Governor talks human trafficking in Tuesday press conference

NEW MEXICO (KRQE) – On Tuesday, Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham will hold a press conference at 10:00 a.m. You can watch the press conference on this page.

The governor was joined by federal, state, and local law enforcement officials at the State Capitol to announce the results of a major law enforcement operation led by the Organized Crime Commission.

They’re calling it Operation Disruption. “The primary objective of this was to save migrants’ lives. We know that too many migrants, too many people being trafficked and smuggled on our southern border are drying in the desert,” Organized Crime Commission Chairman and Second Judicial District Attorney Sam Bregman said.

Sixteen law enforcement agencies participated in ‘Operation Disruption,’ which focused on human trafficking happening on New Mexico’s southern border. Border Patrol Agents say that during the 12-day operation, they saw a 90% reduction in deaths and were able to rescue three times the usual number of migrants in distress.

“Whether or not it’s human trafficking, drug trafficking, gun trafficking…this is the first major operation. But sustainability is going to be key in making sure that we have all the necessary tools, all the time, and that requires resources. Of course, it requires money, it requires good legislation,” Bregman said.

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