Four takeaways from Congressman Gabe Vasquez's talk with law enforcement leaders

Mental health funds, youth violence and drones were top of mind for New Mexico law enforcement officials at a round table with Rep. Gabe Vasquez, D-N.M., in Albuquerque on Wednesday afternoon.

Vasquez was in the northern part of his congressional district this week, speaking with advocates on everything from food aid to rural schools. The congressman said he thinks a broader conversation between New Mexico policymakers and law enforcement is needed, and he would be willing to help coordinate one.

Here are four takeaways from his conversation with law enforcement agency heads.

1. Social media regulation and youth violence

Vasquez said he would look into regulating social media platforms after hearing from law enforcement heads that young people are acquiring firearms that are stolen from cars and then sold on social media platforms, particularly Telegram.

The congressman is already supporting Ethan’s Law, a safe storage bill that would require any firearms in homes to be safely stored if a minor could gain access to them.

Both Albuquerque Police Chief Harold Medina and Bernalillo County Sheriff John Allen said there is not always enough capacity to incarcerate youth offenders, and that they’re not convinced state legislators will take steps to address juvenile crime.

“I don’t have an ounce of faith in our state Legislature to get anything done on this. They’re going to disagree on everything in juvenile crime,” Allen said.

2. Drone mitigation worries law enforcement

Several law enforcement heads are concerned about mitigating drones, which they say are being used by criminal groups for surveillance. They’re also concerned about the potential for people to weaponize drones.

“Local law enforcement is basically banned from shooting down drones. … There is no legal process for us to get through that,” Medina said. “It has to come from the federal level. We just need a process to be able to deal with the drone.”

Federal entities like White Sands Missile Range and Customs and Border Protection are also looking for ways to address drones, Vasquez said.

“White Sands Missile Range doesn’t have the authority to even jam electronically the drones that are in their airspace,” Vasquez said. “We’re working on that actively with them, to try to solve that issue and then get them the technology that they need to be able to do that. That’s a national security issue.”

CBP has asked his office for technology to deal with drones, Vasquez said.

“Drones and these alternative methods for moving stuff over the border are just going to increase exponentially,” said New Mexico State Police Chief Troy Weisler. “And out of necessity now, because it is harder to move stuff across. And as everyone said, we’re unable to counter it in any way, shape or form.”

3. Threats to federal and state dollars

As state legislators consider ways New Mexico can fill the gap left in the social safety net by the “One Big Beautiful Bill,” Weisler is concerned that cuts to federal dollars for Medicaid could imperil state dollars for law enforcement projects.

Medina said he expects grant funding to be withheld because Albuquerque is an immigrant-friendly sanctuary city.

“It will get tied up in the courts. … I’m confident we’ll get it, but in the interim, we’re going to lose funding that we use each and every year,” Medina said.

4. Money for substance abuse and mental health

Albuquerque and Belen police leadership want more dollars for substance abuse programs and mental health services.

“Crime is down in Albuquerque, but nobody will believe it. Why? They associate the view of homelessness with crime,” Medina said. “Our biggest issue has become the unhoused and the unhoused’s biggest issues are substance abuse and mental health.”

Homelessness, mental health and drug use are a significant problem in Belen that the police department gets asked to address, said Belen Police Chief Adam Keck, even when there’s no crime involved.