Immigrants' Rights
Featured
U.S. Supreme Court
Aug 2021
![Border Asylum Line](https://assets.aclu.org/live/uploads/2019/09/web19-asylumlinebarbedwire-1160x768-600x397.jpg)
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
![Trump Declaring National Emergency](https://assets.aclu.org/live/uploads/2019/09/web19-trumpemergency1160x768-600x397.jpg)
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](https://www.aclu.org/wp-content/themes/aclu-wp/img/fallback-case-gavel.png)
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
![Muslim girl with her family](https://assets.aclu.org/live/uploads/2019/09/web17-muslimgirlrefugeefamily-1160x768-600x397.png)
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](https://www.aclu.org/wp-content/themes/aclu-wp/img/fallback-case-gavel.png)
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
![Jessica Colotl](https://assets.aclu.org/live/uploads/2020/09/web17-jessicacolotl-1160x864-600x447.jpg)
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](https://www.aclu.org/wp-content/themes/aclu-wp/img/fallback-case-gavel.png)
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
145 Immigrants' Rights Cases
Jan 2022
![Brooks v. Woods](https://www.aclu.org/wp-content/themes/aclu-wp/img/fallback-case-gavel.png)
Brooks v. Woods
The American Civil Liberties Union, along with the ACLU of Florida, Southern Poverty Law Center, and Zuckerman Spaeder LLP, filed a federal lawsuit on Jan. 20, 2022, on behalf of Neville Brooks, a legal permanent resident from Jamaica who was detained by the Marion County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) on false suspicion of being in the U.S. unlawfully.
Status: Ongoing
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![Brooks v. Woods](https://www.aclu.org/wp-content/themes/aclu-wp/img/fallback-case-gavel.png)
Immigrants' Rights
Brooks v. Woods
The American Civil Liberties Union, along with the ACLU of Florida, Southern Poverty Law Center, and Zuckerman Spaeder LLP, filed a federal lawsuit on Jan. 20, 2022, on behalf of Neville Brooks, a legal permanent resident from Jamaica who was detained by the Marion County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) on false suspicion of being in the U.S. unlawfully.
Jan 2022
Status: Ongoing
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U.S. Supreme Court
Dec 2021
![Pham v. Guzman Chavez](https://www.aclu.org/wp-content/themes/aclu-wp/img/fallback-case-gavel.png)
Pham v. Guzman Chavez
Whether the Immigration and Nationality Act (“INA”) requires a bond hearing for noncitizens who are detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (“ICE”) while they seek protection from persecution or torture.
Status: Closed (Judgment)
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![Pham v. Guzman Chavez](https://www.aclu.org/wp-content/themes/aclu-wp/img/fallback-case-gavel.png)
U.S. Supreme Court
Immigrants' Rights
Pham v. Guzman Chavez
Whether the Immigration and Nationality Act (“INA”) requires a bond hearing for noncitizens who are detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (“ICE”) while they seek protection from persecution or torture.
Dec 2021
Status: Closed (Judgment)
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U.S. Supreme Court
Dec 2021
![Sanchez v. Mayorkas](https://www.aclu.org/wp-content/themes/aclu-wp/img/fallback-case-gavel.png)
Sanchez v. Mayorkas
Whether the Immigration and Nationality Act authorizes all noncitizens who are granted Temporary Protected Status (“TPS”) to obtain a green card.
Status: Closed (Judgment)
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![Sanchez v. Mayorkas](https://www.aclu.org/wp-content/themes/aclu-wp/img/fallback-case-gavel.png)
U.S. Supreme Court
Immigrants' Rights
Sanchez v. Mayorkas
Whether the Immigration and Nationality Act authorizes all noncitizens who are granted Temporary Protected Status (“TPS”) to obtain a green card.
Dec 2021
Status: Closed (Judgment)
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Southern California
Nov 2021
![Jesús Alonso Arreola Robles' Family](https://assets.aclu.org/live/uploads/2023/01/web17-ArreolaFamily-1160x864-600x447.jpg)
Inland Empire – Immigrant Youth Collective v. McAleenan
The ACLU and the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California won a nationwide preliminary injunction on behalf of a class of young immigrants challenging the Trump administration’s unlawful revocations of their Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals status.
Status: Closed (Judgment)
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![Jesús Alonso Arreola Robles' Family](https://assets.aclu.org/live/uploads/2023/01/web17-ArreolaFamily-1160x864-600x447.jpg)
Southern California
Immigrants' Rights
Inland Empire – Immigrant Youth Collective v. McAleenan
The ACLU and the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California won a nationwide preliminary injunction on behalf of a class of young immigrants challenging the Trump administration’s unlawful revocations of their Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals status.
Nov 2021
Status: Closed (Judgment)
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U.S. Supreme Court
Aug 2021
![Biden v. Texas](https://www.aclu.org/wp-content/themes/aclu-wp/img/fallback-case-gavel.png)
Biden v. Texas
The so-called “Migrant Protection Protocols” were a program under the Trump administration that sent asylum seekers back to Mexico to wait for an asylum hearing. The ACLU sued to stop this illegal program, including filing amicus briefs at every level up to the Supreme Court to defend the termination of this cruel and misguided program.
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![Biden v. Texas](https://www.aclu.org/wp-content/themes/aclu-wp/img/fallback-case-gavel.png)
U.S. Supreme Court
Immigrants' Rights
Biden v. Texas
The so-called “Migrant Protection Protocols” were a program under the Trump administration that sent asylum seekers back to Mexico to wait for an asylum hearing. The ACLU sued to stop this illegal program, including filing amicus briefs at every level up to the Supreme Court to defend the termination of this cruel and misguided program.
Aug 2021
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