Immigrants' Rights
Featured
U.S. Supreme Court
Aug 2021
Immigrants' Rights
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.
U.S. Supreme Court
Jul 2021
Immigrants' Rights
National Security
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.
U.S. Supreme Court
Jun 2020
Immigrants' Rights
Department of Homeland Security v. Vijayakumar Thuraissigiam
Whether immigrants are entitled to seek judicial review of their “expedited removal” orders in federal court.
U.S. Supreme Court
Jan 2020
Immigrants' Rights
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.
U.S. Supreme Court
Mar 2019
Immigrants' Rights
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.
Court Case
May 2018
Immigrants' Rights
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.
Indiana
Oct 2016
Immigrants' Rights
National Security
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.
All Cases
148 Immigrants' Rights Cases
Michigan Supreme Court
Oct 2024
Immigrants' Rights
Michigan Immigrant Rights Center v. Gretchen Whitmer
For state constitutional rights to be meaningful, they have to be enforceable by courts. This case will affect whether people can sue government officials in state court to stop the violation of their constitutional rights.
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Michigan Supreme Court
Oct 2024
Immigrants' Rights
Michigan Immigrant Rights Center v. Gretchen Whitmer
For state constitutional rights to be meaningful, they have to be enforceable by courts. This case will affect whether people can sue government officials in state court to stop the violation of their constitutional rights.
Court Case
Oct 2024
Immigrants' Rights
ACLU v. ICE, DHS, CBP and DOJ -- Mass Detention and Deportation FOIA
Every year, ICE and other federal agencies spend billions of taxpayer dollars on a system to detain and deport immigrants. The people detained in this system face persistent medical neglect, abuse, and other violations. This system—and the harms it causes—could expand dramatically if a future presidential administration were to implement mass detention and deportations. We’ve sued to obtain information about how this system operates.
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Court Case
Oct 2024
Immigrants' Rights
ACLU v. ICE, DHS, CBP and DOJ -- Mass Detention and Deportation FOIA
Every year, ICE and other federal agencies spend billions of taxpayer dollars on a system to detain and deport immigrants. The people detained in this system face persistent medical neglect, abuse, and other violations. This system—and the harms it causes—could expand dramatically if a future presidential administration were to implement mass detention and deportations. We’ve sued to obtain information about how this system operates.
Court Case
Sep 2024
Immigrants' Rights
Ms. L v. ICE
SETTLEMENT UPDATE: Sept. 26, 2024:
Attorneys Fees Settlement Agreement: /documents/ms-l-attorneys-fees-settlement-agreement
Attorneys Fees Class Notice (English): /documents/ms-l-attorneys-fees-class-notice-english
Aviso de clase de La Resolución de honorarios (en español): /documents/ms-l-attorneys-fees-class-notice-spanish
Attorneys Fees Unopposed Motion and Supporting Declarations: /documents/ms-l-attorneys-fees-unopposed-motion-and-supporting-declarations
SETTLEMENT UPDATE: Dec.1, 2023
Here are links to the proposed family separation settlement and Notice of Rights in English and Spanish. The Notice of Rights explains the settlement and next steps to seek final approval of the settlement, including the opportunity to object:
Settlement Document: /documents/ms-l-amended-settlement
Notice (English): /documents/ms-l-v-ice-notice-english
Notice (Spanish): /documents/ms-l-v-ice-notice-spanish
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Court Case
Sep 2024
Immigrants' Rights
Ms. L v. ICE
SETTLEMENT UPDATE: Sept. 26, 2024:
Attorneys Fees Settlement Agreement: /documents/ms-l-attorneys-fees-settlement-agreement
Attorneys Fees Class Notice (English): /documents/ms-l-attorneys-fees-class-notice-english
Aviso de clase de La Resolución de honorarios (en español): /documents/ms-l-attorneys-fees-class-notice-spanish
Attorneys Fees Unopposed Motion and Supporting Declarations: /documents/ms-l-attorneys-fees-unopposed-motion-and-supporting-declarations
SETTLEMENT UPDATE: Dec.1, 2023
Here are links to the proposed family separation settlement and Notice of Rights in English and Spanish. The Notice of Rights explains the settlement and next steps to seek final approval of the settlement, including the opportunity to object:
Settlement Document: /documents/ms-l-amended-settlement
Notice (English): /documents/ms-l-v-ice-notice-english
Notice (Spanish): /documents/ms-l-v-ice-notice-spanish
U.S. Supreme Court
Sep 2024
Immigrants' Rights
Human Rights
Bouarfa v. Mayorkas
Whether a U.S. citizen gets a day in court to challenge the federal government’s revocation of her spouse’s immigrant visa.
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U.S. Supreme Court
Sep 2024
Immigrants' Rights
Human Rights
Bouarfa v. Mayorkas
Whether a U.S. citizen gets a day in court to challenge the federal government’s revocation of her spouse’s immigrant visa.
Oklahoma
Jun 2024
Immigrants' Rights
Padres Unidos de Tulsa v. Drummond
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Oklahoma
Jun 2024
Immigrants' Rights