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
Pennsylvania
Mar 2020
Thakker v. Doll
On March 24, 2020, the ACLU National Prison Project, ACLU Immigrants’ Rights Project, ACLU of Pennsylvania, and Dechert, LLP, filed Thaker v. Doll in the Middle District of Pennsylvania, on behalf of immigrants held in civil detention by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) at York County Prison, Clinton County Correctional Facility, and Pike County Correctional Facility.
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Pennsylvania
Immigrants' Rights
Thakker v. Doll
On March 24, 2020, the ACLU National Prison Project, ACLU Immigrants’ Rights Project, ACLU of Pennsylvania, and Dechert, LLP, filed Thaker v. Doll in the Middle District of Pennsylvania, on behalf of immigrants held in civil detention by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) at York County Prison, Clinton County Correctional Facility, and Pike County Correctional Facility.
Mar 2020
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Mar 2020
Padilla v. ICE
The American Civil Liberties Union, American Immigration Council, and Northwest Immigrant Rights Project filed a proposed amended complaint in federal court today in order to challenge the Trump administration’s new policy that categorically denies bond hearings to asylum seekers.
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Immigrants' Rights
Padilla v. ICE
The American Civil Liberties Union, American Immigration Council, and Northwest Immigrant Rights Project filed a proposed amended complaint in federal court today in order to challenge the Trump administration’s new policy that categorically denies bond hearings to asylum seekers.
Mar 2020
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Massachusetts
Mar 2020
Rodas-Mazariegos et al. v. Moniz et al.
On March 25, 2020, the ACLU National Prison Project, ACLU Immigrants Rights Project, ACLU of Massachusetts, and the law firms of Demissie & Church and Graves & Doyle filed Rodas-Mazariegos et al v. Moniz et al in the District of Massachusetts, on behalf of immigrants detained at the Plymouth County Correctional Facility in Plymouth, Massachusetts. The filing followed news that a federal judge ordered the release of a detained class member in the ACLU’s Calderon v. Wolf suit in Plymouth County, citing the “extraordinary circumstances” of the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Massachusetts
Immigrants' Rights
Rodas-Mazariegos et al. v. Moniz et al.
On March 25, 2020, the ACLU National Prison Project, ACLU Immigrants Rights Project, ACLU of Massachusetts, and the law firms of Demissie & Church and Graves & Doyle filed Rodas-Mazariegos et al v. Moniz et al in the District of Massachusetts, on behalf of immigrants detained at the Plymouth County Correctional Facility in Plymouth, Massachusetts. The filing followed news that a federal judge ordered the release of a detained class member in the ACLU’s Calderon v. Wolf suit in Plymouth County, citing the “extraordinary circumstances” of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Mar 2020
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Mar 2020
Dawson v. Asher
On March 16, 2020, the ACLU National Prison Project, ACLU Immigrants’ Rights Project, and the Northwest Immigrant Rights Project filed Dawson v. Asher in the Western District of Washington, on behalf of immigrants detained at the Tacoma Northwest Detention Center in Tacoma, Washington.
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Immigrants' Rights
Dawson v. Asher
On March 16, 2020, the ACLU National Prison Project, ACLU Immigrants’ Rights Project, and the Northwest Immigrant Rights Project filed Dawson v. Asher in the Western District of Washington, on behalf of immigrants detained at the Tacoma Northwest Detention Center in Tacoma, Washington.
Mar 2020
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Mar 2020
U.T. v. Barr
The American Civil Liberties Union, National Immigrant Justice Center, Center for Gender & Refugee Studies, and Human Rights First filed a federal lawsuit challenging the Trump administration’s policies regarding so-called “safe third country” agreements with Guatemala and other nations that force people fleeing for their lives to seek asylum in the same dangerous region they fled.
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Immigrants' Rights
U.T. v. Barr
The American Civil Liberties Union, National Immigrant Justice Center, Center for Gender & Refugee Studies, and Human Rights First filed a federal lawsuit challenging the Trump administration’s policies regarding so-called “safe third country” agreements with Guatemala and other nations that force people fleeing for their lives to seek asylum in the same dangerous region they fled.
Mar 2020
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