Immigrants' Rights
Garland v. Gonzalez
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Garland v. Gonzalez
Immigrants' Rights
Status: Ongoing
Whether the Immigration and Nationality Act requires a bond hearing for immigrants subject to prolonged detention while seeking protection in the U.S. from persecution or torture.
What's at stake
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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
142 Immigrants' Rights Cases
Washington, D.C.
Feb 2021
NORA v. MAYORKAS
The American Civil Liberties Union, Center for Gender & Refugee Studies, and Public Citizen filed a federal lawsuit on behalf of asylum seekers — including numerous children — unlawfully trapped in the Mexican border state of Tamaulipas, one of the most violent and lawless regions in the world.
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Washington, D.C.
Immigrants' Rights
NORA v. MAYORKAS
The American Civil Liberties Union, Center for Gender & Refugee Studies, and Public Citizen filed a federal lawsuit on behalf of asylum seekers — including numerous children — unlawfully trapped in the Mexican border state of Tamaulipas, one of the most violent and lawless regions in the world.
Feb 2021
View case
Jan 2021
PJES v. Pekoske
The ACLU, Oxfam, and Texas Civil Rights Project filed a class-action lawsuit challenging the Trump administration on behalf of unaccompanied children fleeing danger and seeking protection in the United States.
Status: Ongoing
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Immigrants' Rights
PJES v. Pekoske
The ACLU, Oxfam, and Texas Civil Rights Project filed a class-action lawsuit challenging the Trump administration on behalf of unaccompanied children fleeing danger and seeking protection in the United States.
Jan 2021
Status: Ongoing
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Jan 2021
Samma v. U.S. Department of Defense—Lawsuit Challenging Policy Denying U.S. Military Service Members Expedited Path to Citizenship
In April 2020, the ACLU, ACLU of Southern California, and ACLU of District of Columbia filed a class action lawsuit on behalf of military service members challenging a 2017 Trump administration policy blocking their expedited path to citizenship. In August 2020, a federal district court certified the class and ruled that the policy’s requirement that non-citizens serve a minimum period of time before they can apply for citizenship is unlawful.
Status: Ongoing
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Immigrants' Rights
Samma v. U.S. Department of Defense—Lawsuit Challenging Policy Denying U.S. Military Service Members Expedited Path to Citizenship
In April 2020, the ACLU, ACLU of Southern California, and ACLU of District of Columbia filed a class action lawsuit on behalf of military service members challenging a 2017 Trump administration policy blocking their expedited path to citizenship. In August 2020, a federal district court certified the class and ruled that the policy’s requirement that non-citizens serve a minimum period of time before they can apply for citizenship is unlawful.
Jan 2021
Status: Ongoing
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U.S. Supreme Court
Jan 2021
New York Immigration Coalition v. Trump
The American Civil Liberties Union, New York Civil Liberties Union, ACLU of Texas, and Arnold & Porter filed a federal lawsuit July 24, 2020, on behalf of immigrants’ rights groups challenging President Trump’s order seeking to block people who are undocumented from being counted in the U.S. census.
Status: Closed (Judgment)
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U.S. Supreme Court
Immigrants' Rights
Voting Rights
New York Immigration Coalition v. Trump
The American Civil Liberties Union, New York Civil Liberties Union, ACLU of Texas, and Arnold & Porter filed a federal lawsuit July 24, 2020, on behalf of immigrants’ rights groups challenging President Trump’s order seeking to block people who are undocumented from being counted in the U.S. census.
Jan 2021
Status: Closed (Judgment)
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Montana
Nov 2020
Suda v. U.S. Customs and Border Protection
The American Civil Liberties Union and the ACLU of Montana filed a federal lawsuit on behalf of two American citizens detained by U.S. Customs and Border Protection for speaking Spanish while shopping at a local convenience store in Havre, Montana.
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Montana
Immigrants' Rights
Racial Justice
Suda v. U.S. Customs and Border Protection
The American Civil Liberties Union and the ACLU of Montana filed a federal lawsuit on behalf of two American citizens detained by U.S. Customs and Border Protection for speaking Spanish while shopping at a local convenience store in Havre, Montana.
Nov 2020
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