News & Commentary

SANTA FE, NM—Today, the Senate unanimously passed Representative Zachary Cook’s bill to end civil asset forfeiture—also known as “policing for profit”—in New Mexico. This unfair practice allows police to seize and keep property of citizens who haven’t even been charged with a crime, never mind convicted. Rep. Cook’s legislation would end the legal fiction of civil forfeiture—that property can be responsible for a crime—and replaces it with criminal forfeiture. Criminal forfeiture requires a conviction of a person as a prerequisite to losing property tied to the crime.“Crime should not pay,” said Paul Gessing, President of the Rio Grande Foundatio

ALBUQUERQUE, NM—Today, the ACLU, Disability Rights New Mexico, and the Native American Voters Alliance filed a motion to intervene in the settlement agreement between the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the City of Albuquerque. Were the court to grant this motion,  these local community organizations would become  parties to the agreement with the City, increasing the community’s say in how the agreement will be implemented. “We have always maintained that local community involvement is essential to the success of the effort to reform the Albuquerque Police Department,” said Alexandra Freedman Smith, Legal Director for the ACLU of New Mexico. “The most vulnerable populations in Albuquerque suffer the brunt of unconstitutional policing practices, and their voices must be a part of the conversation. Together, we can strengthen the efforts to build APD into the responsible, community-friendly police force our city deserves.” Three organizations will act as plaintiffs on behalf of the Albuquerque communities most vulnerable to police excessive use of force: 

SANTA FE, NM—Today, Republican Representative Zachary J. Cook introduced a bill designed to end civil asset forfeiture—also known as “policing for profit”—in New Mexico. This unfair practice allows police to seize and keep property of citizens who haven’t even been charged with a crime, never mind convicted. Rep. Cook’s legislation would end the legal fiction of civil forfeiture—that property can be responsible for a crime—and replaces it with criminal forfeiture. Criminal forfeiture requires a conviction of a person as a prerequisite to losing property tied to the crime.

 LAS CRUCES, NM—Today, the ACLU of New Mexico Regional Center of Border Rights condemned the New Mexico State House vote to repeal the law that permits undocumented immigrants to obtain New Mexico drivers licenses. The following statement can be attributed to Vicki Gaubeca, director of the ACLU of New Mexico Regional Center for Border Rights:

DEMING, NM--Today, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of New Mexico announced that it is representing a group from the Deming Pride organization who allege that employees at a Denny's restaurant in Deming, NM refused them service, called them homophobic slurs, and asked them to leave the premises. The ACLU of New Mexico sent a demand letter to the restaurant, asking the owner to issue an an apology and make a donation.

ACLU alleges that Interstate Stream Commission attempted to bully concerned citizen into silence

 

ALBUQUERQUE, NM—Today, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of New Mexico responded to the news that the Albuquerque District Attorney’s Office will charge Albuquerque Police Department (APD) officer Dominique Perez and former APD officer Keith Sandy with murder for the March, 2014 shooting of homeless camper James Boyd. The following quote may be attributed to ACLU of New Mexico Executive Director Peter Simonson:

By Micah McCoy, Communications Director