News

NEW YORK — A coalition of over 85 racial justice, faith, and civil, human, and immigrants’ rights groups today sent letters to Microsoft, Amazon, and Google demanding the companies commit not to sell face surveillance technology to the government.  The coalition makes it clear to each company that a decision to provide face surveillance technology to the government threatens the safety of commu... Read More

SAN DIEGO – As San Diego County struggles to address a growing migrant shelter crisis, Governor Gavin Newsom today unveiled his proposed budget for the 2019-20 Fiscal Year that includes a $25 million General Fund investment (including $5 million to be made available this year) for a community-based rapid response program for nonprofit first responders helping migrant families seeking protection fr... Read More

BANGKOK — Google today made it clear that it has not, and will not, sell a facial recognition surveillance product until the technology’s dangers are addressed, citing its susceptibility to abuse. Nicole Ozer, technology and civil liberties director for the American Civil Liberties Union of California, issued the following comment in response: “This is a strong first step. Google today demon... Read More

WASHINGTON — Reports released today indicate that Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents are using tear gas against migrants attempting to seek asylum at the San Ysidro port of entry at the Mexico/California border. Lorella Praeli, deputy political director at the ACLU, had the following response: “Under no circumstances should CBP be using tear gas on children. This show of violence is ... Read More

San Francisco — A federal court issued a ruling on Friday that halts a Trump administration policy that blocked hundreds of lawful permanent residents from serving in the U.S. military. Judge Jon S. Tigar granted a preliminary injunction, holding that the Department of Defense likely violated the federal Administrative Procedure Act after it implemented a policy discriminating against lawful pe... Read More

SAN FRANCISCO — The American Civil Liberties Union, Southern Poverty Law Center, and Center for Constitutional Rights have filed a federal lawsuit challenging the asylum ban proclamation signed this morning by President Trump. The lawsuit currently charges the administration with violating the Immigration and Nationality Act as well as the Administrative Procedure Act. “President Trump’s new... Read More

New York — In response to reports that President Trump has asked Attorney General Jeff Sessions to resign, American Civil Liberties Union Executive Director Anthony D. Romero issued the following statement: Jeff Sessions was the worst attorney general in modern American history. He was an egregious violator of civil rights and civil liberties. From his plot to deport Dreamers, remove police and... Read More

NEW YORK — President Trump is reportedly considering issuing an executive order that attempts to end birthright citizenship in the United States. Omar Jadwat, director of the ACLU’s Immigrants’ Rights Project, had this reaction: The president cannot erase the Constitution with an executive order, and the 14th Amendment's citizenship guarantee is clear. This is a transparent and blatantly unc... Read More

SAN FRANCISCO — The American Civil Liberties Union, co-counsel Cooley LLP and Holly S. Cooper, co-director of the UC Davis Immigration Law Clinic, have prevailed in the U. S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit on behalf of immigrant teenagers whom the Trump Administration had arrested and jailed for “gang affiliation,” despite there being no evidence of gang crimes. In an opinion issued on Oct... Read More

SAN FRANCISCO — On Tuesday, September 25, nine temporary protected status (TPS) holders and five U.S. citizen children of TPS holders will make the case in federal court for a temporary injunction of the Trump administration’s termination of the program for people from four countries - Sudan, Nicaragua, Haiti, and El Salvador. The lives of hundreds of thousands of people who have lived here lawful... Read More

FRESNO — On August 7, at the second TRUTH forum held in the state of California, the Fresno County Board of Supervisors violated the principles of the TRUTH Act. Maria Romani, ACLU Foundations of California Immigrants’ Rights Policy Attorney, issued the following comment in response: Community members have a right to know how their local law enforcement agencies are entangled in ICE’s deportati... Read More

San Francisco — The ACLU Foundation of Northern California and Goodwin Procter LLP today filed a series of claims related to the mistreatment of ICE detainees while they were transported between detention facilities, as well as a FOIA lawsuit seeking more details about ICE’s contract with G4S Secure Solutions, the company contracted to provide transportation services for detainees.In Jul... Read More