Rebecca Dow, a House Representative of New Mexico, expressed concerns that efforts to restrict federal enforcement could undermine law enforcement and public safety as the state grapples with rising security issues. This statement was made on the social media platform X.
"At a moment when public safety is at a breaking point, dismantling critical federal enforcement tools in the state doesn't strengthen security—it weakens it," said Rebecca L. Dow, New Mexico State Representative for 38th District (R). "This special session could undermine law enforcement and enable smugglers, not stop them."
New Mexico's ongoing public safety challenges have prompted lawmakers to consider altering the role of federal law enforcement. Some proposals aim to either restrict or expand federal involvement in addressing violent crime and border issues, as crime rates remain high. This debate is highlighted by the Albuquerque Journal.
According to KRQE and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) statistics, New Mexico consistently ranks among the states with the highest violent crime rates. While federal-local law enforcement task forces have contributed to crime reduction in certain areas, their impact and cooperation vary significantly across different jurisdictions.
Reuters reports that states such as Oregon and California have enacted laws restricting federal law enforcement roles in recent years. These restrictions have led to fewer joint operations in areas like immigration enforcement, resulting in mixed effects on crime rates and ongoing debates over local versus federal control.
Dow, according to Ballotpedia, is a Republican who served in the New Mexico House from 2017 to 2022. During her tenure, she prioritized public safety and child welfare and advocated for increased resources for law enforcement and tougher sentencing for violent offenders.
