Bio
Naureen Shah (@naureenshah) is Deputy Director of Government Affairs, Equality Division at the American Civil Liberties Union, based in Washington, D.C. She is a human rights lawyer with history as an advocate, researcher and campaigner. Previously she was senior director of campaigns at the US section of Amnesty International and acting director of Columbia Law School’s human rights clinic. Naureen has lobbied Congress, the White House, federal agencies, the UN, EU, foreign governments and regional human rights bodies. She is the author of several reports and commentaries on human rights, immigration, detention, torture and national security. She has collaborated with and trained grassroots activists across the country. She holds a J.D. from Columbia Law School and a B.S. from Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism.
Featured work
Mar 7, 2024
Biden's Border Politics Won't Fix Our Immigration System
![WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 1, 2021: Marchers demanding the Biden administration make progress on immigration reform, head to a rally near the US Capitol. March began at Black Lives Matter Plaza.](https://assets.aclu.org/live/uploads/2024/03/biden-border-policy-s-400x400.jpg)
Jan 26, 2024
What’s Hiding in the Immigration & Border Deal? More Mass Surveillance
![A uniformed individual in front of a portion of U.S., Mexico border wall.](https://assets.aclu.org/live/uploads/2024/01/ferm-immigration-blog-400x400.jpg)
Jul 25, 2023
When Will Biden Stop Giving Immigration Powers to Racist, Corrupt Sheriffs?
![Shot of sheriff (wearing a bulletproof vest) from behind walking towards the open door of police car.](https://assets.aclu.org/live/uploads/2023/07/sheriff-back-f-400x400.jpg)
Jul 6, 2023
The New ICE Chief Should (Finally) Make Good on Biden’s Immigration Promises
![The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement headquarters.](https://assets.aclu.org/live/uploads/2023/07/ice-homeland-security-blog-400x400.jpg)
Mar 3, 2023
Child Labor Investigation Reveals Immigration Policy Changes We Need Now
![Migrant children working inside a classroom.](https://assets.aclu.org/live/uploads/2023/03/ChildLabor_Blog-400x400.jpg)
Nov 23, 2022
20 Years Later, It’s Time to Overhaul the Department of Homeland Security
![A young child holds on to her mother legs as they wait with other families to request political asylum in the United States, across the border in Tijuana, Mexico.](https://assets.aclu.org/live/uploads/2022/11/DHS_ANNIVERSARY-Blog-V3-400x400.jpg)
Aug 31, 2022
UN Racial Justice Experts Call on Biden to End the 287(g) Program
![Delegates converse while in attendace at the United Nations General Assembly on October 26, 2022 in New York City.](https://assets.aclu.org/live/uploads/2022/08/UN-287-G-Blog-400x400.jpg)
Aug 4, 2022
Despite SCOTUS Ruling, the Biden Administration Can Prevent a Reversion to Trump's Deportation Machine
![Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, second from right, looks up along with U.S Border Patrol agents as a drone flies overhead as he tours a section of the border wall Tuesday, May 17, 2022, in Hidalgo, Texas.](https://assets.aclu.org/live/uploads/2022/08/MAYORKAS-Blog-V2-400x400.jpg)
Jul 21, 2021
Secretary Mayorkas Pledged to End His Agency’s Anti-Immigrant Abuses. Here’s What He’s Delivered.
![Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas speaks during news conference with a U.S. Homeland Security flag behind him.](https://assets.aclu.org/live/uploads/2021/07/Homeland-Security-Update-Header-400x400.jpg)
Feb 26, 2021
The Time Is Now: Congress Must Pass Citizenship Legislation
![Candidates for American citizenship recite the Oath of Allegiance during a naturalization ceremony.](https://assets.aclu.org/live/uploads/2021/03/WEB21-Naturalization-Ceremony-Standard-1110x740-1-400x400.jpg)