State police increase patrols after Palomas shootings

Gov. Bill Richardson has ordered the New Mexico State Police to increase its presence along the Mexican border in response to violence that has left at least six people dead in Palomas, located across the border from Columbus in Luna County.

Officials say the violence is part of an escalating drug war on the Mexican side of the border. Though there has been no related violence in Columbus, victims have fled to the port of entry.

“I want to ensure that we are doing everything possible to keep New Mexicans in this community safe,” Richardson said in a news release.

As a result of Richardson’s order, State Police have indefinitely increased patrols in and around the town of Columbus, located south of Deming. Officers are also working with U.S. Customs agents to form a roadblock in Columbus to check every vehicle going into Mexico.

The violence has escalated this week. On Monday, two men were killed and a third was seriously injured when a man with an AK-47 fired on their sport utility vehicle. A fourth man steered the vehicle after the shooting into the Columbus Port of Entry, where he was arrested for entering the United States illegally with a firearm, according to the Deming Headlight.

Earlier today, another shooting left an American who lives and works in Palomas seriously injured, according to KVIA in El Paso. Moments after officials heard gunfire, the man arrived at the border station with multiple gunshot wounds and driving a vehicle that had dozens of bullet holes. He’s being treated at Thomason Hospital in El Paso.

In addition to increasing state police patrols, Richardson is working with U.S. Sen. Jeff Bingaman to ensure there is an appropriate federal response. Bingaman spokeswoman Jude McCartin said her office is in contact with the governor, State Department and Border Patrol.

“What we’re trying to do is determine what steps can be taken on our side of the border,” she said. “It looks like a pretty serious problem.”

Richardson declared a state of emergency along the Mexican border in 2005 that freed up money for local law enforcement agencies. He also convinced the governor of Chihuahua that year to raze a number of buildings in the border village of Las Chepas, which was being used as a staging point for drug and human smuggling.

Update, 5/10/07, 6:55 a.m.

Bingaman and Sen. Pete Domenici have written a letter to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to call attention to the violence and ask her to encourage the Mexican government to address the situation. The senators suggested that Rice consider issuing a notice to constituents and travelers in the region.

They also announced that they sent staffers to Luna County to be briefed on the violence and offered to try to help assist local communities in dealing with the situation.