According to party officials, a suspected arson attack took place Sunday at the New Mexico Republican Party headquarters. The fire occurred on March 30, 2025, at 5:56 a.m. at 5160 San Francisco Dr. NE in Albuquerque. Fire crews from Albuquerque and Bernalillo County quickly contained the blaze within five minutes. The building sustained damage to its front entry and smoke damage throughout, but no injuries were reported.
ICE Blowback?
It has been noted that after a recent week-long enforcement operation led by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), in collaboration with several federal agencies, resulted in the arrest of 48 individuals in Albuquerque, Santa Fe, and Roswell. Those taken into custody were either previously ordered to leave the U.S. by an immigration judge or had been charged with, or convicted of, serious crimes while residing in the country without legal status.[1]
The multi-agency operation, which concluded on March 8, included support from U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the FBI, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and the U.S. Marshals Service.
Among those arrested, 20 individuals had criminal histories that included charges such as homicide, sexual assault, aggravated battery, drug trafficking, and burglary. Others were detained for immigration-related violations, including re-entering the country after deportation. ICE reported that 21 of the individuals have final orders of removal.
Who is to Blame?
Key figures in the GOP spoke out about the event and pointed fingers at rivals who they claim to appear to encourage agitation.
As of now the cause of the fire remains under investigation, with AFR, the FBI, and ATF all involved.
