News & Commentary

Two signs that read "We build this country together" and "our families have no borders"

A New Phase in Civil Liberties Advocacy: Where We’ve Been and Where We’re Going

For decades, the ACLU of New Mexico has worked alongside communities to defend civil liberties and expand the promise of the constitution. Today, with fundamental freedoms under intensifying attack and the stakes for our democracy higher than ever, that work has never been more urgent.

Latest Press Release

Mar 19, 2026

CoreCivic Pays Settlement to Estate of 23-Year-Old Asylum Seeker Who Died in Torrance County Detention Facility

The case addressed the TCDF’s systemic failures in its mental health care and CoreCivic’s extreme negligence, which resulted in Kesley Vial’s tragic and preventable death.
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Stay informed on civil rights issues. Discover our latest actions and updates in the Press Release section.

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.

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Aug 31, 2025

More Than a Yard Sign: Fighting for Free Speech in Tomé, New Mexico

When Rita Padilla-Gutiérrez posted anti-Trump signs in her yard, Valencia County threatened her with criminal prosecution at the urging of a pro-Trump county commissioner.

A photo of Rita Padilla-Gutiérrez standing in front of her sign that reads: "Trump, racist, rapist, not my president"
Aug 04, 2025

Your Questions Answered: The Supreme Court's Impact On Our Rights

The court's rulings—and its shifting procedures—signal lasting threats to civil liberties.

Pro-choice demonstrators (whose faces and signs are blurred) march in front of the Supreme Court and the statement on its facade, "Equal justice under law".
Apr 30, 2025

We Are Defending Freedom in the Courts — And Still Winning

With 53 lawsuits filed against the Trump administration and counting, we will not surrender our freedoms to a lawless executive branch.

A group of demonstrators in Manhattan holding pro-democracy signage.
Jan 15, 2025

Banning TikTok is Unconstitutional. The Supreme Court Must Step In.

Our First Amendment right to express ourselves must be protected.

A person is holding a sign outside the Capitol Building that reads " #Keep TikTok".
Dec 26, 2024

Who is Pete Hegseth?

What to know about Trump’s secretary of defense nominee and his stance on civil liberties.

A photo of Pete Hegseth.
Oct 24, 2024

Defending Student Voices in the Face of Repression

As New Mexican student protestors have attempted to open dialogues within their universities, they have been met with unwilling administrators and police officers in riot gear.

stock image of young people raising fists in the air with illegible signs of protest in the background
Oct 10, 2024

Breaking Bosque School’s Silence on Racism Within Its Walls

I want to see Bosque School become a high-quality place of learning where every single student, regardless of identity, is embraced, valued, and honored.

Kee Straits
Jul 30, 2024

Our First Amendment Rights Don’t Disappear at the Schoolhouse Gates

In the final installment of our free speech comic series, we consider how K-12 students , as well as adults enrolled in higher education, can exercise their First Amendment rights in school.

A comic graphic that says Know Your Rights.