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
Sep 2020
Wilwal v. Nielsen – Lawsuit Challenging Abusive Border Detention of American Family
In June 2017, the ACLU filed a lawsuit on behalf of a family of U.S. citizens — including four young children — who were detained for over 10 hours at the U.S.-Canada border while coming home from a trip to visit relatives. Our clients obtained a settlement reinforcing that rights exist at the border, and also that CBP must be held accountable for violating those rights.
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Immigrants' Rights
National Security
Wilwal v. Nielsen – Lawsuit Challenging Abusive Border Detention of American Family
In June 2017, the ACLU filed a lawsuit on behalf of a family of U.S. citizens — including four young children — who were detained for over 10 hours at the U.S.-Canada border while coming home from a trip to visit relatives. Our clients obtained a settlement reinforcing that rights exist at the border, and also that CBP must be held accountable for violating those rights.
Sep 2020
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Aug 2020
Hassoun v. Searls — Challenge to Unlawful Indefinite Detention
Status: Ongoing
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Immigrants' Rights
National Security
Hassoun v. Searls — Challenge to Unlawful Indefinite Detention
Aug 2020
Status: Ongoing
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Jul 2020
Texas Civil Rights Project V. Wolf
The ACLU filed a federal lawsuit on July 24, 2020, to stop the expulsion of children detained in hotel rooms by the Trump administration under an emergency declaration citing the coronavirus.
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Immigrants' Rights
Texas Civil Rights Project V. Wolf
The ACLU filed a federal lawsuit on July 24, 2020, to stop the expulsion of children detained in hotel rooms by the Trump administration under an emergency declaration citing the coronavirus.
Jul 2020
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Washington, D.C.
Jun 2020
J.B.B.C. v. Wolf
The American Civil Liberties Union, Center for Gender & Refugee Studies, and Oxfam filed the nation’s first legal challenge to the Trump administration’s order restricting immigration at the border based on an unprecedented and unlawful invocation of the Public Health Service Act, located in Title 42 of the U.S. Code.
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Washington, D.C.
Immigrants' Rights
J.B.B.C. v. Wolf
The American Civil Liberties Union, Center for Gender & Refugee Studies, and Oxfam filed the nation’s first legal challenge to the Trump administration’s order restricting immigration at the border based on an unprecedented and unlawful invocation of the Public Health Service Act, located in Title 42 of the U.S. Code.
Jun 2020
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Jun 2020
G.Y.J.P. v. Wolf
The American Civil Liberties Union, Texas Civil Rights Project, Center for Gender & Refugee Studies, and Oxfam have filed a legal challenge to the Trump administration’s order restricting immigration at the border based on an unprecedented and unlawful invocation of the Public Health Service Act, located in Title 42 of the U.S. Code.
Status: Ongoing
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Immigrants' Rights
G.Y.J.P. v. Wolf
The American Civil Liberties Union, Texas Civil Rights Project, Center for Gender & Refugee Studies, and Oxfam have filed a legal challenge to the Trump administration’s order restricting immigration at the border based on an unprecedented and unlawful invocation of the Public Health Service Act, located in Title 42 of the U.S. Code.
Jun 2020
Status: Ongoing
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