New Mexico Governor Requests Additional FBI Agents Assigned to State
Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham (D-NM) has asked the Department of Justice (DOJ) to support her request for additional federal law enforcement resources to support state and local public safety efforts in the wake of the violent crime surge nationwide.
In a letter to Attorney General (AG) Merrick Garland, Gov. Lujan Grisham emphasized that Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) Director Christopher Wray reported a 50 percent reduction in homicides after the FBI increased its agents and resources in Buffalo, New York.
“Buffalo is a good example of what we can accomplish when we gather intelligence across jurisdictions, surge resources, and build large enterprise investigations,” stated Director Wray in remarks delivered at the Association of State Criminal Investigative Agencies Spring Conference. “We work shoulder-to-shoulder with our state and local partners in investigations like that across the country every day. These kinds of joint investigations we can all be proud of, agents and task force officers working with our partners to make communities safer. By doing this, you’re helping your local partners combat this ongoing wave of violence in so many areas of our country.”
Gov. Lujan Grisham also noted that she made a similar request in June to Director Wray, however, the request for additional agents assigned to New Mexico failed to materialize.
“At this time, New Mexico’s law enforcement officers require the support and resources that only the federal government can provide,” Gov. Lujan Grisham wrote to Director Wray.
According to the FBI's Crime Data Explorer (CDE), which publishes estimated crime statistics based on data received from 60 percent of law enforcement agencies in the country annually, New Mexico saw more than 10,000 violent crimes in 2021, including about 150 homicides. In fact, New Mexico's rate of violent crime offenses by population has remained double the national average in recent years.
“Once these resources are allocated to New Mexico, I am confident the FBI and state law enforcement officers will achieve similar success as the Buffalo office,” stated Gov. Lujan Grisham. “Both New Mexico law enforcement agencies and the FBI are partners in addressing and preventing violent crime. It is therefore imperative to provide the tools and support to achieve our common goal of ending violent crime in New Mexico.”
Earlier this year, Gov. Lujan Grisham announced awards for more than $40 million to 29 law enforcement departments across the state for the hiring of over 300 officers. In requesting additional federal agents, the Governor hopes to support the state's ongoing efforts to grow the ranks of law enforcement officers statewide and boost public safety across New Mexico.
“Once these resources are allocated to New Mexico, I am confident the FBI and state law enforcement officers will achieve similar success as the Buffalo office,” stated Gov. Lujan Grisham. “Both New Mexico law enforcement agencies and the FBI are partners in addressing and preventing violent crime. It is therefore imperative to provide the tools and support to achieve our common goal of ending violent crime in New Mexico.”
Earlier this year, Gov. Lujan Grisham announced that she had awarded more than $40 million to 29 law enforcement departments across the state for the hiring of over 300 officers. In requesting additional federal agents, the Governor hopes to support the state's ongoing efforts to grow the ranks of law enforcement officers statewide and boost public safety across New Mexico.