The headquarters of the Republican Party of New Mexico was set on fire early Sunday, prompting an investigation by federal authorities.
Firefighters in Albuquerque, the state’s largest city, responded to the blaze around 6 a.m. and extinguished it within five minutes, according to Albuquerque Fire Rescue. Officials reported that the single-story building sustained damage to its entryway, with smoke spreading throughout the structure.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has taken charge of the investigation, vowing to identify those responsible for the incident.
The fire comes just weeks after U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) conducted raids in Albuquerque, Santa Fe, and Roswell, arresting 48 undocumented immigrants, including 20 with prior criminal convictions.
Graffiti found at the scene appeared to link ICE to the Ku Klux Klan, a white supremacist hate group, though authorities have not confirmed any direct connection between the fire and recent immigration enforcement actions.
At the time of this report, neither local nor state officials had issued a statement on the arson.
Amy Barela, Chairwoman of the New Mexico Republican Party, condemned the attack, calling on state leaders to take decisive action.
“These cowardly attacks must not be tolerated,” Barela said in a statement.
The Democratic Party of New Mexico also denounced the incident, emphasizing that such actions have no place in a democratic society.
“We firmly believe that violence and vandalism should never be used to settle political disagreements. We hope those responsible are found and held accountable,” the party stated on social media.
The fire follows the recent conviction of a failed Republican candidate for the New Mexico House of Representatives, who carried out drive-by shootings at the homes of Democratic officials in Albuquerque between 2022 and 2023.
Authorities continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the fire, urging anyone with information to come forward.
