The tragic death of 16-year-old Jaydun Garcia while in the custody of New Mexico’s Children, Youth and Families Department (CYFD) is a devastating reminder of the agency’s chronic dysfunction. Despite years of warnings, audits, lawsuits, and investigative reports, CYFD continues to fail the very children it was created to protect. The time for excuses is over. The time for accountability is now.
The public deserves to know how a child could be shuffled between offices and congregate care facilities—some described as “warehouses of neglect”—only to die by suicide in a facility that was once a jail. This investigation is not about politics; it’s about justice for Jaydun and systemic change for the thousands of children still in CYFD custody.
But let’s be clear: this crisis is not new. Republican lawmakers have introduced CYFD reform bills for years, only to see them stall or be dismissed by the Democratic majority. This session, however, we made progress.
Several bills passed the House unanimously—a testament to bipartisan recognition that CYFD needs reform. Yet, Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham resisted these efforts. She signed HB 5 but vetoed $1.65 million in startup funding, undermining the very office she approved. Her administration also opposed the Office of the Child Advocate’s placement within the Department of Justice, citing concerns over staff morale. Meanwhile, children like Jaydun are dying.
The governor did endorse Senate Bill 42, a bipartisan omnibus reform package that includes measures to address substance-exposed infants, increase transparency, and access federal funding. While this is a step in the right direction, it is not enough. We need comprehensive reform that includes independent oversight and accountability.
The Democratic majority must take CYFD reform seriously. Too many critical bills have been shot down or watered down. Our children cannot wait for political convenience. They need action now.
I will continue to advocate for meaningful reforms to CYFD. I urge my colleagues, regardless of party, to join me in this effort. We owe it to Jaydun and to every child in New Mexico’s care.
Gail Armstrong serves as the New Mexico House Republican Leader and State Representative for District 49.
