse nearly kills Albuquerque patient with fatal morphine dose
An Albuquerque woman has been indicted on multiple felony counts after allegedly impersonating a licensed nurse and providing care at two hospice facilities, where she worked directly with vulnerable patients. In one instance, she nearly killed a patient with a fatal dose of morphine. According to the New Mexico Department of Justice (NM DOJ) and […]
Posted inCourts, Justice & Safety, Westside Albuquerque
Santa Fe County sees 104% spike in overdose deaths as fentanyl potency increases
Santa Fe County experienced a 104% increase in drug overdose deaths during the first half of 2025 compared to the same period last year, according to data released Thursday by the New Mexico Department of Health. The county also saw a 131% surge in overdose-related emergency department visits, part of a troubling trend across three […]