The New Mexico Department of Justice and the Tularosa Basin Downwinders Consortium (TBDC) have issued a warning about scams targeting individuals affected by radiation exposure in New Mexico. This follows the recent extension and expansion of the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA) claims. Organizations and attorneys are reportedly soliciting fees from people to file claims, despite no official claim submission process being available yet.
Attorney General Raúl Torrez expressed gratitude towards the Congressional Delegation for advocating for these compensation efforts. He emphasized that those affected deserve compensation without interference from fraudulent actors. "We encourage New Mexicans to file claims through legitimate entities to ensure they receive the maximum compensation they are entitled to through RECA," Torrez said.
Tina Cordova, co-founder of TBDC, urged patience as details of the claim process are still being developed. "Please don’t allow someone to take part of your claim out of fear or some sense of urgency," she said.
RECA, managed by the U.S. Department of Justice, provides partial restitution to individuals who developed serious illnesses due to radiation exposure from nuclear tests or uranium industry employment. The program was reauthorized on July 3, 2025, extending it until December 31, 2028, and expanding eligibility criteria.
New Mexicans are advised that claim filings are not yet available in the state. Any entity claiming otherwise is likely fraudulent. The public is warned against turning over records to unverified parties and encouraged to report suspected scams via NMDOJ.gov or by phone.
U.S. Senators Ben Ray Luján and Martin Heinrich, along with Representatives Teresa Leger Fernández, Melanie Stansbury, and Gabe Vasquez played key roles in advocating for this program's expansion.
For more information on RECA expansion or to report fraud, visit TrinityDownwinders.com or NMDOJ.gov/submit-a-complaint.
Information from this article can be found here.
