Doña Ana County is rolling out a new safety push aimed at stopping trespassing and unlawful gunfire on private land near the Doña Ana County International Jetport in Santa Teresa, after rattled neighbors raised alarms about stray bullets near homes.
County and local officers will increase patrols during the times they say the area is historically busier, and the City of Sunland Park plans to mount two cameras at the NM-136 entrance, including one that can read license plates. Participating property owners have given officers explicit permission to enforce trespass laws on their land and say they are ready to pursue prosecutions. Officials cast the effort as a direct answer to residents’ fears following recent reports of stray gunfire in nearby neighborhoods.
As reported by KVIA, the Doña Ana County Sheriff's Office, New Mexico State Police, and Sunland Park Police will coordinate the operation, with patrols set to begin Friday, June 19. The county told the station that Sunland Park Police will be able to access footage from the two cameras at the Highway 136 entrance for investigations, with one device focused on license plate data and the other on broader surveillance. Deputies will also be reaching out to nearby residents to talk about safe, legal shooting habits and to steer people toward established, lawful shooting locations.
“No family should have to live with the fear that a stray bullet could threaten the safety of their loved ones,” Sunland Park’s mayor pro tempore said in a statement to KVIA. The official described the rollout as a mix of enforcement and education meant to discourage weekend gatherings that sometimes turn into unsafe target practice. Instead of nonstop patrols, agencies will concentrate resources on the windows when they say activity typically spikes.
What led to the push
Local leaders point to repeated complaints about the desert "wall" area near NM-136, a popular spot where people gather to off-road and shoot, sometimes late into the night. The City of Sunland Park has previously teamed up with the county to post additional signage, fix damaged gates, and increase enforcement in the area. A City of Sunland Park release from October 2025 outlined similar cross-agency enforcement steps and community outreach plans. Doña Ana County's 2025 Safety Action Plan also calls for coordinated enforcement and public education in unincorporated parts of the county to help shield nearby neighborhoods from spillover problems.
What the law says
Under New Mexico law, criminal trespass is defined as knowingly entering or remaining on posted private property without permission, and it is charged as a misdemeanor. Causing damage can lead to civil liability and stiffer penalties. For the statutory text and penalty details, see the New Mexico criminal trespass statute summarized by Law.justia.
How residents can respond
Officials say deputies and officers will be offering guidance on responsible gun use and pointing residents toward legal shooting locations in the region. The City of Sunland Park's earlier release urges residents to report unsafe shooting or trespassing through non-emergency dispatch at 575-526-0795, and to call 911 if they see an immediate threat. County leaders say they will track whether the new cameras and heightened patrols cut down on complaints and will adjust their tactics if problems stick around.
For now, the initiative blends enforcement, surveillance, and community outreach as county and city officials try to keep homes near the jetport safe while still navigating how the desert gets used for recreation.
