Download these PDF files to read proposed changes to the ACLU of New Mexico bylaws:
ACLU NM proposed Bylaws revision 2012
ACLU-NM proposed Bylaws revision 2012 markup (Changes tracked)

"Pregnant and parenting teens are future doctors, lawyers, police officers, etc. They are capable of success, and it is our job to support their academic goals." -Melissa Romero, Teen Parent

On Wednesday, November 14, the ACLU of New Mexico and other members of the Pregnant and Parenting Students Task-force presented a report, Investing in the Future: Reforming Absence and Leave Policy for Pregnant and Parenting Students in New Mexico, to the Senate Education Committee in Santa Fe, asking them to consider legislation that would reform the absence and leave policy for pregnant and parenting students. Overly restrictive and inflexible absence and leave policies for pregnant and parenting students contribute to the unnecessarily high dropout rate in New Mexico--the second highest in the nation. By institution maternity leave for pregnant students and increasing the number of excused absences, young women will be able to give their children the proper medical care they need as well as stay and school and finish their education. No person should have to choose between being a good parent and being a good student.

These common sense policies will help young women like Elisiana Montoya who, as a straight-A student, became pregnant at age 15 and gave birth to a daughter who was three months premature. She nearly failed out of school because of inflexible absence policies and teachers would not let her make up work she missed due to medical emergencies and doctor visits. Hear her story in the video below:

Read Investing in the Future: Reforming Absence and Leave Policy for Pregnant and Parenting Students in New Mexico

 
Texas State Trooper use of deadly force reckless, says ACLU.
 
LAS CRUCES, NM—The ACLU of New Mexico Regional Center for Border Rights today denounced the fatal shooting of two unarmed passengers in a moving vehicle by a Texas state trooper in a helicopter. The incident took place Thursday afternoon near the south Texas border town of La Joya. A Texas Parks and Wildlife Department game warden called in the Department of Public Safety helicopter to assist in the pursuit of a vehicle he suspected was smuggling contraband. A sharpshooter fired on the vehicle multiple times, killing two passengers and wounding another. Initial reports suggest the truck was loaded with Guatemalan immigrants.
 
“Using deadly force in this situation was reckless and resulted in the tragic and unnecessary deaths of two people,” said Vicki Gaubeca, Director of the ACLU-NM Regional Center for Border Rights. “We urge a full and thorough investigation of this incident. We cannot allow our law enforcement officials—be they local or federal—to continue the ‘shoot first, ask questions later’ attitude that has resulted in the deaths of 18 people along the border over the past two years.”
 
Since January 2010, 18 individuals have died or were seriously injured by CBP officials in use-of-force incidents. Of these, eight cases involve agents responding to individuals alleged to be throwing rocks and six involve individuals killed while standing on the Mexican side of the border. Six of those killed were under the age of 21 and five were U.S. citizens. A federal investigation has been concluded in only one of these cases, without corrective action, and these abuses are subject to minimal oversight and accountability.
 

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