Filing deadline: December 31, 2027. Claims are reviewed by the DOJ in the order received.
New Mexico · Statewide affected area
New Mexico is now recognized statewide under RECA's expanded provisions — including the families downwind of the 1945 Trinity test, the first nuclear detonation. This page explains, in plain English, who may qualify and what records help.
Coverage
The entire state of New Mexico, under RECA's expanded provisions.
The Trinity test
The first nuclear test was detonated in the Tularosa Basin on July 16, 1945.
Survivors
Spouses, children & eligible heirs may file.
Communities in the Tularosa Basin were downwind of the Trinity test in 1945, yet the original 1990 RECA program did not cover them. RECA's expansion now recognizes New Mexico — which is why this page is here: so families know the program exists and can understand it.
RECA is not a lawsuit — it is a federal compensation program. A New Mexico claim generally turns on three things:
You don't need everything at once. Start with what you know — we help reconstruct the rest.
We ask where the exposed person lived, what diagnosis exists, and who would be filing.
We help identify residency proof, medical records, identity documents, and survivor paperwork — organized into one file.
A licensed RECA attorney reviews and files the completed claim with the Department of Justice.
Do not send full medical records through any website form. Intake collects only basic screening details; sensitive documents are handled through a secure document workflow.
Covered Conditions
You do not need to prove fallout caused the cancer. The claim file must document the eligible area, period, and diagnosis. See how a diagnosis fits →
Where the program reaches in New Mexico
The Land of Enchantment — covered statewide
Because New Mexico is now an affected area for the entire state, residency anywhere in New Mexico during the covered period may count toward a downwinder claim. The Tularosa Basin — Tularosa, Carrizozo, and the towns nearest the Trinity site — was most directly downwind, but families across all 33 counties may qualify.
If you don't see your town below, it still counts. These are simply communities historically associated with the downwind region.
Statewide coverage reflects RECA's expanded provisions and U.S. Department of Justice guidance. This list is informational and does not determine final eligibility — dates, diagnosis, and documentation still apply.
Downwind Region · New Mexico
For New Mexico families, understanding the program is the first step. We help organize the places and records a family already has into a complete claim file.
Start My Eligibility CheckPhoto: New Mexico high desert at dusk.
The first step takes about a minute, with no obligation — and there's no cost to check.
Start Free Eligibility CheckSource: U.S. Department of Justice RECA downwinder guidance. This page is informational and does not determine final eligibility.