State and Local Immigration Laws
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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18 State and Local Immigration Laws Cases
Northern California
May 2018
![United States of America v. State of California](https://www.aclu.org/wp-content/themes/aclu-wp/img/fallback-case-gavel.png)
United States of America v. State of California
In March 2017, the Trump administration filed a lawsuit challenging California’s sanctuary laws. The American Civil Liberties Union and co-counsel have moved to intervene in the case to defend the California Values Act, which limits California’s participation in the deportation dragnet.
Status: Ongoing
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![United States of America v. State of California](https://www.aclu.org/wp-content/themes/aclu-wp/img/fallback-case-gavel.png)
Northern California
State and Local Immigration Laws
United States of America v. State of California
In March 2017, the Trump administration filed a lawsuit challenging California’s sanctuary laws. The American Civil Liberties Union and co-counsel have moved to intervene in the case to defend the California Values Act, which limits California’s participation in the deportation dragnet.
May 2018
Status: Ongoing
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Arizona
Sep 2017
![Sheriff Joe Arpaio](https://assets.aclu.org/live/uploads/2023/01/ortega_maricopa.jpg)
Ortega Melendres, et al. v. Arpaio, et al.
This is a class action lawsuit filed in 2007 in which, following a three-week trial, the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) was found to have engaged in racial profiling and unlawful traffic stops of Latinos.
Status: Closed (Judgment)
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![Sheriff Joe Arpaio](https://assets.aclu.org/live/uploads/2023/01/ortega_maricopa.jpg)
Arizona
State and Local Immigration Laws
Ortega Melendres, et al. v. Arpaio, et al.
This is a class action lawsuit filed in 2007 in which, following a three-week trial, the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) was found to have engaged in racial profiling and unlawful traffic stops of Latinos.
Sep 2017
Status: Closed (Judgment)
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Texas
Oct 2016
![Texas Health and Human Services Commission v. United States of America](https://www.aclu.org/wp-content/themes/aclu-wp/img/fallback-case-gavel.png)
Texas Health and Human Services Commission v. United States of America
The American Civil Liberties Union, ACLU of Texas, National Immigration Law Center and Southern Poverty Law Center filed a legal response on behalf of the International Rescue Committee in order to prevent the State of Texas from illegally barring Syrian refugees from entering the state.
Status: Closed (Judgment)
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![Texas Health and Human Services Commission v. United States of America](https://www.aclu.org/wp-content/themes/aclu-wp/img/fallback-case-gavel.png)
Texas
State and Local Immigration Laws
Texas Health and Human Services Commission v. United States of America
The American Civil Liberties Union, ACLU of Texas, National Immigration Law Center and Southern Poverty Law Center filed a legal response on behalf of the International Rescue Committee in order to prevent the State of Texas from illegally barring Syrian refugees from entering the state.
Oct 2016
Status: Closed (Judgment)
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Northern California
Jan 2016
![Man in handcuffs](https://assets.aclu.org/live/uploads/2023/01/WEB15-man-handcuffs-1160x864-600x447.jpg)
Lyon v. ICE, et al
On June 14, 2016, the American Civil Liberties Union, along with the ACLU of Northern California, and the firms Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe and Van Der Hout, Brigagliano & Nightingale, have filed a settlement agreement in the class-action suit Lyon v. the U.S. Immigration Customs and Enforcement agency (ICE). The settlement requires the agency to give detainees at four Northern California immigrant detention facilities improved access to telephones, including creating private spaces for free and direct calls, delivering phone messages, removing arbitrarily short limits on call duration, and making accommodations for indigent immigrants.
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![Man in handcuffs](https://assets.aclu.org/live/uploads/2023/01/WEB15-man-handcuffs-1160x864-600x447.jpg)
Northern California
State and Local Immigration Laws
Immigrants' Rights
Lyon v. ICE, et al
On June 14, 2016, the American Civil Liberties Union, along with the ACLU of Northern California, and the firms Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe and Van Der Hout, Brigagliano & Nightingale, have filed a settlement agreement in the class-action suit Lyon v. the U.S. Immigration Customs and Enforcement agency (ICE). The settlement requires the agency to give detainees at four Northern California immigrant detention facilities improved access to telephones, including creating private spaces for free and direct calls, delivering phone messages, removing arbitrarily short limits on call duration, and making accommodations for indigent immigrants.
Jan 2016
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Arizona
Jun 2015
![Lopez-Valenzuela, et al. v. Maricopa County, et al.](https://www.aclu.org/wp-content/themes/aclu-wp/img/fallback-case-gavel.png)
Lopez-Valenzuela, et al. v. Maricopa County, et al.
After a long legal battle the ACLU, on behalf of plaintiffs in Lopez Valenzuela v. Maricopa County prevailed by blocking further implementation of a law that for years did not allow judges to even consider bail for criminal defendants who were suspected of having "entered or remained in the United States illegally," and which applied to most state felony charges in Arizona, including relatively minor crimes such as shoplifting and possessing a phony ID. As a result of Proposition 100, which amended the state constitution, state courts were required to jail countless individuals who posed no risk of flight or danger to others.
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![Lopez-Valenzuela, et al. v. Maricopa County, et al.](https://www.aclu.org/wp-content/themes/aclu-wp/img/fallback-case-gavel.png)
Arizona
State and Local Immigration Laws
Lopez-Valenzuela, et al. v. Maricopa County, et al.
After a long legal battle the ACLU, on behalf of plaintiffs in Lopez Valenzuela v. Maricopa County prevailed by blocking further implementation of a law that for years did not allow judges to even consider bail for criminal defendants who were suspected of having "entered or remained in the United States illegally," and which applied to most state felony charges in Arizona, including relatively minor crimes such as shoplifting and possessing a phony ID. As a result of Proposition 100, which amended the state constitution, state courts were required to jail countless individuals who posed no risk of flight or danger to others.
Jun 2015
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