News & Commentary

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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.

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.

More from the Press

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

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.
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.

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

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.

Oct 13, 2022

The US Government Gave Them Protection. Now It May Take It Away.

People with TPS humanitarian status call on Biden to take action.

A compelation photo of the TPS holders.
Oct 06, 2022

Hidden Taxes Don't Belong Anywhere, Least of All in Our Justice System

Fees in the justice system trap far too many people in a vicious cycle of debt and punishment. A burgeoning movement in states across the country is tackling this problem head-on.

A judges' gavel on a U.S. dollar cash background, top view, close-up.
Oct 04, 2022

Midterm Elections: How These Offices Impact Your Rights

Elected officials don’t have the final say when it comes to our rights — we do. Let the ACLU help you step into your power at the ballot box!

A red background containing white and gold stars, a large image of a hand with pen filling out a voting slip, white arrows, fill-in bubbles and the Capitol building.
Sep 28, 2022

How to Navigate Mental Health Apps That May Share Your Data

As period-tracking apps draw scrutiny, we should also consider how a broader array of health apps may intrude on our privacy.

Image of Talkspace app on a smartphone on a white background.
Sep 21, 2022

Newly Released Video Show NMCD Guards Looking on as Person in Custody Is Assaulted

Surveillance video from the Central New Mexico Corrections Facility in Los Lunas show guards standing by as an incarcerated man is brutally attacked, raising troubling concerns about the well-being of people in the custody of the New Mexico Corrections Department.

By Barron Jones

A prison guard watches as a person is assaulted in CNMCF.
Sep 16, 2022

A Look at History: Civil Liberties Are on the Ballot

Elections in 1968, 2000, and 2016 prompted significant rollbacks of civil liberties. We can’t repeat history in 2022.

Voting booths lined up at polling station during in a public school in Brooklyn, New York.
Sep 01, 2022

Native Families' Right to Stay Together is at Stake at the Supreme Court

The Indian Child Welfare Act — a law that protects Native children from forced removal from their families, tribes, and culture — is currently under attack.

Children from the Zuni Pueblo lead the U.S. pledge of allegiance in the Zuni language in the New Mexico state Capitol in Santa Fe, N.M.
Aug 26, 2022

The Nightmarish Loss of Workplace Privacy

As oppressive surveillance in the workplace becomes increasingly common, policymakers should push back.

The back of a woman who is working on a laptop.
Aug 08, 2022

'They Treat Us Like We're Animals:' Inside Torrance County's Troubled Detention Center

People detained at the Torrance County Detention Facility describe unsanitary and decrepit conditions that they say make it the worst facility in the state

By Leonardo Castañeda

A screenshot of surveillance video taken shortly before men detained at the Torrance County were pepper sprayed for engaging in a peaceful hunger strike protesting conditions at the facility. Surveillance and lapel video was obtained by NMILC and ACLU fro