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
145 Immigrants' Rights Cases
Nebraska
Mar 2021
Alma v. Noah’s Ark Processors
Meatpacking workers in Nebraska filed a federal lawsuit on Nov. 23, 2020, challenging treacherous COVID-19 conditions at a meatpacking plant that put employees and the surrounding community at grave risk. The plaintiffs are represented by the American Civil Liberties Union, the ACLU of Nebraska, and Scottsbluff attorney Maren Chaloupka.
Status: Ongoing
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Nebraska
Immigrants' Rights
Alma v. Noah’s Ark Processors
Meatpacking workers in Nebraska filed a federal lawsuit on Nov. 23, 2020, challenging treacherous COVID-19 conditions at a meatpacking plant that put employees and the surrounding community at grave risk. The plaintiffs are represented by the American Civil Liberties Union, the ACLU of Nebraska, and Scottsbluff attorney Maren Chaloupka.
Mar 2021
Status: Ongoing
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Texas
Feb 2021
State of Texas v. United States of America
The American Civil Liberties Union and ACLU of Texas moved to intervene in a Texas lawsuit that seeks to block the Biden administration’s 100-day moratorium on deportations.
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Texas
Immigrants' Rights
State of Texas v. United States of America
The American Civil Liberties Union and ACLU of Texas moved to intervene in a Texas lawsuit that seeks to block the Biden administration’s 100-day moratorium on deportations.
Feb 2021
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Feb 2021
East Bay v. Barr
The American Civil Liberties Union, Southern Poverty Law Center, and Center for Constitutional Rights filed a federal lawsuit challenging the Trump administration’s new asylum restrictions announced July 15, 2019.
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Immigrants' Rights
East Bay v. Barr
The American Civil Liberties Union, Southern Poverty Law Center, and Center for Constitutional Rights filed a federal lawsuit challenging the Trump administration’s new asylum restrictions announced July 15, 2019.
Feb 2021
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Washington, D.C.
Feb 2021
NORA v. MAYORKAS
The American Civil Liberties Union, Center for Gender & Refugee Studies, and Public Citizen filed a federal lawsuit on behalf of asylum seekers — including numerous children — unlawfully trapped in the Mexican border state of Tamaulipas, one of the most violent and lawless regions in the world.
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Washington, D.C.
Immigrants' Rights
NORA v. MAYORKAS
The American Civil Liberties Union, Center for Gender & Refugee Studies, and Public Citizen filed a federal lawsuit on behalf of asylum seekers — including numerous children — unlawfully trapped in the Mexican border state of Tamaulipas, one of the most violent and lawless regions in the world.
Feb 2021
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Jan 2021
PJES v. Pekoske
The ACLU, Oxfam, and Texas Civil Rights Project filed a class-action lawsuit challenging the Trump administration on behalf of unaccompanied children fleeing danger and seeking protection in the United States.
Status: Ongoing
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Immigrants' Rights
PJES v. Pekoske
The ACLU, Oxfam, and Texas Civil Rights Project filed a class-action lawsuit challenging the Trump administration on behalf of unaccompanied children fleeing danger and seeking protection in the United States.
Jan 2021
Status: Ongoing
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