seriously, they applied for statehood SIX TIMES

A brief history of New Mexico:
NM: "Hey, Spain, can we choose our own governors?"
Spain: "No."
NM: "Hey, Mexico, can we choose our own governors?"
Mexico: "No."
NM: "Hey, US, can we be a state?"
USA: "No."
NM: "Hey, US, can we be a state?"
USA: "No."
NM: "Hey, US, can we be a state?"
USA: "No."
NM: "Hey, US, can we be a state?"
USA: "No."
NM: "Hey, US, can we be a state?"
USA: "No."
NM: "Hey, US, can we be a state?"
USA: "Well, maybe, we guess."
NM: "Yay!"
USA: "Oh, by the way, you brown people aren't allowed to vote or hold land anymore."
NM: "Wait, what?"
USA: "Also, we're going to build nuclear weapons here in 30 years."
NM: "..."

Poor, poor New Mexico. It is the redheaded stepchild of North America. I'm pretty sure it could succeed from the Union and no one would even notice.