Ant Thornton, a senator from New Mexico, has expressed criticism of Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham's decision to reject federal National Guard deployment to the border. Thornton highlighted the contrast between this rejection and her use of the National Guard in New Mexico cities. His statement was made on the social media platform X.
"What do you think about our Governor insisting that she will resist any attempts by POTUS to use the National Guard to help secure our southern border from drug and human trafficking," said Anthony Linn Thornton, New Mexico State Senator from 198th District (R). "Yet she has no problem deploying them in Albuquerque and Espanola to help “fight” crime. Explain to me the hypocrisy."
Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham has opposed federal initiatives aimed at expanding military authority at the southern border. She has criticized the Pentagon’s 2025 plan to create "National Defense Areas," which would allow troops to detain migrants until Border Patrol agents arrive. While she supports using the National Guard for community and emergency roles, she is against border militarization. This stance places her at odds with recent federal enforcement expansions along the U.S.–Mexico line, as reported by Reuters.
Border crime remains a significant issue in New Mexico, with prosecutors handling numerous immigration-related cases weekly. In late July 2025, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for New Mexico charged 35 individuals with illegal reentry, 36 with illegal entry, and four with alien smuggling. Many of these individuals had prior convictions, including drug trafficking offenses. These figures illustrate persistent trafficking and smuggling activity along the state’s border corridor, according to the Department of Justice.
The National Guard has been deployed recently to assist with crime reduction efforts in New Mexico's cities rather than at the border. In 2025, Governor Lujan Grisham authorized up to 70 Guard soldiers in Albuquerque for non-law-enforcement duties and declared an emergency in Española that allowed for Guard support and $750,000 in aid. Source New Mexico reports that more than $2 million has already been spent to sustain Guard operations in Albuquerque alone.
Thornton, a Republican elected to represent Senate District 19 in 2025, is a retired aerospace engineer with extensive experience at Sandia National Laboratories, Lockheed Martin, and the Universities Space Research Association. His campaign biography emphasizes conservative priorities such as stronger border security, tougher bail laws, school choice, lower taxes, and creating a crypto-friendly regulatory environment. According to his official campaign website, Thornton positions himself as a reform-minded voice in the state Senate.
