‘Two cities, two different deployments of the National Guard. The differences are kind of significant in Albuquerque,’ KOAT legal expert John Day said
As of Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2025, Washington, D.C.’s police are now under federal control. President Donald Trump deployed 800 members of the National Guard to help crack down on criminals and the city’s homeless crisis, declaring the move a “crime emergency.”
On Monday, Aug. 11, 2025, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham and Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller issued a joint statement shortly after, citing “President Trump is making unilateral decisions that appear politically motivated rather than focusing on building appropriate responses to public safety challenges and strengthening communities.”
Their joint statement also reads, “His deployment of 800 National Guard troops to Washington, D.C., without local request or coordination demonstrates a fundamental misunderstanding of effective public safety strategy.” KOAT legal expert John Day explains the differences and legalities in both deployments.
On April 8, 2025, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham authorized the deployment of New Mexico National Guard personnel to support the Albuquerque Police Department in response to ongoing public safety challenges in the city, particularly along the Central Avenue corridor and other specific areas.
“The differences are kind of significant in Albuquerque. They’re about 70 or 80 National Guard members who are assisting Albuquerque Police Department with things like taking job duties away from the officers so they can be on the street,” Day said.
