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


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.


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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.
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.


Governor Does Right by New Mexico's Border Towns

New Mexico has enjoyed a rare moment in the national spotlight as Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham broke through walls both literal and metaphorical in a recent viral campaign ad she released earlier this month, shortly after announcing she would withdraw most of the National Guard troops ordered to the border by President Donald Trump last year.What was important about this moment for New Mexicans, e

By Nia Rucker

southern border

No Solace in Solitary: It’s Long Past Time to Reform New Mexico’s Over-Reliance On A Brutal Practice

Kelly Garcia left Northwest New Mexico Correctional Center nearly six years ago, but sometimes, in her dreams, she finds herself back in a familiar cell. She’s trapped by the same four concrete walls and that same long lonely silence which was pierced only by the occasional cries of inmates worn down by solitude.

By Katie Hoeppner

Kelly Garcia at New Mexico State Capitol.

Susan's Story - #WillNotBeErased

All too often, transgender people face discrimination in employment. Even with some legal protections in place, trans people like Susan face the prospect of unemployment and discrimination when coming out at work.

Susan's Story - #WillNotBeErased

Living in Limbo: A dispatch from the frontlines of our fight against indefinite detention

“Every day you get tired from thinking, ‘Am I going to be released after one month, two months, three months?’ But every day it’s ‘tomorrow’ and it’s never finished.”

By Katie Hoeppner

Otero County Processing Center

Out of the Shadows: How the ACLU of New Mexico helped expose and regulate APD’s highly secretive and invasive surveillance technology

The Stingray doesn’t need eyes to hunt. The flat, boneless fish uses special sensors to detect the electrical signals of surrounding prey. Then, it attacks—sucking its meal up from underneath its body.

graphic of cell towers

Faith Leaders Speak Out: Religious Freedom is Not a License to Discriminate

An Interview with the Rev. Liz McMaster

Rev. Liz McMaster

The Future We Believe In

A bold plan to transform the landscape of freedom in the post-Martinez era

By Peter Simonson

Women holding a sign that says "Women Resist"

Conozca Sus Derechos en Puestos de Control Interiores

Si usted se encuentra en un retén interior, sabe que tiene derechos.

Border Checkpoint - Still

Know Your Rights at Interior Immigration Checkpoints

If you find yourself at an interior immigration checkpoint, know that you have rights.

Border Checkpoint - Nia