News & Commentary

The past few months have been a testament to the dangerous levels of anti-immigrant sentiment the current administration has inflamed within certain segments of our society.

Incarcerated and denied medical care.

ACLU-NM client Jordan McDowell speaks out about racial discrimination at Allsup’s

In late April, the ACLU of New Mexico sent letters to federal, state and local authorities urging them to criminally investigate a group calling itself the United Constitutional Patriots (UCP) that has been illegally arresting immigrant families at gunpoint in southern New Mexico and turning them over to Border Patrol. Videos that the UCP posted online show masked men in military camouflage surrounding hundreds of men, women and young children huddled. Some of the men carry military-style weapons. In one of the videos, a vigilante shines a flashlight on two immigrant men and muses, “The only problem is if we shoot on the hill it will be an international crisis . . . It would save some time though, wouldn’t it?”

Denying people healthcare because of who they are causes serious harm. Check out our video with a New Mexico healthcare provider who has seen the consequences of denial firsthand.

How three female attorneys fought back against rampant sexism at a New Mexico district attorney’s offic

One of the axiomatic truths of the legislative session is that it’s really hard to pass a good law. Believe us, we know. The ACLU of New Mexico has worked tirelessly year after year to advance legislation that makes our state a more just, free, and safe place to live and raise families, but year after year we see most of our priority bills fall victim to a torturous legislative process filled with a myriad of pitfalls, minefields, and political quagmire.

There is nothing patriotic about holding toddlers at gunpoint. It’s hard to believe that this even needs to be said. But that’s exactly what an armed group of vigilantes calling themselves the “United Constitutional Patriots” … has been doing along the southern border of New Mexico for the past several months. This group, which until recently was squatting on a remote parcel of railroad-owned land near Sunland Park, filming themselves detaining groups of migrants, mostly families with young children, and holding them until Border Patrol arrived on the scene.