American Civil Liberties Union

Immigrants' Rights:
The ACLU has been one of the nation's leading advocates for the rights of immigrants, refugees and non-citizens, challenging unconstitutional laws and practices, countering the myths upon which many of these laws are based. Learn more about our Immigrants' Rights Project and take action to protect the rights guaranteed by the Bill of Rights.



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Immigrants Rights : General : Press Releases

ACLU Celebrates History and Promise of Ellis Island, Urges Sensible, American Approach to Immigration (03/30/2007)
NEW YORK - The American Civil Liberties Union today praised a field hearing of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, Refugees, Border Security, and International Law on immigration. The hearing, “Past, Present, and Future: A Historic and Personal Reflection on American Immigration,” was held on historic Ellis Island.

ACLU Says Gutierrez-Flake Immigration Bill Falls Short, Proposal Sensitive to Due Process, But Undermines Privacy (03/23/2007)
WASHINGTON - The American Civil Liberties Union today said that a bipartisan immigration reform bill, introduced by Representatives Luis Gutierrez (D-IL) and Jeff Flake (R-AZ), while a welcome first step, falls short from a civil liberties perspective. Although the Security Through Regularized Immigration and a Vibrant Economy (STRIVE) Act of 2007 does not include the many due process deprivations that have plagued other so-called immigration "reform" legislation, it would violate privacy through the creation of a de facto national identification card.

Santa Fe Immigration Sweep Prompts ACLU Investigation (03/19/2007)
ALBUQUERQUE - In response to recent immigration sweeps in Santa Fe, the American Civil Liberties Union of New Mexico today filed an official request for all records surrounding U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) actions in New Mexico.

Northern Californians Demand End to Citizenship Application Delays (02/08/2007)
SAN FRANCISCO - Civil rights groups filed a class-action lawsuit today against the federal government for its practice of indefinitely delaying citizenship applications in violation of the Constitution and federal statutes and regulations

California Judge Ends 20-Year-Old Deportation Case Against Palestinians (01/30/2007)
LOS ANGELES - In a strong rebuke to the federal government, a Los Angeles immigration judge today ordered an end to deportation proceedings against two members of the so-called "Los Angeles Eight," a group of immigrants who were targeted by the government 20 years ago for engaging in political speech and supporting Palestinian rights.

Details of Ohio Sheriff's Immigration Deal Should Be Public, ACLU Says (12/14/2006)
HAMILTON, OH - The American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio today filed public records requests to uncover details of an agreement between federal immigration officials and Butler County Sheriff Richard Jones that grants local police some authority to enforce federal immigration law.

Businesses Sue Riverside, NJ Over Vague, Discriminatory Anti-Immigrant Ordinance (10/18/2006)
MOUNT HOLLY, NJ - A coalition of Riverside business owners, landlords and residents will file a lawsuit today in state court against Riverside Township, contending that the recently adopted Illegal Immigration Relief Act oversteps the city’s authority, is too vague, unfairly puts businesses at risk and violates civil rights under state law.

ACLU Calls on House To Reject Defective Immigration Bills (09/21/2006)
WASHINGTON - The American Civil Liberties Union today urged the House of Representatives to reject two immigration related measures. H.R. 6094, the Community Protection Act, and H.R. 6095, the Immigration Law Enforcement Act, will be voted on today. Both proposals waste scarce resources, unacceptably reduce or eliminate due process for both legal and undocumented immigrants, expand constitutionally suspect detention removal powers and procedures, and threaten civil liberties.

ACLU of New Jersey Survey: Immigrant Students at Risk of Exclusion in One Out of Four Schools (08/30/2006)
NEWARK, NJ -- The American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey today called on the state Department of Education to put an end to school practices that violate state and federal laws by requiring that parents who wish to enroll their children in public school provide private information about them, such as their Social Security numbers. This practice has the most chilling effect on immigrant students seeking to register for school, the ACLU said.

ACLU of Ohio and Voting Rights Groups Challenge Voter Intimidation Provision (08/29/2006)
CLEVELAND, OH -- Today, the American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio along with the Brennan Center, Lawyers’ Committee and the ACLU Voting Rights Project filed a lawsuit challenging a voter intimidation provision in Ohio law that unfairly burdens naturalized U.S. citizens.

ACLU of Texas Shares United Nation's Concern About Increased Level of Militarization on Border (07/28/2006)
EL PASO, TX — A United Nations human rights body today expressed grave concerns over the United States' human rights record. The American Civil Liberties Union welcomed the recommendations and urged the U.S. government to take immediate and vigorous steps to implement them on both the state and federal level. Among the findings from the committee were concerns about the increased level of militarization on the U.S.-Mexico Border, National Guard troops on the U.S.-Mexico border and the enforcement of immigration laws by agents lacking adequate training on immigration issues.

ACLU Urges Congress to Fix - Or Scrap - Flawed Immigration Bill (06/19/2006)
WASHINGTON - The American Civil Liberties Union today welcomed a hearing held by the Senate Judiciary Committee on the Employment Eligibility Verification System (EEVS) provisions that were included in the immigration reform legislation being considered by Congress. A final agreement, or conference report, on that legislation is still pending, as neither chamber has appointed conferees to reconcile the House and Senate bills.

ACLU Urges Senate to Oppose Flawed Immigration Bill, Says Legislation Fails to Protect Due Process and Privacy (05/25/2006)
WASHINGTON - With a vote in the Senate on immigration reform pending, the American Civil Liberties Union urged lawmakers to oppose the flawed legislation that fails to protect privacy and due process rights.

ACLU Calls on President Not to Deploy Military Troops to Deter Immigrants at the Mexican Border (05/15/2006)
WASHINGTON - In anticipation of President Bush’s address to the nation tonight on immigration reform, the American Civil Liberties Union today called upon the president and Congress to reject any measures that fail to uphold the letter and spirit of our laws and encouraged lawmakers to adopt immigration reform that protects the freedom and privacy of all in America.

Immigration “Reform” Bill Must Not Violate Privacy, Say ACLU and AFL-CIO; Urge Reforms to Protect All Workers in America (04/20/2006)
WASHINGTON – The American Civil Liberties Union and the AFL-CIO said today that any immigration reform Congress considers must not violate workers’ privacy through an intrusive, bureaucratic Employment Eligibility Verification System. The Senate is expected to address immigration when it returns next week from its Easter recess.

As Senate Immigration Bill Stalls, ACLU Calls for Much-Needed Fixes, Says Lawmakers Must Act to Protect Due Process and Privacy (04/07/2006)
WASHINGTON - As legislation to reform the nation’s immigration laws stalled in the Senate today, the American Civil Liberties Union urged lawmakers to modify that legislation to better protect privacy, judicial review and due process rights.

ACLU Condemns Government Censorship at the Borders, Says Freedom of Speech and Association Must Be Protected (03/28/2006)
WASHINGTON- The American Civil Liberties Union today told a House panel that a section of the Patriot Act is being misused to exclude people from the U.S. based on their political beliefs constitutes "censorship at the borders" and infringes on Americans' freedom of speech and association.

Senate Immigration Bill Lacks Privacy and Due Process Protections, ACLU Says; Lawmakers Must Fix Shortcomings in Proposed Legislation (03/02/2006)
WASHINGTON - As the Senate Judiciary Committee met today to begin consideration of legislation concerning immigration, the American Civil Liberties Union urged lawmakers to make changes to the underlying bill to better protect the privacy and civil liberties of all persons in the country, citizens and non-citizens alike. Last year, the House passed a border security and immigration reform bill that greatly undermines the freedoms of all Americans.

ACLU of Hawaii Lauds Federal Court Decision on Statewide Residency Requirement for Jobs (02/03/2006)
HONOLULU —The American Civil Liberties Union of Hawaii today announced the end to a requirement that prevented countless numbers of individuals from even applying for government jobs in Hawaii because they were not yet residents.

ACLU of Indiana Urges Rejection of Anti-Immigrant Bill (01/27/2006)
INDIANAPOLIS - The American Civil Liberties Union of Indiana today urged state legislators and Governor Mitch Daniels to reject House Bill 1383, which would cut off many immigrants from public services, including health care, and would require law enforcement agencies to verify the status of suspected "illegal" aliens.


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