News & Commentary

LAS CRUCES, N.M. — U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) released stats on use-of-force incidents for fiscal year 2015, claiming a reduction in incidents, yet falling short of providing stats on all officer-civilian interactions involving force.  Most conspicuously, CBP defines force narrowly to exclude incidents that are captured by the Department of Justice’s standards. Beyond CBP’s three, chosen categories—a physical restraint, the use of an alternative device or the application of lethal force—the stats fail to provide all incidents of use of force.

SOUTHERN BORDER REGION— Today, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) released revised “standards governing transport, escort, search and detention”—commonly known as TEDS. These standards create minimum requirements for U.S. Border Patrol and the Office of Field Operations, the two components of CBP, both of which may choose to supplement these standards with their own guidance.

SANTA FE, NM—Today, the New Mexico State Supreme Court announced that it granted certiorari in Morris v. New Mexico, the case seeking the right for terminally ill, mentally competent patients to seek physician aid in dying. The court is expediting the hearing to October 26th at 9:00 AM, when it will hear oral arguments on the constitutionality of prohibiting aid in dying.The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of New Mexico and the Disability Legal Rights Center (DLRC) repre

I am a 65 year old Albuquerque resident who is dying from cancer.  I have a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a master’s degree in counseling education.  I worked for 26 years for the Department of Energy here in Albuquerque.  I have a daughter and two granddaughters who live in Albuquerque.

I am 61 years old, I have made my living as an artist for 35 years. I am a member of the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe and my wife and son are members of Jemez Pueblo. I have lived in New Mexico for almost 40 years.

SANTA FE, NM—Today, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of New Mexico and the Disability Rights Legal Center (DRLC) filed a writ with Supreme Court of New Mexico, asking the court to expedite review of Morris v. New Mexico,  the case seeking the right of mentally competent, terminally ill people to seek physician aid in dying. On August 11, the New Mexico Court of Appeals overturned the District Court’s previous decision which stated that aid in dying is a “fundamental right.” The Court of Appeals’ opinion makes the medically sound and safe practice of aid in dying illegal in New Mexico and leaves many terminally ill New Mexicans without the ability to avoid unnecessary suffering at the end of their life.

ALBUQUERQUE, NM—Today, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of New Mexico responded to the New Mexico Court of Appeals decision overturning the District Court ruling in Morris v. New Mexico, the case seeking the right for mentally competent, terminally ill patients to seek physician aid in dying. In 2014, the New Mexico 2nd District Court ruled that aid in dying is a fundamental right protected by the New Mexico State Constitution.

PDF: INTERIM REPORT OF THE CBP INTEGRITY ADVISORY PANELWASHINGTON, DC - A scathing internal report performed by the

ALBUQUERQUE, NM—Today, pending appeal, the Supreme Court of the United States blocked the implementation of portions of the omnibus anti-abortion bill, HB 2, a Texas law that would force all but 9 clinics in Texas to close. Representatives for clinics in Texas sought the emergency stay from the Supreme Court to prevent the law from going into effect on July 1, and are now preparing to appeal the constitutionality of the Fifth Circuit Appeals Court decision upholding HB 2.