Anti-Immigrant Laws

01/18/2013

Curtailing Immigration Prison System Can Reduce Spending Without Hurting Public Safety

By Michael Tan, Staff Attorney, Immigrants' Rights Project, ACLU & Joanne Lin, Washington Legislative Office at 11:17am

Today, Roll Call published an op-ed we wrote on how curtailing immigration prisons is an easy way for Congress to begin to reduce the deficit, cut government spending, and reform our flawed immigration system.

In addition, there are several steps the Obama Administration can and should take now, without waiting for Congress, to reduce its unnecessary and expensive reliance on immigration prisons. Here are four:

12/18/2012

Universal Human Rights

Does U.S. Immigration Policy Respect Human Rights?

By Allison Frankel, ACLU Human Rights Program at 4:38pm

Today is International Migrants Day, a day to reflect on the human rights of immigrants and migrant communities. As the ACLU blogged last week, despite accomplishments on some key human rights issues, the U.S. still has a long way to go to fulfill its promises to vulnerable members of our society such as immigrants and racial and ethnic minorities.

Last Monday, the ACLU brought these concerns to the United Nations Human Rights Committee, a body of independent experts that next year will examine the United States’ report on its compliance with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), a fundamental human rights treaty the U.S. ratified in 1992. Our submission suggests critical questions the committee should pose to the U.S. during its review next October.

07/03/2012

National ID

Just In Time For Independence Day, A Renewed Call For A National ID Card

By Chris Calabrese, Legislative Counsel, ACLU Washington Legislative Office at 12:24pm

Leading yesterday’s New York Times op-ed page is a column by Bill Keller, Show Me Your Papers. It supports the faulty claim that we can solve our nation’s immigration woes if we just create a national ID system, and it specifically lauds a 2010 proposal by Sens. Schumer and Graham to create a biometric social security card that would function as a national ID for every American.

04/20/2012

S.B. 1070 at the Supreme Court

S.B. 1070: "I Look Suspicious"

Lifelong Arizona resident Jim Shee has to carry a passport with him at all times in case he is pulled over and required to prove his right to be in his own country and city.

02/07/2013

Immigration Detention

The Problem of Prolonged Incarceration of Immigrants

By Julia Harumi Mass, ACLU of Northern California at 11:24am

Bertha Mejia is a 53-year-old grandmother who fled political violence and sexual abuse in her native El Salvador as a girl. She has four U.S. citizen children and is the primary caretaker for her 9-year-old grandson, Pablo. The victim of rape at the hands of her employer, Ms. Mejia has a strong case for a "U-visa," a type of visa for victims of crime who cooperate with law enforcement. The police have already certified that Ms. Mejia is a victim who has assisted the police in apprehending the perpetrator.

01/18/2013

Anti-Immigrant Laws

New Federal Guidance Makes Clear That States Should Let the DREAMers Drive

By Michael Tan, Staff Attorney, Immigrants' Rights Project, ACLU at 4:24pm

Today the federal government issued new guidance that should end the latest form of anti-immigrant discrimination at the state level: the decision by certain states to deny driver’s licenses to young immigrants who were brought to the country as children—or “DREAMers.”

01/02/2013

287(g)

The Consequences and Costs of a 287(g) Jail Agreement: One Tennessee County’s Story

By Lindsay Kee, ACLU of Tennessee at 1:31pm

Though street-level 287(g) agreements are ending, ICE is continuing the troubled 287(g) program in jails

02/20/2013

Anti-Immigrant Laws

Not the Usual Suspects: E-Verify Worries a Motley Crew

By Chris Calabrese, Legislative Counsel, ACLU Washington Legislative Office at 5:39pm

Today the ACLU and a wide variety of other organizations sent a short letter to the Hill describing our concerns with the E-Verify program. These types of letters aren't unusual – in DC groups frequently try to showcase the breadth of support or opposition to particular programs. But what is surprising is how many groups that have little or nothing to do with immigration are worried about E-Verify.

11/30/2012

Immigration and Customs Enforcement

We are Americans, and Americans Don’t Give Up

By Dulce Matuz, Chairwoman, Arizona Dream Act Coalition at 11:49am

Change in our communities takes courage. Many times, that courage does not come from the politicians, but from ordinary people standing up for what is right.

DREAMers continue to stand up for human and civil rights every day. We are standing up against anti-immigrant policies. We are standing up for education & integration. We are standing up for equality. Let the voices of our oppressed youth be heard in the courts, which is exactly what will be taking place. DREAMers have collaborated with the ACLU and a civil rights coalition to file a lawsuit against Brewer’s executive order denying driver’s license to deferred action applicants. But this is much more than a legal battle; the fight we fight today is a moral fight.

04/25/2012

S.B. 1070 at the Supreme Court

Report from the Supreme Court: Arizona v. United States

By Cecillia Wang, ACLU Immigrants' Rights Project at 4:59pm

Ultimately, it's not only up to the Supreme Court to decide if S.B. 1070 will stand. The American people must decide whether we will tolerate a nation with such invidious laws.

American Civil Liberties Union