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.


We Must Dismantle the System of Mass Incarceration

There is no research to support the idea that mass incarceration makes our communities any safer. On the contrary, it is destroying families, our society, and has dire economic consequences.

By

No more mass incarceration

Rebuilding Lives, Not Prisons

I implore each one of you to care deeply about our fellow human beings, our community, and our children. Let us not lose sight of our shared humanity.

By

Rebuilding Lives, Not Prisons

Turning Tragedy to Hope: A Mother's Mission for Change

I believe in rehabilitation and second chances. I’ve learned that it is crucial to address the root causes of incidents like these.

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Turning Tragedy into Hope

Paid Family Medical Leave Invests in People; New Mexico's Small Businesses and Nonprofits Need It

Over my years working in HR, I’ve seen the inner workings of small businesses and nonprofits. I know the nerves that can come with checking the bank balance to see if there is enough to make payroll. I know how being down a staff member unexpectedly can throw a wrench in operations. These are real struggles that small businesses face.

By Kari Sutton

ACLU: Share image

Five Ways 'Tough on Crime' Fails New Mexico Families

"Tough on Crime" policies can actually increase the chances that people will turn to criminalized behavior, creating the opposite of the intended effect. 

By Nayomi Valdez

How tough on crime fails new mexico families

Juvenile Justice in New Mexico: One Step Forward, Three Steps Back

We must view children’s behavior and (perceived) misbehavior objectively; we must be honest about where these problems stem from, begin to question the institutions that exist that perpetuate them, and be willing to reimagine what community safety looks like.

By Carla Palacios

bill sponsors and advocates during the final floor debate on SB64 in the 2023 legislative session

Care Over Confrontation: Community Safety Beyond Policing

Over the last ten years, New Mexico consistently has one of the highest, and frequently the highest, per capita rate of people killed by police. A

By Daniel Williams

Care Over Confrontation - Albuquerque Skyline

The Governor's Dangerous Executive Order Could Silence Protected Speech in New Mexico

The ACLU of New Mexico takes no position on the Israel-Hamas conflict. But we take a strong position against state censorship.

By Kristin Greer Love

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We Respectfully Dissent

The ACLU of New Mexico opposes the decision by ACLU National to represent the NRA.

DISSENT IS PATRIotic