News & Commentary

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

May 19, 2026

ACLU, Joined by State Legislators, Asks NM Supreme Court to Halt CYFD Directive Separating Newborns from Their Families

Emergency petition filed late Monday challenges directive that bypasses state and federal law and harms children.

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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.

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.

Apr 21, 2025

The Human Toll of Trump's Anti-Trans Crusade

President Donald Trump’s assault on transgender rights is a gross overreach of presidential power and yet another attempt to punish trans people just for existing.

Trans Rights, speakers, protesters, and supporters denounce the Trump Administration's persistent attacks on the transgender community. by carrying a huge sign reading" TRANS RIGHTS ARE HUMAN RIGHTS".

Apr 16, 2025

Trump's Expanded Domestic Military Use Should Worry Us All

President Donald Trump's use of the military domestically is dangerous and deeply misguided.

Members of the National Guard patrol the area surrounding the outskirts of the Capitol Building in Washington D.C.

Apr 14, 2025

Writing an Op-Ed is Not Grounds for Deportation

The U.S. government’s escalating attacks on noncitizens’ right to free speech, including our client Rümeysa Öztürk, should scare us all.

Mar 26, 2025

2025 Legislative Wrap-up

As the dust settles on an incredibly challenging legislative session, we wanted to share our collective work over the past 60 days.

By Lena Weber

Stylized image of the Roundhouse in Santa Fe, NM

Mar 21, 2025

Can Border Agents Search Your Electronic Devices? It’s Complicated.

We’ve been getting a lot of questions about when border agents can legally conduct searches of travelers’ electronic devices at international airports and other ports of entry. Unfortunately, the answer isn’t simple.

Mar 20, 2025

Behind Detention Walls: Leonel’s Story

By Rebecca Sheff, Senior Staff Attorney at the ACLU of New Mexico & Zoe Bowman, Supervising Attorney at Las Americas Immigrant Advocacy Center

By Rebecca Sheff

Mar 07, 2025

Behind Detention Walls: Yofer's Story

Yofer Fernando Orozco-Herrera, from Barinas, Venezuela, dreamed of a career in public service. Instead, he was forced to flee his homeland in search of safety and opportunity.

By Rebecca Sheff

Stylized image of Yofer's personal family pictures

Feb 28, 2025

Behind Detention Walls: Junior's Story

Junior is one of the hundreds of people held on any given day in immigration detention in New Mexico. His experience illustrates the systemic abuses that plague these facilities.

By Rebecca Sheff

Stylized image of a group of Junior's childhood pictures inside polaroid frames

Feb 27, 2025

Protecting Our Privacy Rights: New Mexico Must Act Now

Our right to privacy is eroding at an alarming rate, as privacy protections have not kept pace with the rapidly evolving surveillance technologies.

By Lena Weber

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