News & Commentary

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.

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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.

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.

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

Aug 04, 2022

Despite SCOTUS Ruling, the Biden Administration Can Prevent a Reversion to Trump's Deportation Machine

While a memo from DHS Secretary Mayorkas is in legal limbo, the administration should still take action to protect immigrant communities.

Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, second from right, looks up along with U.S Border Patrol agents as a drone flies overhead as he tours a section of the border wall Tuesday, May 17, 2022, in Hidalgo, Texas.

Jul 21, 2022

Navajo Voters Deserve Fair Representation in San Juan County, So We Sued

San Juan County passed a redistricting map that violated the rights of Navajo voters. We filed a lawsuit along with partner organizations for new and fair maps.

By Leonardo Castañeda

Jul 18, 2022

New Records Detail DHS Purchase and Use of Vast Quantities of Cell Phone Location Data

Thousands of previously unreleased records illustrate how government agencies sidestep our Fourth Amendment rights.

A photo of three cell phone towers in front of a sunset.

Jul 15, 2022

The Inhumane Conditions at MDC Are A Result of Over-Incarceration

Time and time again, we have watched and read news reports that provide a glimpse into the deplorable conditions behind the walls of MDC. A stubborn reliance on mass-incarceration is the reason why.

By Barron Jones, Lalita Moskowitz