Immigrants' Rights
Featured
U.S. Supreme Court
Aug 2021
Innovation Law Lab v. Wolf
The American Civil Liberties Union, Southern Poverty Law Center, and Center for Gender & Refugee Studies filed a federal lawsuit challenging the Trump administration’s new policy forcing asylum seekers to return to Mexico and remain there while their cases are considered.
Status: Ongoing
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U.S. Supreme Court
Jul 2021
Sierra Club v. Trump — Challenge to Trump’s National Emergency Declaration to Construct a Border Wall
In February 2019, the ACLU filed a lawsuit challenging President Trump’s emergency powers declaration to secure funds to build a wall along the southern border. The lawsuit was filed on behalf of the Sierra Club and the Southern Border Communities Coalition. The lawsuit argues that the president is usurping Congress’s appropriations power and threatening the clearly defined separation of powers inscribed in the Constitution. On January 20, 2021, President Biden halted further border wall construction. Litigation in this and subsequent related challenges has been paused or deadlines extended while the ACLU’s clients and the Biden administration determine next steps.
Status: Ongoing
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U.S. Supreme Court
Jun 2020
Department of Homeland Security v. Vijayakumar Thuraissigiam
Whether immigrants are entitled to seek judicial review of their “expedited removal” orders in federal court.
Status: Closed (Judgment)
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U.S. Supreme Court
Jan 2020
International Refugee Assistance Project v. Trump
The American Civil Liberties Union and other partner organizations filed a federal lawsuit challenging President Trump’s Muslim ban executive order, charging it violates the Constitution — including the First Amendment’s prohibition of government establishment of religion and the Fifth Amendment’s guarantees of equal treatment under the law — and federal laws.
Status: Closed (Judgment)
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U.S. Supreme Court
Mar 2019
Nielsen v. Preap
Whether the government can require that certain people are detained for the duration of their deportation proceedings — without a hearing — because they have past criminal records.
Status: Closed (Dismissed)
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May 2018
Colotl v. Kelly
UPDATE 5/25/18: The Department of Homeland Security has agreed to renew Jessica Colotl’s Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and work permit to resolve a lawsuit brought by the American Civil Liberties Union, the ACLU of Georgia, and Kuck Baxter Immigration in May 2017 against DHS for arbitrarily terminating Jessica’s DACA and rejecting her renewal application.
Status: Closed (Settled)
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Indiana
Oct 2016
Exodus Refugee Immigration, Inc. v. Mike Pence, et al
The American Civil Liberties Union and the ACLU of Indiana, on behalf of Exodus Refugee Immigration, filed suit against Governor Mike Pence and the secretary of the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration to stop attempts to suspend resettlement of Syrian refugees, claiming the governor’s actions violate the United States Constitution and federal law.
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All Cases
146 Immigrants' Rights Cases
Jul 2019
Amadei v. McAleenan
The American Civil Liberties Union and Covington & Burling LLP filed a federal lawsuit on behalf of nine passengers on a domestic Delta Air Lines flight who were subjected to suspicionless detention and identification checks. The case was settled in July 2019, with the government agreeing to measures that would prevent such unlawful detention and identification checks from happening again.
Status: Ongoing
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Immigrants' Rights
National Security
Amadei v. McAleenan
The American Civil Liberties Union and Covington & Burling LLP filed a federal lawsuit on behalf of nine passengers on a domestic Delta Air Lines flight who were subjected to suspicionless detention and identification checks. The case was settled in July 2019, with the government agreeing to measures that would prevent such unlawful detention and identification checks from happening again.
Jul 2019
Status: Ongoing
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Feb 2019
East Bay Sanctuary Covenant v. Barr
The American Civil Liberties Union, Southern Poverty Law Center, and Center for Constitutional Rights filed a federal lawsuit challenging the asylum ban proclamation signed by President Trump on November 9.
Status: Ongoing
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Immigrants' Rights
East Bay Sanctuary Covenant v. Barr
The American Civil Liberties Union, Southern Poverty Law Center, and Center for Constitutional Rights filed a federal lawsuit challenging the asylum ban proclamation signed by President Trump on November 9.
Feb 2019
Status: Ongoing
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Jan 2019
Grace v. Barr
The American Civil Liberties Union, Center for Gender & Refugee Studies, the ACLU of Texas, and the ACLU of D.C. filed a federal lawsuit in August 2018 challenging the Trump administration’s gutting of asylum protections for immigrants fleeing domestic violence and gang brutality.
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Immigrants' Rights
Women's Rights
Grace v. Barr
The American Civil Liberties Union, Center for Gender & Refugee Studies, the ACLU of Texas, and the ACLU of D.C. filed a federal lawsuit in August 2018 challenging the Trump administration’s gutting of asylum protections for immigrants fleeing domestic violence and gang brutality.
Jan 2019
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Florida
Dec 2018
Peter Sean Brown v. Richard Ramsay
The American Civil Liberties Union, ACLU of Florida, Southern Poverty Law Center, and Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP filed a federal lawsuit on behalf of a natural-born U.S. citizen who was unlawfully detained — and nearly deported — as a result of a Florida sheriff’s improper collaboration with Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Status: Ongoing
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Florida
Immigrants' Rights
Peter Sean Brown v. Richard Ramsay
The American Civil Liberties Union, ACLU of Florida, Southern Poverty Law Center, and Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP filed a federal lawsuit on behalf of a natural-born U.S. citizen who was unlawfully detained — and nearly deported — as a result of a Florida sheriff’s improper collaboration with Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Dec 2018
Status: Ongoing
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Michigan
Nov 2018
Hamama v. Adducci
The ACLU sued Immigration and Customs Enforcement in June 2017 after ICE agents arrested more than 100 Iraqis — including many who’ve been in the U.S. for decades — in raids throughout metropolitan Detroit.
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Michigan
Immigrants' Rights
Hamama v. Adducci
The ACLU sued Immigration and Customs Enforcement in June 2017 after ICE agents arrested more than 100 Iraqis — including many who’ve been in the U.S. for decades — in raids throughout metropolitan Detroit.
Nov 2018
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