ALBUQUERQUE, NM – A first-of-its-kind pro bono service for detained noncitizens in New Mexico was launched today by the New Mexico Immigrant Law Center (NMILC), the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of New Mexico, and Innovation Law Lab. The New Mexico Habeas Project connects unlawfully detained noncitizens in the state with pro bono attorneys to file habeas corpus petitions on their behalf in federal court.
“Many people detained in immigration detention facilities lack access to legal representation. Without legal assistance, many people face indefinite detention without even having access to a bond hearing,” said Zoe Bowman, managing attorney with NMILC. “This initiative is meant to connect as many people as possible to the crucial legal representation they need so they can return to their communities and families quickly and safely.”
As mass detentions increase across the country, over 800 habeas petitions have been filed in New Mexico since January 2025. Habeas petitions provide crucial legal avenues designed to protect people from unlawful detention by the federal government. If the court finds that the detention is unlawful, it can order immediate release or a bond hearing before the immigration court.
The New Mexico Habeas Project seeks attorneys interested in volunteering to provide pro bono habeas representation in federal court. The New Mexico Habeas Project will provide training, mentoring, templates, and ongoing technical assistance on questions that arise during the representation. Volunteer attorneys are not required to have prior experience in habeas litigation or immigration law.
“New Mexico has already taken bold action to protect our communities with the passage of the Immigrant Safety Act,” said Rebecca Sheff, senior staff attorney with the ACLU of New Mexico. “With the federal government continuing to funnel people into the deportation pipeline, we are committed to creating the infrastructure needed to ensure people have access to critical legal representation to challenge unlawful detention.”
“Countless individuals are being unlawfully deprived of their liberty and pressured to accept deportation under abusive conditions in immigration prisons across New Mexico,” said Tiffany Wang, fellow attorney with Innovation Law Lab. “Through the New Mexico Habeas Project, experienced organizations and committed attorneys are empowering people to seek their freedom and stay with their families and communities.”
Attorneys interested in volunteering for the project can sign up here. The New Mexico Habeas Project training curriculum and resources can be found here.
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