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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.

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.

More from the Press


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Stay informed on civil rights issues. Discover our latest actions and updates in the Press Release section.


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.
Black-and-white photo of an LGBTQ rights picket on a tree-lined sidewalk beside a tall iron fence (near the White House). Protesters—mostly in suits and dresses—carry hand-lettered signs including “FIFTEEN MILLION U.S. HOMOSEXUALS PROTEST FEDERAL TREATMENT,” “FIRST-CLASS CITIZENSHIP FOR HOMOSEXUALS,” and “SEXUAL PREFERENCE IS IRRELEVANT TO EMPLOYMENT.” A uniformed police officer stands with hands on hips facing the group, while an ABC TV reporter in a suit holds a microphone at the curb; pedestrians walk past in the background.

Trump Administration Playbook Takes Tactics from Lavender Scare of the Cold War

A McCarthy-era effort to report LGBTQ people to the government, classify queerness as a mental disorder, and overall push queer people from public life is taking similar shape today.
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.


Disguising Punishment As Treatment Won’t Make Us Safe

To build a truly safe world, we need investments in healing, not new forms of harm. 

By Denali Wilson

An overhead view of a solitary jail cell with a single metal bed frame and a thin mattress. The cell includes a basic toilet and sink, all enclosed within the bare, confined space, evoking a stark and austere atmosphere.

Breaking Bosque School’s Silence on Racism Within Its Walls

I want to see Bosque School become a high-quality place of learning where every single student, regardless of identity, is embraced, valued, and honored.

Kee Straits

How an Albuquerque Traffic Stop Cost Me Everything

No one should ever have to worry about the police trying to extort money from them and ruin their lives.

By

Carlos Sandoval Smith

New Mexico Votes 2024

Election day is November 5, 2024. To vote in New Mexico, you must be registered to vote.

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Passing the Torch at the ACLU of New Mexico

After 24 years as Executive Director, Peter Simonson is stepping down from executive leadership at the ACLU of New Mexico.

By Peter Simonson

Stylized image of Peter Simonson

How a Harris Administration Could Chart a New Course for Immigration Reform

The ACLU urges a potential Harris-Walz administration to deliver on its campaign promise to create a clear pathway to citizenship for longtime residents while also moving to end harmful detention policies and improve asylum access.

A graphic featuring Harris and imagery pertaining to immigration.

Trump Promises to Militarize Police, Reincarcerate Thousands, and Expand Death Penalty

Our analysis of a potential second Trump administration's proposed criminal legal system policies include unlawful tactics that will only harm our communities.

A graphic featuring Trump and imagery pertaining to the criminal legal system.

How Kamala Harris Can Secure Federal Abortion Protection Once and For All

The ACLU lays out our roadmap for protecting abortion access and advocating for improved reproductive health care protections under a potential Harris presidency.

A graphic featuring Harris and imagery pertaining to reproductive rights.

Our First Amendment Rights Don’t Disappear at the Schoolhouse Gates

In the final installment of our free speech comic series, we consider how K-12 students , as well as adults enrolled in higher education, can exercise their First Amendment rights in school.

A comic graphic that says Know Your Rights.