New Mexico is in crisis. Our violent crime rate is among the highest in the world. We are losing children to abuse and neglect while state systems meant to protect them collapse in plain sight. Drug addiction is devouring lives. Mental health resources are stretched beyond the breaking point. And juvenile crime is spiraling out of control.
Let me be clear: public safety in New Mexico is not just in jeopardy — it’s on life support.
We have more people suffering from behavioral health issues and substance abuse than ever before. And yet, we keep trying to patch the problem with press releases, task forces, and executive orders that go nowhere. The Governor’s Executive Order from February 2023 was supposed to mark a turning point — a coordinated, cross-agency effort to protect vulnerable children. But over a year later, the outcomes are still catastrophic. Children are still dying. Families are still pleading for help. And the state is still failing.
This is not just a CYFD problem. This is a leadership failure — from the top down. A system so broken that it routinely places children in harm’s way is not a system that needs reform. It’s a system that needs rebuilding.
The rumors that the Governor may call a special session on public safety are becoming reality and have stirred renewed hope — and a healthy amount of skepticism. If this special session doesn’t address the full scope of our crisis — juvenile justice, violent crime, behavioral health, and the ongoing implosion of CYFD — then it’s just political theater.
Let me remind my colleagues: real people are paying the price for our inaction. Children are being trafficked while under state supervision. Addicted mothers are giving birth in the street. Seniors are afraid to leave their homes. Teachers are being assaulted in their classrooms. And police officers are leaving the force in droves because they’re tired of arresting the same criminals over and over, only to watch them walk free under a revolving-door system that treats accountability like an afterthought.
We cannot continue to ignore this. We cannot continue to kick the can down the road. The time for half-measures and hollow gestures is over.
We need bold, bipartisan action — not in six months, not after another study — but now. That means giving law enforcement the tools, resources, and backup they need. Specifically, we must restore qualified immunity for our law enforcement officers. Among other things, this measure protects those who put their lives on the line to keep us safe. We must also ensure juvenile offenders face real consequences and have access to real rehabilitation. Finally, it is imperative that we overhaul CYFD — and hold leadership accountable, implement real oversight, and demand results.
This is not a Republican issue or a Democrat issue. This is a New Mexico issue. And if we can’t come together on something as basic and essential as public safety, then what are we even doing here?
Every legislator, regardless of party, should walk into a special session ready to get serious. Ready to pass laws that prioritize the safety of our communities. Ready to stand up for children who can’t speak for themselves. Ready to face the hard truths and take responsibility for fixing this.
I’m ready. Many of my colleagues are ready. But the question is — will the Governor lead a real, all-hands-on-deck session? Or will lawmakers in the majority fail New Mexicans yet again while the chaos continues?
New Mexicans are not asking for miracles. They’re asking for action. They deserve to feel safe in their homes, confident in their schools, and protected by the systems designed to serve them.
The time for excuses is over. The time for action is now.
Nicole Tobiassen represents northeast Albuquerque, District 21, in the New Mexico State Senate.
