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.


ACLU Wins Settlement Against Roswell for Violating Christian Preachers’ Right to Free Speech

ROSWELL, NM—Today, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of New Mexico settled its lawsuit against the City of Roswell, NM alleging that police officers repeatedly violated the First Amendment free speech rights of two local street preachers, Joshua and Jeremy De Los Santos. Joshua and Jeremy are brothers and members of the Old Paths Baptist Church in Roswell, where Joshua is the pastor. Both believe they have a duty to preach the Gospel in public, and both regularly do so. However, the Roswell Police Department (RPD) arrested both brothers multiple times for expressing their sincerely held religious beliefs in public, as is their right under the First Amendment. Under the terms of the settlement, the City of Roswell will pay $97,000 in compensatory and punitive damages. 

By Micah McCoy

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ACTION ALERT: Ask ABQ Mayor Berry to Reform APD

On Sunday, March 16, the Albuquerque Police Department (APD) sent a heavily armed unit to confront James Boyd, a homeless man who was "camping illegally" in the Sandia Foothills. The encounter ended with officers shooting and killing him. This is just the la

By Micah McCoy

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Why is U.S. Border Patrol Shooting Rock-Throwing Teenagers?

By Vicki B. Gaubeca, Director of the ACLU-NM Regional Center for Border Rights

By ACLU-NM

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Woman Sues Her Former Parole Officer for Violating Her Civil Rights

ACLU of New Mexico files lawsuit on behalf of Albuquerque woman who was sexually assaulted by her parole officer

By Micah McCoy

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ACLU Demands NM Law Enforcement Academy Release Training Materials

ALBUQUERQUE, NM—Today, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of New Mexico filed an Inspection of Public Records Request (IPRA) with the New Mexico Law Enforcement Academy (NMLEA) seeking the training standards and lesson plans used to train officers. This records request comes after the academy director publicly vowed to “burn” any training materials before releasing them to the public.

By Micah McCoy

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Deaths and Injuries During Encounters with CBP Officials

Deaths and Injuries in CBP encounters from January 2010  to Feb. 19, 2014 (including off-duty incidents and when CBP was acting as backup)

By Micah McCoy

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ACLU Pledges to Continue Fight Against Marijuana Prohibition in New Mexico

 

By Micah McCoy

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Jesse Tyler Ferguson Featured in New ACLU “Out for Freedom” Campaign Video

 httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tGtq95lsw1A&feature=youtu.be ALBUQUERQUE, NM—Today, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and the ACLU of New Mexico unveiled a new marriage equalit

By Micah McCoy

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VICTORY! NM Court Says Physician Aid in Dying is a Fundamental Right

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – New Mexico Second Judicial District Judge Nan Nash today issued a landmark decision that terminally ill, mentally competent patients have a fundamental right to aid in dying under the substantive due process clause of the New Mexico State Constitution. This ruling protects the medical practice from prosecution in Bernalillo County, New Mexico. If affirmed, the ruling will impact the entire state.

By Micah McCoy

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