Bio
Manar Waheed joined the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) in March 2017. As Senior Legislative and Advocacy Counsel, she works on the intersection of issues impacting Muslim, Arab, Middle Eastern, and South Asian communities, including immigration, national security and counterterrorism, and hate violence and bullying. Manar works to ensure that policies affecting these communities are consistent with the Constitution, civil liberties, and human rights. She also plays a role in developing and implementing strategic campaigns and programming within the National Political Advocacy Department with an eye towards engaging Muslim, Arab, Middle Eastern, and South Asian communities.
Prior to the ACLU, Manar was the Deputy Policy Director for Immigration at the White House Domestic Policy Council in the Obama Administration where she assisted with the development of the President’s strategy for building a 21st century immigration system. In addition to immigration policy, this work included addressing anti-immigrant and -refugee sentiment and protecting the rights of all people against discrimination, harassment, and hate attacks. Manar previously served as Policy Director at South Asian Americans Leading Together (SAALT) and led their work on immigration, profiling, hate violence, and gender equity. She also worked with domestic violence survivors at Legal Services of New York City as a Senior Staff Attorney, where she provided direct services and legal representation to survivors who were primarily from immigrant communities, and the National Clearinghouse for the Defense of Battered Women, where she provided technical assistance on cases in which battered women were charged with crimes. Manar has co-taught a seminar on domestic violence and legal intervention, which included the impact of media on violence at Wagner College. From 2009 to 2012, she served on the board of the Muslim Bar Association of New York.
Manar received her J.D. from Brooklyn Law School in June of 2004 and her B.A. from Wellesley College in 1999.
Featured work
Apr 29, 2021
Biden Must Be Bolder on Immigration. The Lives of Millions Depend on It.
![An activist holds sign that reads "Our Communities Need Relief" for immigration reform at a sit-in protest in downtown Washington, D.C.](https://assets.aclu.org/live/uploads/2021/04/100-Day-Immigration-Header-Image-400x400.jpg)
Dec 11, 2020
Biden Must Restore Citizenship for Black and Brown People
![The hand of a seated person holding a miniature U.S. flag and immigration information at a naturalization ceremony.](https://assets.aclu.org/live/uploads/2020/12/WEB20-Naturalization-Ceremony-WordPress-1110x740-1-400x400.jpg)
Aug 25, 2020
Hundreds of Thousands of People in Limbo as They Wait for Justice
![Supporters of temporary protected status immigrants hold signs and cheer at a rally in support of a program that lets immigrants live and work legally in the United States.](https://assets.aclu.org/live/uploads/2020/08/Defend-TPS-Header-Image-400x400.jpg)
Jul 17, 2020
Students, Colleges, and Universities Win Against the Trump Administration’s Latest Anti-Immigrant Attack
![Students walking on a college campus.](https://assets.aclu.org/live/uploads/2020/07/ICE-Student-Ban-Header-Image-400x400.jpg)
Apr 2, 2020
COVID-19 Doesn’t Discriminate — Neither Should Congress’ Response
![Members of the House practice social distancing as they sit on the floor of the House of Representatives in the U.S. Capitol and debate on the coronavirus stimulus package known as the CARES Act. By the end of March, the legislation was signed and passed, but has been under scrutiny for its exclusion of assistance for immigrants.](https://assets.aclu.org/live/uploads/2020/04/Congress-COVID-Response-Header-Image-400x400.jpg)
Jan 27, 2020
Trump’s Three Year Campaign to Separate Families: The Muslim Ban
![In this April 25, 2018 photo, a person holds up a sign that reads "No Muslim Ban" during an anti-Muslim ban rally at the Supreme Court](https://assets.aclu.org/live/uploads/2020/01/WEB20-Muslim-ban-protest-BlogImage-WordPress-1110x740-400x400.jpg)
Sep 27, 2019
Trump Announces Plan to Admit Fewer Refugees Than Any Previous President
![A protester holding a sign with the text "fight ignorance not immigrants"](https://assets.aclu.org/live/uploads/2019/10/web19-immigrants-rights-protest-aclu-wa-blogimage-1160x768-400x400.jpg)
Jul 23, 2019
With the Right to Boycott Under Attack, Some Members of Congress Are Pushing Back
![Boycott Israel Protest](https://assets.aclu.org/live/uploads/2019/09/web19-bdsprotest-1160x768-400x400.jpg)
Apr 10, 2019
Congressional Action to End the Bans—Now and Into the Future
![Muslim Ban Sign](https://assets.aclu.org/live/uploads/2019/09/web18-muslimbansignjfk-1160x864-400x400.jpg)