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.
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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.


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.

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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.

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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.

Supreme Court Grants Trump, Future Presidents a Blank Check to Break the Law

By granting Donald Trump immunity for a wide range of criminal conduct committed while in office, the Supreme Court has set a dangerous precedent that presidents are above the law.

A picture of Donald Trump.

Watch: Briefing on the Special Legislative Session

The special legislative session on public safety starts tomorrow, with many harmful bills proposed by the governor. The proposals threaten the rights, dignity, health, and autonomy of New Mexicans across our state.

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The Special Session Won’t Make Communities Safer. A Conversation with ACLU-NM Experts.

Read our Q&A with ACLU-NM policy and legal staff working to safeguard your rights at the Roundhouse.

By Nayomi Valdez, Daniel Williams, Denali Wilson

Banner image of the interior chamber of the Roundhouse with yellow text over it that reads: New Mexicans Deserve Real Solutions

Mobilizing Against Texas' Dangerous Legislation with ACLU's Border Humanity Project

In this interview, our Border and Immigration Policy Advocate Leonardo Castañeda shares how the ACLU of New Mexico and the Border Humanity Project (a group of ACLU affiliates in New Mexico, Arizona, San Diego, Imperial Counties, Texas, and the ACLU National Office) worked together to issue a travel advisory in response to extremist laws passed by Texas lawmakers that target immigrants and people of color.  

By Carla Palacios

Texas Travel Advisory

This November, Freedom is on the Ballot

We’re sharing our battle-ready playbook to defend our civil liberties and civil rights in the event of a second Biden or Trump administration.

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Biden's Executive Order On Asylum Is Wrong

The White House announced an impending executive action that will severely restrict the legal right to seek asylum at the U.S.-Mexico border.

By Rebecca Sheff

Immigrants are welcome here