Protecting Families, Preserving Freedom

 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Las Cruces, NM — On Tuesday, July 22, the Doña Ana board of County Commissioners voted 4–1 to rescind a 2018 resolution that allowed public prayer at the start of commissioner meetings. The move eliminates a tradition that has long been protected by the Constitution and affirmed by the U.S. Supreme Court.

Resolution 2018-25, passed in 2018, acknowledged the historic and legal practice of opening government meetings with prayer. But in Tuesday’s vote, commissioners justified the vote by claiming that prayer could be perceived as exclusive or unfair, with some even suggesting it might be inherently hostile to certain identities or groups. But no credible evidence was presented to support these claims. Instead, the commission disregarded the constitutional principle that the government cannot prohibit the free exercise of religion—especially in a public setting where voluntary, diverse expressions of faith should be welcomed, not banned.

New Mexico Family Action Movement (NM FAM) released the following statement in response:

“We are sincerely disappointed in the Commissioners decision to eliminate prayer from public meetings,” said Jodi Hendricks, Executive Director of NM FAM. “This vote reflects a growing misunderstanding of both the Constitution and the role of faith in public life. The First Amendment was never meant to remove religious expression from civic spaces—it was meant to protect it.”

The Commissioners stated concerns included the appearance of religious favoritism and a desire for neutrality. Yet the Supreme Court’s decision in Town of Greece v. Galloway makes clear that voluntary prayer—so long as it does not coerce participation or promote one religion—is fully constitutional and consistent with America’s traditions.

New Mexico Family Action Movement stands with the residents of Doña Ana County who value faith, freedom, and the First Amendment. We will continue to advocate for policies that protect—not punish—people of faith.