A state of emergency has been declared in New Mexico 's largest city, as the governor calls in the National Guard to help combat out of control crime .

Action by the Democratic governor clears the way for dozens of guard members to help the Albuquerque Police Department starting next month.

About 60 to 70 soldiers will be stationed in largest city, home to over a quarter of the state, for six months to a year, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham told reporters Tuesday.

Grisham pulled the trigger after the chief of police asked for assistance at the end of March, as the city of dealing with a fentanyl crisis, violent crime and growing homelessness problem.

Some of the troops will be assigned to Central Avenue, part of the historic Route 66.

The area is known as 'The War Zone' by locals, and is the site of homeless encampments and open-air drug use.

YouTuber Nick Johnson , who has over 1.1 million followers, visited Albuquerque earlier this year, calling it the ' most frightful neighborhood in America .'

National guard members will also free up local cops who normally provide security at the courthouse and airport so they can respond to crime.

However, they will not be armed or in uniform, reported the Albuquerque Journal .

Instead, the troops will be in polo shirts.

The city is hoping to increase its police force to 1,000 officer compared to its current size of 850.

Local officials tried to reassure residents that the guard members will not be acting as cops, but instead, freeing up officers.

'What we want to do is double down on what’s working…and what’s working is technology and civilians…freeing up officers to fight crime and keep those statistics going in this powerfully good direction,' Mayor Tim Keller said.

Democratic New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham speaks at a news conference Saturday, March 22, 2025, in Santa Fe, N.M.

'A short-term way to help with that is by the National Guardsmen helping out.'

However, New Mexico Republicans slammed the mayor for allowing crime to get to this point.

The city’s 'crime crisis and lawlessness is a testament to the absolute failure of Mayor Tim Keller and his progressive policies,' Sen. Nicole Tobiassen, R-Albuquerque told the paper.

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