One of the most basic responsibilities of government is to keep residents safe. That means making sure our laws are enforced fairly, consistently, and responsibly.
In the real world, cities do not operate in isolation. Local police departments regularly work with county, state, and federal agencies. This cooperation happens for many reasons — from task forces, to information sharing, to situations where a suspect is wanted in multiple jurisdictions. We saw a clear example of this here in Rio Rancho in 2025. Rio Rancho Police initially pulled a driver over for suspected impaired and careless driving. During the stop, information came to light that led officers to contact the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The individual, Reyes, was charged locally with DWI and careless driving, and federal authorities separately brought charges for transportation of illegal immigrants. He also had prior DWI arrests in New Mexico. That case illustrates exactly why cooperation between agencies matters. Local police handled the local crimes. Federal authorities handled the federal crimes. Each agency did its job, and public safety was better served because of it. (See news report here)
If someone breaks the law and a judge issues a warrant for their arrest, that warrant should be enforced. Sometimes local police handle it. Sometimes it requires help from county, state, or federal agencies. That cooperation is normal, legal, and necessary for a functioning justice system.
I want to be very clear about where I stand: I support law and order, and I support proactive, constitutional policing and cooperation between agencies to carry out lawful arrests and keep our community safe. Rio Rancho has not adopted formal sanctuary-type policies that restrict cooperation between our local police and state or federal law-enforcement agencies (you can verify this on the federal list here). Unlike some jurisdictions that have adopted such restrictions, our city’s approach allows law enforcement to work with other agencies when necessary to enforce the law and protect public safety. That is exactly how it should be. Public safety should never be undermined by politics or confusion about jurisdiction.
The Rio Rancho Police Department has done a strong job keeping our community safe. But we also have to be honest about what’s happening around us. Albuquerque is struggling with rising crime and homelessness, and those problems do not stop at city limits. We are already seeing them begin to spill over into Rio Rancho. As our city continues to grow, we will need more police officers on the streets preventing crime before it happens. Speed boxes and cameras cannot replace the value of a strong, visible police presence in our community.
As Mayor, my focus will always be on: • Upholding the rule of law — for everyone, including government itself • Listening to our Police Chief and public safety professionals about what they need to do their jobs effectively • Supporting our police and first responders • Ensuring cooperation between agencies when necessary • Preventing crime before it happens • Keeping Rio Rancho families safe
We can be a welcoming community and a lawful community at the same time. In fact, keeping our residents and visitors safe is what makes a city truly welcoming. Those two things are not in conflict.
If you stand with me on these principles, I would be honored to have your vote. I also invite you to visit my website to learn more about my plans for Rio Rancho, sign up for updates, or get involved in the campaign.