American Civil Liberties Union

Defend the rights of all people nationwide

With immigrant rights, trans justice, reproductive freedom, and more at risk, we’re in courts and communities across the country to protect everyone’s rights — and we need you with us.

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Spotlight

A photo of Mahmoud Khalil and Dr. Noor Abdalla.

Letter to My Husband, Mahmoud Khalil

Dr. Noor Abdalla writes to her husband one month after he was unlawfully detained for exercising his free speech rights.

Read Her Words

Can Border Agents Search Your Electronic Devices?

Unfortunately, the answer isn’t simple.

Dissent Is Not Grounds For Deportation

Tell Congress to vote no on any bill that would punish noncitizens for exercising their First Amendment rights.

Use Your Voice

State and Local Entities Safeguarding Our Rights

State and local officials are starting to vocally say no to Trump’s dangerous agenda. Here’s why their roles are crucial for our democracy.

Learn More

The ACLU dares to create a more perfect union — beyond one person, party, or side. Our mission is to realize this promise of the United States Constitution for all and expand the reach of its guarantees.

Issues

Learn about what's happening across the most pressing civil liberties issues of our time, and what you can do.

Systemic Equality

A graphic of a child standing on a parent's shoulders.

Since our nation’s founding, discriminatory policies and laws have created an unequal system in which Black communities have had their civil rights and liberties denied and have been systemically locked out of opportunities in education, housing, employment, and more.

Through our Systemic Equality agenda, we will use nationwide litigation, advocacy, and public education to advance laws and policies rooted in racial equity and end discriminatory policies, laws, and practices that have an outsized impact on Black communities.

Help us in our fight to ensure all people have equal access to housing, voting rights, education, and more by learning more, pledging your support, or donating. When we have full and equal access to education, jobs, housing, voting rights and more, better futures are possible.

News and Commentary

News & Commentary

Immigrants' Rights

How We Help the Immigrant Community Feel Seen

When Jeannie Parent and her volunteer group, KWESI, visit immigrants held in a California detention center, she’s inspired by the sense of connection and community she can foster in spite of the circumstances.

Members of the National Guard patrol the area surrounding the outskirts of the Capitol Building in Washington D.C.

National Security

Trump's Expanded Domestic Military Use Should Worry Us All

President Donald Trump's use of the military domestically is dangerous and deeply misguided.

Free Speech

Writing an Op-Ed is Not Grounds for Deportation

The U.S. government’s escalating attacks on noncitizens’ right to free speech, including our client Rümeysa Öztürk, should scare us all.

In the Courts

For more than one hundred years, ACLU lawyers have been at the center of one history-making court case after another, participating in more Supreme Court cases than any other private organization. With attorneys nationwide, we handle thousands of cases each year on behalf of clients whose rights have been violated.

Fighting For Reproductive Freedom

People deserve the freedom to make their own medical decisions — but extreme politicians want to take that power away and deny people essential healthcare like abortion and birth control. The ACLU will never stop fighting to ensure that every person can make their own decisions around pregnancy.

Fighting For Reproductive Freedom

A graphic that depicts individuals demonstrating for reproductive freedom.

all court cases

Fighting Trump

During the first Trump administration, we took over 430 legal actions.

Fighting Back Against Voter Suppression in Georgia
Following record turnout in recent elections, Georgia legislators passed a voter suppression law designed to make it harder for voters, especially voters of color, to cast a ballot. We’re suing.

Defending Student Free Speech
Brandi Levy was just blowing off steam off campus when she posted an expletive message on Snapchat critical of her school and cheer team. She was suspended from her cheer team, but alongside the ACLU she sued to defend student free speech. We took the case all the way to the Supreme Court – and won.

Protecting Abortion Access in Florida
On behalf of several abortion providers, we are fighting against Florida's senseless and harmful law that bans abortion after 15 weeks of pregnancy and threatens to imprison doctors who provide care beyond that point.

our history

1920

In its first year, the ACLU challenged the Palmer Raids, protecting immigrants and trade union members.

1942

The ACLU stood almost alone in denouncing the federal government’s internment of more than 110,000 Japanese Americans in concentration camps.

1967

The ACLU represented an interracial couple in the landmark Supreme Court case, Loving v. Virginia. The court ruled that state bans on interracial marriage were unconstitutional.

1978

The ACLU took a controversial stand for free speech by defending a Nazi group that wanted to march through the Chicago suburb of Skokie—where many Holocaust survivors lived.

2015

The ACLU won a landmark Supreme Court ruling in Obergefell v. Hodges, affirming the constitutional right of same-sex couples to marry.

2018

In a victory for privacy, the Supreme Court ruled in an ACLU case, Carpenter v. United States, that people’s sensitive cell phone location data is protected by the Fourth Amendment, requiring the government get a warrant to access it.

today

We have over 1,700 staffers in every state, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico fighting for people's constitutional rights.

Careers

Full-time positions and internships

Media Inquiries

Press releases and interviews

Shop

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Financial Reports

Annual reports on governance

FOIA Collections

Public records and information

On the Ground

From signing petitions to organizing on the ground, millions of ACLU activists are helping defend our rights.

Actions Needed Now

Cutouts of images of protests and the Capitol.

Dissent Is Not Grounds For Deportation

Actions Needed Now

Free Mahmoud Khalil

Paper money falling over the House of Congress.

Keep DOGE Out of Our Data

Actions Needed Now

Dissent Is Not Grounds For Deportation

Free Mahmoud Khalil

Keep DOGE Out of Our Data

Get Involved

People Power is the ACLU's platform for grassroots action. We work with volunteers and supporters in every corner of the country to defend civil liberties and civil rights. Join us.

Make calls

Join a volunteer team

Host an event

Resources

For specific inquiries and resources

Careers

Full-time positions and internships

Media Inquiries

Press releases and interviews

Shop

Apparel, books, and more

Financial Reports

Annual reports on governance

FOIA Collections

Public records and information