The ACLU works to defend and uphold the basic human rights and civil liberties guaranteed to us by the United States Constitution and Bill of Rights.

Some issues of particular concern to the ACLU in New Mexico include:

• Free Speech
• LGBT Rights
• Immigrants’ Rights
• Privacy
• Police Practices
• Corrections Reform

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Free Speech

Freedom of speech is protected under the First Amendment of the Bill of Rights and is guaranteed to everyone living in the United States. Since 1920, the ACLU has been committed to the defense and preservation of this fundamental right.

Recently, ACLU-NM represented clients whose right to speak was suppressed in open city commission meetings, filed suit against sheriff’s deputies who coerced false confessions from witnesses and represented anti-war demonstrators who felt that the police suppressed their right to protest government actions. Though many of us take this right for granted, free speech comes under attack on a daily basis making the work ACLU-NM does to protect free speech vital and ongoing.  Learn more about current Free Speech concerns.

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LGBT Rights

Full, unconditional equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people is a top priority of ACLU-NM.  This includes fair treatment by government, protection from discrimination in jobs, schools, housing, and public accommodations, and equal rights for lesbian and gay couples and their families.

Since 2006, ACLU-NM has fought to pass the Domestic Partnership Rights and Responsibilities Act, which would extend crucial legal protections to gay, lesbian and unmarried straight couples and their families. Currently, many domestic partners and their children do not receive the same health insurance benefits that married couples enjoy, cannot visit loved ones in the hospital or make emergency medical decisions when tragedy strikes. They also have no inheritance claims when their partner passes away.  Learn more about current LGBT Rights issues.

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Immigrants’ Rights

Many New Mexicans experience discrimination, hostility and civil rights violations of because of their suspected immigration status. As a result, protecting immigrants’ rights is a top priority for ACLU-NM.

The ACLU is one of the leading advocates for the rights of immigrants, refugees and non-citizens in the country, challenging unconstitutional laws and practices and countering the myths upon which many of these laws are based.

Regardless of one’s views on U.S. immigration policy, the fundamental civil liberties protections of the Bill of Rights and the U.S. Constitution protect every person in this country—including non-citizens. The government can legitimately control its borders, but the power to exclude and deport people must be exercised fairly and consistently, subject to our constitutional norms and U.S. obligations under international law.  Learn more about current Immigrants’ Rights issues.

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Privacy

Preserving fundamental privacy protections for citizens is absolutely critical as  illegal government spying, provisions of the Patriot Act and increasingly sophisticated and invasive surveillance technologies transcend the bounds of law in the name of national security.

In New Mexico, ACLU-NM has fought for privacy rights by advocating for the passage of a “Spying on Freedom” bill to combat the growing trend of police infiltration of political and religious groups; filed suit against a county clerk who released confidential voter registration information to the Republican Party; and supported legislation that prevents employers or insurance companies from using individuals’ genetic information to determine hiring or health coverage.

We also monitor the interplay between cutting-edge technology and civil liberties, actively promoting responsible uses of technology that enhance privacy and freedom, while opposing those that undermine our freedoms and move us closer to a surveillance society.  Learn more about current Privacy concerns.

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Police Practices

Abuse by police continues to be a major civil rights problem in the U.S., particularly for the poor and for people of color. Everyone needs and deserves effective and humane law enforcement as a fundamental component of our human and civil rights.

ACLU-NM is frequently called upon to defend people when law enforcement officials overstep constitutional boundaries. We have taken legal action in numerous cases including illegal searches of high school students, illegal seizures of private property from motorists, and racial profiling of truck drivers at inspection stations.  Learn more about current issues related to Police Practices.

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Corrections Reform

Our constitution is meant to safeguard against government abuses of power. But all too often, the rights of those involved in the criminal justice system are compromised or ignored. Throughout New Mexico, there are over 15,000 men and women in jail or prison. Overcrowded and financially strained correctional facilities cause many prisoners to routinely suffer abuse and inadequate care. ACLU-NM works to fight unconstitutional conditions and the “lock ‘em up” mentality that prevails in the legislature.

In our extensive work defending prisoners’ rights, we have fought for:

• Improved mental health care and screening in the Dona Ana County Detention Center
• Better safety and services for youth in state juvenile justice facilities
• Legislation that emphasizes treatment over incarceration for nonviolent drug offenders
• Accommodation of prisoners’ religious requirements, including access to a kosher diet and sweat lodges
• Accountability in instances of prisoner abuse at the hands of correctional officers

Learn more about current Corrections Reform and Prisoners’ Rights issues.