New Mexico governor asks for more FBI agents to fight crime

New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham requested in a letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland that the Department of Justice (DOJ) assign more FBI agents to New Mexico to fight crime. According to the governor's office, the agents would support state and local police amid the ongoing increase in violent crime.

This request from the local Democratic governor has come to light as several progressive politicians are pursuing controversial anti-police policies such as, Defund The Police, the elimination of bail and reducing attention to misdemeanors. Grisham also asked FBI Director Christopher Wray for more agents in June without getting a favorable response.

"Once resources are allocated to New Mexico, I am confident that the FBI and state law enforcement services will see a similar level of success as achieved by the Buffalo office," the governor wrote in the letter to Garland. She added, "Both New Mexico law enforcement agencies and the FBI are partners in addressing and preventing violent crime. Therefore, it is imperative to provide the tools and support necessary to achieve our common goal of ending violent crime in New Mexico."

Violent crime in New Mexico

There were 10,129 incidents of violent crime in New Mexico last year, according to the FBI Crime Data Explorer. The state has the second highest violent crime rate in the nation, according to Texas-based Vela Law, which used FBI data. Only Alaska has a higher rate.

Grisham signed an omnibus bill earlier this year that put $50 million toward recruiting more law enforcement officers for agencies across the state.