News & Commentary

Kesley Vial

Kesley’s Legacy: Why No Detention is Safe

After three long years of litigation, the private prison company CoreCivic paid a settlement to the wrongful death estate of Kesley Vial, a 23-year-old Brazilian asylum seeker who died by suicide while in ICE custody at the Torrance County Detention Facility (TCDF) in Estancia, New Mexico, in August of 2022.

Latest Press Release

Jul 1, 2026

Billboards Celebrate NM Civil Rights Act Fifth Anniversary

To commemorate the five-year anniversary of the New Mexico Civil Rights Act (NMCRA), the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of New Mexico has placed five billboards praising the landmark law across Albuquerque.
A billboard that says "The NM Civil Rights Act turns five. Justice never gets old" with a "Welcome to New Mexico" sign on it.

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Stay informed on civil rights issues. Discover our latest actions and updates in the Press Release section.

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New Mexico Must Keep Its Promise on Civil Rights

Five years ago, New Mexico made a promise. When our state passed the New Mexico Civil Rights Act, we declared that the rights guaranteed by the New Mexico Constitution meant something.
A graphic showing hot air ballons, a person holding their arms out towards a sunrise, and a sunset with painted clouds behind a silhouetted road sign.

The Case for Investing in New Mexico's Youth

The ACLU of New Mexico, along with partners, is prioritizing holistic solutions in juvenile justice — because we know these are the approaches that are safest and most effective for our communities.

Jul 16, 2026

We Documented 1,200+ Actions by ICE. Here's What We Found.

A new ACLU report reveals the scale of civil rights violations committed by ICE and the police forces it has deputized — from racial profiling to school lockdowns.

A hand holds a large white protest sign reading "ICE OUT" in bold blue letters during a crowded demonstration outside a government building. An American flag waves above the crowd, and additional signs in the background include messages calling to abolish ICE.
Jun 16, 2026

Trump Administration Playbook Takes Tactics from Lavender Scare of the Cold War

A McCarthy-era effort to report LGBTQ people to the government, classify queerness as a mental disorder, and overall push queer people from public life is taking similar shape today.

Black-and-white photo of an LGBTQ rights picket on a tree-lined sidewalk beside a tall iron fence (near the White House). Protesters—mostly in suits and dresses—carry hand-lettered signs including “FIFTEEN MILLION U.S. HOMOSEXUALS PROTEST FEDERAL TREATMENT,” “FIRST-CLASS CITIZENSHIP FOR HOMOSEXUALS,” and “SEXUAL PREFERENCE IS IRRELEVANT TO EMPLOYMENT.” A uniformed police officer stands with hands on hips facing the group, while an ABC TV reporter in a suit holds a microphone at the curb; pedestrians walk past in the background.
Jun 08, 2026

Recording Law Enforcement is a First Amendment Right

Hundreds of people across the country have faced retaliation for exercising their First Amendment right to record ICE and other federal agents deployed in their communities.

Person at a rally holds a large handmade sign reading “Free Speech, Free Press, Free People,” with a crowd and the Lincoln Memorial building in the background.
May 05, 2026

States Have the Power to Hold Federal Agents Accountable by Allowing People to Sue Them for Rights Violations

Amid rampant abuse by federal agents, state legislatures can pass critical laws that allow people to take federal agents to court for violating their rights.

Four masked DEA police officers wearing tactical vests labeled “DEA POLICE” walk across a downtown intersection at night, with tall office buildings, streetlights, traffic signals, and cars with headlights behind them.
Mar 30, 2026

New Mexico Won't Back Down

We are here because this administration is out of control. It is cruel. And it is dangerous.

No kings day protest speech transcript
Mar 18, 2026

Your Questions Answered: Filming ICE Interactions Safely

Despite government attacks against protesters and the press, documenting interactions with law enforcement and federal agents is protected by the First Amendment. ACLU experts break down what you need to know.

A photos of demonstrators in Minneapolis filming federal agents.
Feb 26, 2026

Rising to the Moment: A Breakthrough 30‑Day Session for Civil Liberties

This year's legislative session saw ACLU of New Mexico staff, community partners, advocates, and legislative champions showed up ready to work, and ready to lead with courage.

Various photos representing this years legislative session including the statue of liberty, a family, and protesters.
Feb 25, 2026

Ring Superbowl Ad Shows Americans How Powerful Surveillance Systems Have Become, Freaks Them Out

Think twice about sending video from your home to companies, and possibly police and hackers

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A closup of big camera eye with a house walkway reflected in the lens
Feb 24, 2026

Congress Must Rein in ICE to Improve the State of the Union

President Donald Trump will likely celebrate a false sense of success in his State of the Union address. There’s strength in this union, but not the way the president thinks.

A group of ICE agents.