Various photos representing this years legislative session including the statue of liberty, a family, and protesters.

Rising to the Moment: A Breakthrough 30‑Day Session for Civil Liberties

This year's legislative session saw ACLU of New Mexico staff, community partners, advocates, and legislative champions showed up ready to work, and ready to lead with courage.

Latest Press Release


CoreCivic Pays Settlement to Estate of 23-Year-Old Asylum Seeker Who Died in Torrance County Detention Facility

The case addressed the TCDF’s systemic failures in its mental health care and CoreCivic’s extreme negligence, which resulted in Kesley Vial’s tragic and preventable death.
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Stay informed on civil rights issues. Discover our latest actions and updates in the Press Release section.

Two signs that read "We build this country together" and "our families have no borders"

A New Phase in Civil Liberties Advocacy: Where We’ve Been and Where We’re Going

For decades, the ACLU of New Mexico has worked alongside communities to defend civil liberties and expand the promise of the constitution. Today, with fundamental freedoms under intensifying attack and the stakes for our democracy higher than ever, that work has never been more urgent.
A house with ristras hanging on the porch in New Mexico.

The 2026 Legislative Session: Creating A Firewall for Freedom in New Mexico

As we approach the 2026 legislative session, our nation is facing unprecedented threats to our fundamental freedoms. But we aren’t powerless against these attacks.
An image showing the group of panelists at the Rethinking Public Safety town hall in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Rethinking Public Safety Town Hall

The ACLU of New Mexico and the All Safe New Mexico Coalition came together on January 15 for a powerful “Rethinking Public Safety” Town Hall.

Cruelty Without Boundary: Inside the Family Separation Crisis

"The agents didn’t say anything about where they were going to take my son,” said Samuel*, from behind a glass partition. “They just took him away. And then they told me I was going to jail. I’ve never been to jail. This has never happened before.”

By Kristin Greer Love

Young child grabbing his parent's leg, crying

Open to the Public Still Means Open to All

An Interview with ACLU-NM Attorney Erin Armstrong on the Supreme Court’s Decision in Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado

US Supreme Court

Paul Haidle on Smart Justice

"I believe that there can be no reconciliation without admitting hard truths about the roots of our criminal justice system..."

Paul Haidle

A Chance For Change: Ideas for criminal justice reform in New Mexico are stewing this summer ahead of next year's legislative session

Nine years after his release from prison, Barron Jones has become a leading advocate for criminal justice reform in New Mexico.

Barron Jones

Constitutional Rights Are Not the Enemy of Public Safety

It was a waking nightmare for Joy Morales. For 49 days, she languished behind bars in two separate states for a crime she didn’t commit. She could easily prove it wasn’t her, but no one would listen.

By Katie Hoeppner

US Constitution

The Toxic Cocktail of White Fear and Police Power

As teenage brothers Thomas and Lloyd descended a staircase with fellow prospective students of Colorado State University, the excitement of visiting their dream school quickly unraveled.

By Katie Hoeppner

Man being arrested by police

Supporter Spotlight: Diane Sewell McCash

Originally published in the spring 2018 Torch 

By Katie Hoeppner

Diane Sewell McCash

From the Desk of Executive Director Peter Simonson

The path to making America great again is not paved with cruelty, arrogance, and selfishness. It is lit by the same values that draw immigrants to our shores: freedom, fairness, and justice.

By Peter Simonson

Photo of Peter Simonson

2018 Legislative Session Overview

As expected, the 2018 New Mexico legislative session kicked off with a fear-mongering speech by Governor Susana Martinez calling for a slew of hyperpunitive sentencing laws to address the spike in crime that many New Mexico communities are experiencing.

By Steven Robert Allen

New Mexico Roundhouse