ACLU of New Mexico Sues NM Livestock Board Over Unlawful Termination of Black Employee, Violating the New Mexico Human Rights Act

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 28, 2026

Albuquerque, N.M. — The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of New Mexico filed a complaint against the New Mexico Livestock Board regarding the board’s unjust termination of former employee Christian Patrick, 20, as a livestock inspector due to his hair. The ACLU of New Mexico argues that Patrick’s termination violates the New Mexico Human Rights Act, which prohibits workplace discrimination, discipline, or disparate treatment based on natural hair textures, protective hairstyles, and cultural or religious headdresses.

“My hair means everything to me,” said Christian Patrick, the plaintiff in the case. “It represents my culture, my family, and my history. When the livestock board asked me to cut my locs up and said my hair didn’t look presentable, I was hurt. I’ve been able to rodeo, show pigs, and be FFA (Future Farmers of America) vice-president with it — why should it stop me now?”

Christian wears his hair in locs, a common protective hairstyle worn by many Black people. He obtained confirmation from the Board’s human resources manager that wearing his locs sewn in a bun did not violate the Board’s policy. Days later at his orientation, the Livestock Board’s Chief Law Enforcement Officer, Barry Allen, told Christian that the Board’s Executive Director, Belinda Garland, found his hair length impermissible.

“The New Mexico Human Rights Act prohibits this exact situation from happening,” said Jazmyn Taitingfong, staff attorney at the ACLU of New Mexico. “Employers cannot discriminate against New Mexicans based on their race and how they choose to wear their hair. The arbitrary imposition of hair length criteria against our client, but not against other employees with long hair, demonstrates that the real issue was his race, plain and simple.”

Officer Allen told Christian that he was “not a fan of his hair,” and that he did not want him to interact with producers until he cut his hair. Christian explained to Officer Allen that the Livestock Board’s Human Resources Department told him his hair conformed with the Board’s policies. Allen did not state any reason, other than his hairstyle, that Christian was not qualified for his position.

“I stepped outside and thought about it a little bit—I knew I had not done anything wrong, but I really loved this job,” Patrick reflects. “I decided to call my grandma and ask her what I should do. She told me, ‘If you stand for nothing, you’ll fall for anything.’ I knew then that this was something worth fighting for.”

Patrick decided not to cut his hair and was let go from his position that day. After, Christian emailed the board, urging them to reconsider his termination.

Christian currently resides in Clayton, New Mexico, where he is a non-certified commissioned officer with the Clayton Police Department. He hopes this lawsuit will prevent future discrimination against the next generation of Black livestock inspectors in New Mexico.

A copy of the complaint can be found below.