WASHINGTON — Violent crime declined sharply across many of the nation’s largest cities in 2025, according to new data highlighted by the White House, which credits stepped-up federal enforcement and border security policies under President Donald Trump for the decrease.
In statements released in January and February, the White House said overall murders in major U.S. cities fell 19% in 2025 compared with the previous year. Robberies declined by 20%, and aggravated assaults dropped by nearly 10%, according to the administration. Officials described the changes as part of a broader downward trend in violent crime.
The White House also cited additional reductions in rapes, shooting deaths, traffic fatalities and overdose deaths, as well as a reported 80-year low in on-duty law enforcement officer deaths. The administration characterized the shift as the largest single-year drop in murders in recorded history and said the murder rate in the nation’s largest cities is at its lowest level in at least 125 years.
President Trump attributed the decline to what he described as a “whole-of-government” approach to public safety, including increased federal resources for local law enforcement, expanded immigration enforcement and efforts to dismantle drug trafficking organizations.
In New Mexico, officials have pointed to similar local trends. Police data from the Albuquerque Police Department in Albuquerque show decreases in several categories of violent and property crime in 2025, including shootings, robberies, aggravated assaults and motor vehicle theft. Authorities in Las Cruces have also reported reductions in certain violent crime categories over the same period.
Federal officials have tied part of the decline to enhanced border enforcement and drug interdiction efforts. The administration cited “Operation Take Back America,” a multi-state enforcement action that included New Mexico and resulted in arrests and seizures of fentanyl, firearms, vehicles and cash. Authorities said the operation disrupted a major drug trafficking network.
New Mexico has faced persistent challenges related to opioid addiction and overdose deaths in recent years. Federal agencies said increased fentanyl seizures are part of a broader strategy to reduce the supply of synthetic opioids entering the country.
Immigration enforcement has also been emphasized. In a 2025 enforcement operation in New Mexico, federal officers arrested 20 individuals who had previously been arrested or convicted of crimes including homicide, sexual assault, aggravated battery and drug trafficking, according to federal officials. The White House said stronger border controls have allowed law enforcement agencies to focus more resources on individuals with serious criminal histories.
Supporters of the administration’s policies argue that increased federal involvement has contributed to improved public safety outcomes in border states like New Mexico. Critics have cautioned that crime trends can be influenced by multiple factors, including local policing strategies, demographic shifts and broader social conditions.
The White House framed the latest data as evidence that its public safety and border initiatives are producing measurable results. Additional independent analyses of 2025 crime data are expected in the coming months as more cities finalize their annual reports.
