Democratic New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham has been captured in a secretly recorded audio accusing President Joe Biden’s administration of “persecuting” her state. In the recording, Lujan Grisham expresses frustration with Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas over the lack of Border Patrol agents in Sunland Park, a small city on the U.S.-Mexico border in New Mexico. She also voices concerns about marijuana being confiscated at U.S. Border Patrol checkpoints in the state, despite it being legal in New Mexico.
Apprehensions at the U.S.-Mexico border reached a record high of 249,737 in December 2023. While border encounters have decreased somewhat early this year, the topic remains a major focus of political rhetoric as the November presidential election approaches. Lujan Grisham suggests sending a letter to the Biden administration to address her grievances with the handling of immigration and marijuana policies. She criticizes the hard stance taken by Border Patrol agents in confiscating cannabis products in the state, particularly from small producers who rely on their businesses.
The recording, which was shared on social media by a user, has been confirmed to be authentic by Lujan Grisham’s communications director. He notes that the conversation reflects the frustrations the governor has previously expressed publicly regarding federal seizures of licensed cannabis products in New Mexico. Lujan Grisham’s concerns over the impact on small producers and the response she received from Secretary Mayorkas are highlighted in the recording, where she expresses offense at his remarks downplaying the significance of the confiscations.
Despite her frustrations, Lujan Grisham emphasizes in the recording that she has been trying to handle the situation without involving the press. She emphasizes the importance of not being perceived as weak or willing to let the Biden administration “walk all over her.” The governor’s concerns reflect broader challenges faced by states with conflicting federal and state laws regarding marijuana legalization and how they intersect with immigration enforcement policies along the U.S.-Mexico border.
Newsweek reached out to the Department of Homeland Security and the White House for comment on the matter but has not received a response. The tensions between the New Mexico governor and the Biden administration highlight the complexities and conflicts that can arise at the intersection of state and federal policies, particularly in areas such as immigration and drug enforcement. It remains to be seen how Lujan Grisham’s concerns will be addressed and whether they will impact the ongoing dialogue and cooperation between the state and federal governments on these issues.
