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.

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.

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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.

Aug 22, 2025

Resisting Millitarized Detention at Fort Bliss

We are living through a shameful moment in this country's history. The opening of the Fort Bliss detention camp on a military base that spans Texas and New Mexico is the latest escalation in the Trump administration's agenda of mass detention and deportation.

Aug 15, 2025

Beyond the Concrete Box: Mah-Konce Hudson’s Story

This blog is the final of a series based on interviews with three men currently held in the Penitentiary of New Mexico who are part of a class action lawsuit challenging the inhumane and unconstitutional conditions of New Mexico’s long-term solitary confinement unit.

By Lalita Moskowitz

Blue collage images of Mah-konce; a childhood picture of him with a green filter; another photo of him smiling next to someone in a purple filter

Aug 14, 2025

Beyond the Concrete Box: Gujuan Fusilier’s Story

This blog is the third of a series based on interviews with three men currently held in the Penitentiary of New Mexico who are part of a class action lawsuit challenging the inhumane and unconstitutional conditions of New Mexico’s long-term solitary confinement unit.

By Lalita Moskowitz

Dark blue collage image of GuJuan, featuring a recent photo of him along with a childhood picture in various color filters

Aug 13, 2025

Beyond the Concrete Box: O'Shay Toney’s Story

This blog is the second of a series based on interviews with three men currently held in the Penitentiary of New Mexico who are part of a class action lawsuit challenging the inhumane and unconstitutional conditions of New Mexico’s long-term solitary confinement unit.

By Lalita Moskowitz

Stylized collage image of O'Shay Toney pictured with his mother. Another image of O'Shay when he was a child is pictured behind it.

Aug 12, 2025

Rebecca Sheff Breaks Down Trump’s Immigration Policies and What They Mean for New Mexico

In this interview, Rebecca Sheff, senior staff attorney specializing in immigrants’ rights, discusses how the administration’s policies have uniquely impacted New Mexico...

By Carla Palacios

Aug 12, 2025

Beyond the Concrete Box: Human Stories from Solitary

This blog is the first of a series based on interviews with Mah-konce Hudson, GuJuan Fusilier, and O'Shay Toney, who are currently held in the Penitentiary of New Mexico.

By Lalita Moskowitz

Stylized image of plantiffs in front of a dark green background, a silhouette of a man sitting down on pavement looking distressed is centered in the photo stylized in green.

Aug 06, 2025

Trump's Birthright Citizenship Executive Order: What Happens Next

Children born to parents who are undocumented or have temporary status will retain their right to birthright citizenship. The ACLU explains how the legal fight unfolded.

A demonstrator looks up at her sign (which reads "Citizenship is a Birthright") during a rally outside the Supreme court building demanding the court uphold the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

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".

Jun 03, 2025

In This Together: Shaping the Future of Civil Rights in New Mexico

Leon Howard officially steps into the role of Executive Director of the ACLU of New Mexico.

By Leon Howard

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