SANTA FE, New Mexico — New Mexico lawmakers plan to introduce a memorial in the 2026 legislative session calling for a comprehensive study into forced and coerced sterilization of Indigenous women and women of color, a practice advocates say has left lasting trauma across Native communities. The effort is led by Sens. Shannon Pinto (Diné) of Tohatchi and Linda Lopez (D-Albuquerque), who want the state to formally examine the scope and long-term impacts of sterilization performed without consent.
The proposal follows decades of testimony from survivors, including Navajo citizen Jean Whitehorse, who says she was coerced into signing documents at an Indian Health Service (IHS) facility in Gallup that resulted in the loss of her ability to have children. A 1976 review by the U.S. Government Accountability Office found that 3,406 women were sterilized across four IHS regions—one-third of the system at the time—with many consent forms missing federally required safeguards. Later research suggests that at least 25% of Native women may have been sterilized.
Under the memorial, the Legislative Health and Human Services Committee would work with the Indian Affairs Department to deliver findings and recommendations to the Legislature by the end of 2027. Advocates say the effort is overdue. “No state has formally acknowledged this history,” said human rights advocate Keely Badger, who has worked with survivors and presented the issue to the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues.
Supporters say acknowledgment is critical to rebuilding trust in health systems and addressing generational harm.
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