Stefani Lord, a House Representative from New Mexico, said that the state was named the most dangerous in America to raise a family. She cited violent crime and child abuse rates as part of her criticism of Democratic leadership. The statement was made on the social media platform X.
"Hey Democrats, how are your whackadoo policies working out for you," said Lord, New Mexico State Representative for 22nd District (R). "New Mexico has just been named the most dangerous state in America to raise a family. That's not my opinion; that's based on FBI crime data and multiple national studies. Number 1 in violent crime."
New Mexico continues to rank near the top nationally for violent crime, child safety concerns, and family well-being risks. According to a 2025 U.S. News & World Report study based on FBI data, the state's violent crime rate is 749 per 100,000 and property crime is 2,887 per 100,000—both figures significantly above the national average. These ongoing challenges have led to the governor deploying the National Guard in Albuquerque and have attracted major legislative attention towards public safety and child welfare issues, as reported by sources including the New York Post and AP News.
U.S. News & World Report and FBI data indicate that New Mexico's violent crime rate of 749 per 100,000 is markedly higher than the U.S. average of 380.7 per 100,000. Similarly, property crime in New Mexico stands at 2,887 per 100,000 compared to a national average of 1,954 per 100,000. The state's homicide rate also remains among the highest in the nation despite recent small declines.
According to data from the New Mexico Children’s Cabinet, 27.3% of children in New Mexico experience two or more Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), which is the highest percentage in the country compared to a national average of 17.4%. However, substantiated child abuse cases have decreased from 18 to 12.5 per 1,000 children over the past five years.
Lord has been serving as a Republican House Representative for New Mexico’s 22nd District since January 2023. Her legislative profile notes that she sits on both the Judiciary and Public Safety Committee and chairs the Rules & Order of Business Committee. Her work focuses on criminal justice reform, family safety initiatives, and conservative reforms.
