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AG Frey Joins Coalition Condemning DOJ Coercion Against Minnesota

Maine Attorney General Aaron M. Frey joined a coalition of 22 state attorneys general in condemning the Department of Justice's use of armed federal agents to coerce Minnesota officials into turning over protected resident data including Medicaid, SNAP, and voter information. The coalition, led by New York AG Letitia James, sent a letter to U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi and DHS Secretary Kristi Noem on January 29, 2026, asserting the demands intrude on state sovereignty and conflict with ongoing court-ordered protections. The attorneys general warned they will continue to defend state sovereignty and resident rights against unlawful federal interference.

NMFS Finalizes 21 Marine Mammal Stock Assessment Reports Under MMPA

NMFS has finalized 21 marine mammal stock assessment reports (SARs) under Section 117 of the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), covering the 2018-2022 period for Alaska, Atlantic, Gulf of America, and Pacific regions. The revisions primarily update human-caused mortality and serious injury (M/SI) estimates and abundance estimates for affected stocks. NMFS responded to public comments from the Marine Mammal Commission and Center for Biological Diversity, addressing concerns about lost fishing gear, plastic pollution, and alternative data collection methods.

NM AG Wins Antitrust Case Against Live Nation/Ticketmaster

On April 15, 2026, a New York jury found Live Nation and Ticketmaster liable for violating federal and state antitrust laws after a nearly six-week trial and four days of deliberations. The jury determined that Ticketmaster unlawfully maintains a monopoly in the market for ticketing services at major concert venues and that Live Nation has a monopoly in the market for large amphitheaters. The coalition of 34 attorneys general, led by New Mexico AG Raúl Torrez, alleged that the companies' control over venue ownership, event promotion, and ticketing services allowed them to raise costs for fans and artists and suppress competition.

CBP Officers Seize RPG Launcher, 21 Rifles, Weapons Parts at DeConcini Crossing

CBP officers at the DeConcini Crossing in Nogales, Arizona seized an RPG launcher tube, 4 rifles, an AK pistol, 16 AK rifles, 24 rifle magazines, 16 rifle stocks, 20 pistol grips, and other weapons parts from a 41-year-old female U.S. citizen on April 19, 2026, as she attempted to depart for Mexico. The items were concealed in a hidden void compartment under the rear seat of a 2016 Lexus IS 200t discovered during secondary inspection. The driver was arrested and federal prosecution was accepted under 18 USC 554 (Smuggling goods from the United States); the three accompanying minors were released to family custody.

Los Zetas Cartel Member Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug Trafficking

Daniel Perez Rojas, also known as Cachetes and Cacheton 49, a high-ranking member of the Los Zetas cartel, pleaded guilty on April 22, 2026 to one count of conspiracy to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine and one thousand kilograms or more of marijuana for unlawful importation into the United States. Perez Rojas was transferred from Mexico to the United States in August 2025 and is scheduled to be sentenced on October 30, facing a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison and a maximum penalty of life in prison. The DEA investigated the case, which is part of Operation Take Back America and the Homeland Security Task Force initiative.

VA Cooperative Studies Program Controlled Substances Import Application

The DEA published a notice that VA Cooperative Studies Program, located in Albuquerque, New Mexico, applied on April 9, 2026, to be registered as an importer of Schedule I controlled substances Marihuana Extract (drug code 7350) and Tetrahydrocannabinols (drug code 7370). The company plans to import finished dosage unit products solely for research and clinical trial studies; no commercial sale of FDA-approved or non-approved finished dosage forms is authorized under this registration. Registered bulk manufacturers and applicants may submit comments or objections to the issuance of the proposed registration on or before May 21, 2026.

NOAA Halts Illegal Tuna Imports, Fines Importers $222,902

NOAA Fisheries Office of Law Enforcement completed two multi-year investigations resulting in $222,902 in combined civil penalties against seafood importers for falsely labeling tuna as 'dolphin safe.' The violations involved over 3.4 million pounds of tuna product imported from Mexico into U.S. commerce without proper dolphin-safe certification. Both importers cooperated with investigators, withdrew products from retail, donated inventory to nonprofits fighting food insecurity, and agreed to implement corrective labeling and sourcing practices for future shipments.

STB Authorizes Green Eagle Railroad 1.3-Mile Line in Maverick County, TX

The Surface Transportation Board authorized Green Eagle Railroad to construct and operate an approximately 1.3-mile rail line in Eagle Pass and Maverick County, Texas, as part of the Puerto Verde Global Trade Bridge project. The line will extend from the U.S.-Mexico border to connect with Union Pacific Railroad near UP's Eagle Pass Subdivision, routing rail and commercial motor vehicle traffic around the urban center of Eagle Pass. The Board approved the Southern Rail Alternative route subject to environmental mitigation conditions, and GER must file project status reports, including updates on negotiations with UP and BNSF, in six months and annually thereafter.

Final Phase Antidumping Duty Investigation on Oleoresin Paprika from India

The U.S. International Trade Commission has scheduled the final phase of antidumping and countervailing duty investigations Nos. 701-TA-771 and 731-TA-1755 concerning imports of oleoresin paprika from India. The investigation will determine whether the domestic industry is materially injured or threatened with material injury by reason of subsidized and less-than-fair-value imports. A public hearing is scheduled for August 18, 2026, with prehearing briefs due August 11, 2026. Petitions were filed by Rezolex, Ltd. Co. of Las Cruces, New Mexico on June 25, 2025.

Explore BLM Public Lands, Recreation Opportunities Across America

The Bureau of Land Management maintains a public-facing webpage listing recreation opportunities across its managed lands in 21 states including Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Texas, Utah, and Wyoming. The site allows visitors to search by location, activity type, and keyword, with activities ranging from hiking and camping to rockhounding, wildlife viewing, and off-highway vehicle use. The BLM provides this portal to enable individuals and communities to achieve desired social, economic, and environmental outcomes through public land access.

State to Auction Properties in Taos, Torrance Counties

The New Mexico Taxation and Revenue Department has announced upcoming delinquent property tax auctions in Taos County (April 28-30, 2026) and Torrance County (May 7, 2026). Registration opens at 8 a.m. on auction day and closes promptly at 10 a.m. Successful bidders must pay in full by money order, certified check, cashier's check, or personal/business check with bank letter of credit. The auctions are held when property taxes remain delinquent for at least three years and the state cannot collect the taxes owed.

BLM Press Releases Searchable by State

The BLM press release index covers multiple regulatory actions across 13 states and regions from April 2–20, 2026, including oil and gas lease sales, mining project expansions, mineral exploration approvals, timber sales, pipeline rights-of-way, watershed restoration decisions, and grazing permit application periods. Substantive actions include a $592.7 million Q1 2026 oil and gas receipts figure, a June 2026 lease sale of 170 parcels totaling 155,816 acres in Colorado, and approval of exploratory drilling at 22 sites in Inyo County, California for Mojave Precious Metals Inc. Multiple 30-day public scoping and comment periods are open for oil and gas lease parcels in Wyoming, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, Montana, and the Dakotas.

Cultimar Red Snapper EFP Notice, Ends May 21

NOAA has issued a notice regarding Cultimar's Red Snapper Exempted Fishing Permit (EFP), which expires on May 21. The document provides regulatory information related to this specific fishing permit in the Gulf of Mexico. The full permit details and any associated requirements are contained in the linked PDF document.

CBP Officers Seize $1.1M Cocaine, 83 Pounds at Pharr International Bridge

U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the Pharr International Bridge cargo facility in Pharr, Texas, seized 83.24 pounds (37.76 kg) of suspected cocaine with an estimated street value of $1,111,503 on April 15, 2026. The contraband was discovered concealed within the floor of an empty trailer arriving from Reynosa, Mexico, after officers utilized non-intrusive inspection equipment and canine screening during a secondary inspection. CBP officers seized the narcotics along with the tractor and trailer, and Homeland Security Investigation special agents have initiated a criminal investigation into the seizure.

Tenth Circuit Upholds New Mexico Stream Access Victory

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit rejected an appeal by private landowners and affirmed that New Mexicans have a constitutional right to use and enjoy public waters. The ruling upheld injunctions secured by Attorney General Raúl Torrez prohibiting landowners along the Pecos River from erecting obstructions, posting 'no trespassing' signs, or otherwise interfering with lawful public fishing and recreation rights.

Central New York DRI and NY Forward Awards: Cazenovia Gets $10M; Marcellus and Mexico Get $4.5M Each

Governor Hochul announced on March 6, 2026 that the Village of Cazenovia will receive $10 million as the Central New York winner of Round 9 of the Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI), while the Villages of Marcellus and Mexico will each receive $4.5 million as Central New York winners of Round 4 of the NY Forward program. The total state commitment across all 10 economic development regions amounts to $200 million in combined DRI and NY Forward funding for the round. To be eligible for either program, localities must be certified under Governor Hochul's Pro-Housing Communities Program.

States Challenge EPA Rollback of Mercury and Air Toxics Standards

Minnesota Attorney General Ellison co-led a coalition of 21 states and local governments in filing a federal lawsuit challenging the Trump administration's repeal of the 2024 Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS) Rule, which had tightened emission limits on mercury, arsenic, lead, and other hazardous air pollutants from coal- and oil-fired power plants. The coalition argues the repeal is unlawful because EPA failed to provide a reasoned basis and did not adequately consider advances in pollution control technologies, while continuing to give lignite coal plants a free pass from emissions standards. The action seeks judicial reversal of the rollback, which the states contend will increase dangerous emissions and harm public health and the environment.

ICE Lodges Arrest Detainer for Illegal Alien Charged With Incest and Child Sex Crimes in South Carolina

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) lodged an arrest detainer on April 17, 2026, for Luis Armando Argueta Montejo, a 43-year-old illegal alien from Mexico, who faces charges of incest and three counts of criminal sexual conduct with a child in Oconee County, South Carolina. According to reports, the victim is allegedly between 11 and 14 years of age. Montejo, who entered the U.S. in 2006 with no prior criminal history in the country, will be transferred to ICE custody after facing prosecution in the American justice system.

Educational Assortative Mating and Household Income Inequality: Evidence from Brazil, Indonesia, Mexico, and South Africa

Ana Kujundzic's Working Paper 2/2026 for Eesti Pank examines educational assortative mating and its relationship to household income inequality in four emerging economies: Brazil, Indonesia, Mexico, and South Africa. The paper introduces a new methodological approach that overcomes limitations of standard sorting measures and allows identification of pure sorting trends. Findings indicate that people in these countries tend to sort into internally homogeneous marriages based on education level, and while educational sorting has a noticeable impact on income inequality in any given year, changes in sorting over time barely impact inequality overall due to opposing dynamics between education groups.

Zero Cost-Sharing Required for Behavioral Health Services in New Mexico Effective January 2027

Senate Bill 120, signed April 8, 2025, removes the January 1, 2027 sunset date for behavioral health cost-sharing elimination established under SB317 (2021), making the prohibition on cost-sharing for behavioral health services permanent. The NM OSI bulletin clarifies that all health insurance policies, health care plans, and HMO contracts delivered, issued, or renewed in New Mexico must eliminate cost-sharing — including copayments, coinsurance, and deductibles — for behavioral health services effective immediately. Bulletin 2021-009 will be repealed December 31, 2026 at 12:00 a.m., and the new zero cost-sharing standard must be applied uniformly across all subject health plans.

New Mexico Jury Verdict Against Meta Platforms - $375 Million Civil Penalties

A New Mexico jury found Meta Platforms liable on March 24, 2026, for misleading consumers about platform safety and endangering children under the state's Unfair Practices Act. The jury ordered Meta to pay $375 million in civil penalties at the statutory maximum of $5,000 per violation. New Mexico is the first state in the nation to prevail at trial against a major tech company for harming young people. A bench trial on the state's public nuisance claim is scheduled to begin May 4, 2026, during which NMDOJ will seek injunctive relief including age verification requirements and removal of predators from Meta's platforms.

Section 337 Investigation of Display Devices, Streaming Players, and Components Thereof (337-TA-1496)

The U.S. International Trade Commission voted to institute investigation 337-TA-1496 based on a complaint filed by InnoTV Labs, LLC of Las Vegas, Nevada, on March 2, 2026 (supplemented March 17, 2026). The complaint alleges that certain display devices, streaming players, and components imported from China and Mexico infringe patents asserted by the complainant. Nine respondents have been named including Hisense Co., Ltd. and its affiliated entities in China, Georgia, and Mexico; Roku, Inc. of San Jose, California; and Purple Tag Media Technology entities in China and Mexico. The complainant seeks a limited exclusion order and cease and desist orders. No decision on the merits has been made; the case will proceed to evidentiary hearing before an administrative law judge.

Supreme Court Opens $166B IEEPA Tariff Refund Process

On April 20, 2026, U.S. Customs and Border Protection launched the Consolidated Administration and Processing of Entries (CAPE) portal, enabling approximately 330,000 importers to apply for refunds of tariffs ruled unauthorized under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. The Supreme Court held in Learning Resources, Inc. v. Trump (No. 24-1287) that IEEPA does not authorize sweeping tariffs, invalidating rates as high as 145% on goods from China and tariffs on imports from Canada, Mexico, and dozens of other countries. The government owes an estimated $166 billion in refunds, with over 56,000 importers (accounting for $127 billion in deposits) already enrolled in the portal. Importers face a 180-day deadline to file Customs protests after liquidation to preserve refund rights.

OFAC Sanctions CDN Cartel Linked Casinos, Attorney, and Disinformation Actors

On April 14, 2026, OFAC designated six individuals and entities tied to Cartel del Noreste (CDN)—including Casino Centenario, Diamante Casino, and their operator CAMSA—alongside three individuals: a human smuggling coordinator, a defense attorney acting as intermediary, and a disinformation actor purporting to be a human rights activist. The designations were issued under Executive Order 14059 (narcotics trafficking) and Executive Order 13224 (terrorism), with General License 35 authorizing wind-down transactions through May 13, 2026. This action extends U.S. sanctions strategy to professional enablers and casino-based money laundering vehicles near the U.S.-Mexico border.

Board of Barbers and Cosmetologists Special Board Meeting - April 15, 2026

The New Mexico Board of Barbers and Cosmetologists scheduled a Special Board Meeting for Wednesday, April 15, 2026, at 9:00 a.m. at the Regulation and Licensing Department Hearing Room 1, 2550 Cerrillos Rd., Santa Fe, NM 87505, with virtual access available via Microsoft Teams. The meeting agenda was to be posted on the Board's website at least 72 hours in advance of the meeting.

AG Torrez Secures $3.3M Judgment and Testimony Against Defendants

New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez announced a $3.3 million judgment and plea agreement against Patricia Hurtado for kidnapping, conspiracy to commit kidnapping, and Medicaid fraud. Hurtado will serve five years in prison and testify against co-defendant Angelita Chacon in connection with the death of Mary Melero.

AG Torrez Recovers $1.5M from Ex-NMPD Officer in Fraud Scheme

New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez announced the recovery of over $1.5 million from former State Police Officer Morgan Ortiz and Dr. Keith Levitt. The defendants pleaded guilty to felony charges including Medicaid Fraud, Identity Theft, and Practicing Medicine Without a License related to a substance abuse recovery scheme.

Public Hearing on Construction Industries Regulations, Albuquerque NM

The New Mexico Regulation and Licensing Department will hold a public hearing on April 21, 2026 from 9:30-10:00 a.m. at the Albuquerque office to receive comments on amendments to journeyman certification, inspector standards, and classification rules, as well as the repeal and replacement of several New Mexico construction and mechanical codes including the 2021 Plumbing Code and 2021 Mechanical Code. Attendees may participate in person or submit comments via the rule hearing webpage.

Angelita Chacon Sentenced 20-30 Years for Fatal Abuse of Woman With Developmental Disabilities

New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez and the NMDOJ secured a minimum 20-year prison sentence for Angelita Chacon, convicted of Abuse of a Resident Resulting in Death, False Imprisonment, and Conspiracy to Commit Kidnapping. The charges stem from the 2023 abuse and neglect of Mary Melero, a 38-year-old woman with developmental disabilities who was found near the U.S.-Mexico border severely dehydrated, drugged, and bearing open wounds and chronic bedsores before her death. Chacon and co-defendant Patricia Hurtado were ordered to pay $3.3 million in total restitution.

State Public Health Nurse Honored With Nursing Excellence Award for HIV-PrEP Work

Gina Fullbright, a registered nurse with the New Mexico Department of Health's Public Health Division Southwest Region, received a Nursing Excellence Award from the New Mexico Center for Nursing Excellence at their annual ceremony on April 11, 2026. Fullbright was specifically recognized for her work with the HIV-PrEP program, which provides preventative treatment to patients at risk for HIV infection in southern New Mexico. Four additional NMDOH nurses were also nominated for the award: Tina Bunton, Dolores Coronado, Rosie Hudson, and Michelle Ramirez.

New Mexico Joins $19M Multistate Settlement Over Excessive Commissions

New Mexico has joined a multistate $19 million settlement with Edward Jones, LPL Financial, RBC, Stifel, and TD Ameritrade for charging excessive commissions on small-dollar equity transactions. The firms will provide restitution to affected customers and pay $175,000 to New Mexico.

New Mexico Medical Board Disciplinary Orders

The New Mexico Medical Board issued disciplinary orders between July 1, 2025, and September 30, 2025. Actions included stipulations for withdrawal of applications, notices of contemplated action for various violations, stipulated orders with reprimands and fines, and default orders of revocation.

Latin America Crime Risk Trends 2025-2026

This notice analyzes political, economic, and financial crime risk trends in Latin America for 2025-2026. It highlights the impact of electoral cycles, US national security policies, and organized crime on financial institutions and corporate governance across the region.