The cities in the Southwest are bound to be extinct. The whole region is barren. It should never had been civilized except for a mine here and there.
New Mexico was settled before most of the United States. Before that, many indigenous civilizations flourished, such as the Hopi and Navajo, and even earlier the Anasazi and Hohokam. The problem isn't settlement and civilization, it's excess on the Vegas scale.
they have just moved WAY too many illegal aliens in here. they take up 50% of the population.