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.

More from the Press

Placeholder image

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

Placeholder image

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.

May 09, 2022

The Roe Draft Signals a Potential New Front in the Already-Raging War Against the LGBTQ Community

This isn’t a “they’re coming for us next” moment. They’ve already come for us, and the fight of our lives is here.

By ACLU National

Demonstrators with pro-abortion-and-LGBTQ signage.
Apr 26, 2022

You Have the Right to Record Law Enforcement Officers — Including at the Border

In a landmark settlement, the federal government was forced to concede that there is no border exception to this First Amendment right.

By ACLU National

A flag sits just north of a new section of the US-Mexico border structure
Apr 25, 2022

Trump’s Remain in Mexico Policy is at the Supreme Court. Here’s What's at Stake.

The Biden administration should be empowered to reject Trump-era policies and adopt those it believes are in the public interest.

By ACLU National

A migrant leans on a fence of the Gateway International Bridge that connects downtown Matamoros, Mexico with Brownsville, Texas.
Apr 22, 2022

We Deserve Better Than Outdated Posturing About Crime

Legislators fail to engage evidence-based solutions that would make the state safer for everyone.

By Barron Jones, Denali Wilson

New Mexico Roundhouse
Apr 18, 2022

Border Patrol Interior Checkpoints Are a Cruel and Pointless Burden on Borderland Residents

New Mexico’s legalization of cannabis for recreational adult use has reminded all borderland residents of a fact our Latinx, Indigenous and Black neighbors have known for decades: Border Patrol checkpoints are cruel, pointless and serve to harass residents going about their lives.

By Nia Rucker

Border Patrol Interior Checkpoint
Apr 11, 2022

10 Books Politicians Don’t Want You to Read

Read about some of the books that have most recently been banned or challenged for removal across public schools and libraries in our ‘ACLU Banned Book Club Reading List’.

By ACLU National

An ACLU bookmark sticking out of a book.
Mar 22, 2022

Five Things to Know About the Title 42 Immigrant Expulsion Policy

Since March 2020, the government has misused the order to kick out people seeking asylum more than 1.7 million times.

By Leonardo Castañeda, Katie Hoeppner

Billboard saying "It's past time to end the Trump-era policies at the border"
Mar 11, 2022

The War on Drugs Failed — Lawmakers Must Meet the Fentanyl Crisis With New Solutions

We must not return to the failed, punitive policies that do not improve public safety or save lives.

By ACLU National

A photo of prison bars.
Mar 08, 2022

If You Care About Freedom, You Should Be Asking Why We Don’t Fund Our Public Defender Systems

Four out of five criminal defendants can’t afford a lawyer, but in many places, the system promised to them by our state and federal constitutions is chronically in crisis.

By ACLU National

A statue of Lady Justice with a stack of books in the background.