The former Las Cruces mayor and gubernatorial candidate says accountability and transparency are essential to maintaining public trust

Organ Mountain News report

LAS CRUCES - Former Las Cruces mayor and gubernatorial candidate Ken Miyagishima on Sunday called for increased oversight and accountability of federal law enforcement agencies, citing national reports he said raise concerns about use of force, transparency and public trust.

In a statement posted to X, Miyagishima said he remains a “staunch supporter” of law enforcement but said “what’s happening right now is not acceptable,” pointing to reports out of Minnesota as signs of a system operating “without enough guardrails.”

The remarks appear to reference a federal immigration enforcement operation in Minneapolis and the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old intensive care nurse and U.S. citizen, who was shot and killed by a U.S. Border Patrol agent on Saturday, Jan. 24 — one day before Miyagishima’s post. Video from the scene showed Pretti holding a cellphone and recording officers during a chaotic encounter before he was shot, prompting protests and calls from Minnesota officials and civil rights groups for greater transparency and independent oversight of the investigation.

Miyagishima said law enforcement officers have a “tremendous responsibility” and warned that abuses of authority, or the perception of unchecked power, undermine public trust.

“Professionalism and accountability aren’t ‘anti-police’ — they are the foundation of public trust,” Miyagishima wrote.

While expressing support for border security and the work of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Miyagishima said the agency’s expanding budget and operational reach have intensified calls for stronger safeguards, transparency and due process protections.

He outlined several measures he said are necessary to maintain public trust, including mandatory use of body cameras, clear identification of officers, restored independent oversight mechanisms and judicial warrants for searches and arrests.

Miyagishima is among several candidates seeking the Democratic nomination in the 2026 New Mexico gubernatorial race. The Democratic primary is scheduled for June 2, 2026.