We are pleased to announce that Leon Howard has been appointed as its new executive director, following a nationwide search conducted by the organization's board of directors. Leon brings nearly a decade of experience with the ACLU of New Mexico, having served as staff attorney, legal director, deputy director, and most recently as interim executive director. He succeeds Peter Simonson, who stepped down in September 2024 after 24 years of leading the organization. (fb)

BREAKING: Executive Order 14287, issued by President Trump on April 28, makes several unlawful threats against local counties and cities across the U.S. that opt not to participate in the administration's mass deportation agenda—including several in New Mexico. New Mexico jurisdictions targeted by the executive order include the counties of Bernalillo, Chaves, Colfax, De Baca, Doña Ana, Eddy, Grant, Hidalgo, Lincoln, Los Alamos, Luna, McKinley, Otero, Quay, Rio Arriba, Roosevelt, San Juan, San Miguel, Sandoval, Santa Fe, Sierra, Socorro, and Taos. The Trump administration is threatening to impose serious and unlawful consequences on the listed jurisdictions, including demanding that cities and counties "immediately review and revise" their policies and threatening to press criminal charges on local leaders who refuse to adhere to these demands. In the face of these extraordinary and likely unlawful threats, the ACLU of New Mexico will continue to stand strong alongside our community partners to fight back against government overreach and attacks on hard-won freedoms in our state. (fb)