Home : Immigrants' Rights

U.N. Independent Expert Denied Access to Hutto Detention Center (05/04/2007)
NEW YORK - The American Civil Liberties Union today called on the U.S. government to explain why it is denying a United Nations independent expert access to the Hutto immigrant detention facility in Taylor, Texas.

Federal Judge Rules Against Policy of Denying Marriage License on Basis of Immigration Status (05/01/2007)
SCRANTON, PA - A federal judge today ruled that a county official cannot deny a marriage license to a couple simply because an applicant does not have a current visa or green card.

U.N. Independent Expert on Rights of Migrants Begins Fact-Finding Mission in United States (04/30/2007)
SAN DIEGO - The American Civil Liberties Union today welcomed the official fact-finding visit to the United States by the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights of Migrants. The ACLU is among the select groups and individuals that will be meeting with the Special Rapporteur over the next three weeks to testify about the conditions of immigrants and migrants living in the United States.

Civil Rights Groups Sue Immigration Officials for Unlawfully Detaining Six-Year-Old U.S. Citizen (04/26/2007)
SAN FRANCISCO – The American Civil Liberties Union, the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights, the ACLU of Northern California, and the law firm of Coblentz, Patch, Duffy & Bass LLP, filed a lawsuit today on behalf of a U.S. citizen child who was unlawfully detained for ten hours by immigration officials.

Pennsylvania Couple Wrongfully Denied Marriage License Because of Immigration Status, ACLU Charges (04/18/2007)
SCRANTON, PA - The American Civil Liberties Union and the ACLU of Pennsylvania today filed a federal lawsuit on behalf of a West Hazleton couple who were denied a marriage license because of a policy that prohibits issuance of a license to anyone who cannot prove that “they are in the country legally.”

Court Says ACLU Likely to Prevail on Claims Regarding Immigrant Children Detained at Hutto Facility in Texas (04/10/2007)
AUSTIN, TX - In a ruling issued late Monday, a Texas federal court found that the American Civil Liberties Union is “highly likely to prevail” at trial on its claims that the detention of immigrant children at the T. Don Hutto facility in Taylor, Texas is an abuse of discretion by federal officials and violates applicable legal standards.

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.

Federal Trial Over Hazleton, PA’s Anti-Immigrant Ordinances Concludes (03/22/2007)
SCRANTON, PA - Trial came to an end today in a federal challenge to prevent the city of Hazleton, PA from implementing harsh anti-immigrant ordinances that are at odds with federal law. The two-week trial revealed that Hazleton Mayor Lou Barletta and city officials rushed to scapegoat undocumented immigrants for several of the city’s burdens, despite evidence to the contrary.

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.