On April 17, 2025, Attorney General Pamela Bondi appointed Ryan Ellison as the interim United States Attorney for New Mexico. His interim term was limited to a maximum of 120 days. After this period ended, Ellison transitioned to serve as Acting United States Attorney at the request of the Attorney General.
In a statement, Acting U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison said:
“I’m honored to have President Trump and Attorney General Bondi’s confidence to continue serving as New Mexico’s top federal prosecutor. I applaud New Mexico’s federal district judges for declining to appoint someone other than the Trump Administration’s choice to lead the United States Attorney’s Office as they had the discretion to do at the end of my interim appointment. Consistent with the laws and Constitution of the United States, the appointment of a U.S. Attorney is a process that should be sorted out in a collaborative and professional manner between the executive and legislative branches of government. I am confident that process will eventually play out here and across the country. I thank New Mexico’s U.S. Senators for their commitment to reviewing my qualifications and I look forward to working with public servants of all political stripes to combat crime in New Mexico. In the interim, I will continue to lead the United States Attorney’s Office in the same way that I have over the last four months—without fear, without favor, and with public safety as my top priority.
For me, this job has never been about the title or the position. Since day one, I have rolled up my sleeves and worked with a great sense of urgency to address New Mexico’s systemic crime problem. In just a few short months, I have shifted the U.S. Attorney’s Office back into high gear to keep New Mexicans safe. Our partnership with the U.S. military and the U.S. Border Patrol has made our southern border more secure than at any point in our nation’s history. The evidence is in the numbers. Since I was appointed, illegal border crossings are down 92% and immigration-related prosecutions are up 180%. Moreover, we are confronting New Mexico’s crime epidemic head on by getting back to basics. Compared with the four months preceding my appointment, violent crime and firearms prosecutions are up 23% and drug prosecutions are up 53%. Meaningful progress will take sustained effort over time, but we’re headed in the right direction.
For however long I serve, I will work relentlessly to improve the quality of life in New Mexico by enhancing public safety. That starts by protecting our citizens and prosecuting those who commit crimes. The people of New Mexico deserve nothing less.”
