New Mexico State Representative Jenifer Jones (R-Deming) has written a letter to Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham, urging immediate action to address the escalating border crisis in the state. The El Paso sector, which includes the entire New Mexico-Mexico border, has become the largest entry point for illegal immigrants into the United States, contributing to heightened security concerns in the region.
In her letter, Rep. Jones emphasizes the importance of state involvement, stating, "While the federal government may be responsible for controlling and protecting our national borders, the current crisis situation demands that all levels of government play an active role in protecting the safety of our state's population and limiting societal damage caused by the Federal government's failure to secure our southern border."
Rep. Jones calls for the New Mexico National Guard to be deployed to the southern border to assist the U.S. Border Patrol, particularly as the deadline for Title 42 to end approaches on May 11th. "The use of state resources in this effort to stop the violence and the suffering created by the border breakdown is even more important once Title 42 provisions are no longer enforced after May 11th," she writes.
The crisis at the border has led to an increase in drug trafficking, particularly fentanyl, which poses a significant threat to public health in New Mexico. According to the New Mexico Department of Health, drug overdose deaths in the state have been on the rise in recent years, with fentanyl playing a major role. In addition, human trafficking and crime rates have surged along the border.
Rep. Jones believes deploying the National Guard would bolster law enforcement efforts to combat these issues, stating, "I believe now is the time for all of the State of New Mexico's available resources be used to assist the U.S. Border Patrol and other federal government agencies who are trying to protect our border and the citizens of our state. The current crisis at the border demands such a response."