There are many who seek to consolidate their power at the expense of others, and the ACLU helps balance the scales by defending justice, freedom and fairness.
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ACLU of California Challenges Dept of Corrections’ Plans to Restrict Access to Religious Items
LOS ANGELES – Proposed regulations by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation that deny American indigenous inmates access to numerous religious items need to be rejected, the ACLU of California said in a comment letter sent late yesterday. The regulations … Continue reading
EFF and ACLU sue Los Angeles law enforcement agencies over automatic license-plate reader records
Los Angeles Police Department and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department withheld data in violation of the California Public Records Act LOS ANGELES – The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) and the American Civil Liberties Union Foundation of Southern California (ACLU/SC) today … Continue reading
Federal Court Strikes Down City Ordinance Limiting Free Speech
PASADENA — The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals issued a major decision in a case the ACLU of Southern California filed in 2006. It struck down an ordinance in the city of Costa Mesa that limited free speech at its … Continue reading
Students, Parents, and Teachers Sue the State of California over Widespread Denial of Instruction to English Learner Students
Civil Rights Groups File Lawsuit after State Education Officials Failed to Act in Response to January 2013 Report Documenting the Illegal Practice LOS ANGELES — The ACLU of California (ACLU), the Asian Pacific American Legal Center (APALC), and the law … Continue reading
Federal Court Orders Legal Representation for Immigrant Detainees With Mental Disabilities
California Court Says Vulnerable Immigrants in Removal Proceedings Unable to Represent Themselves Must Get Counsel and a Hearing LOS ANGELES – A federal district judge has ordered the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Attorney General, and the Executive Office … Continue reading
Class Action Lawsuit Forces Policy Change to Protect Detained Immigrants with Serious Mental Disabilities
LOS ANGELES – Class Counsel appointed by the United States District Court in the Franco v. Holder case today issued the following statement regarding the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Executive Office for Immigration Review’s announcement of new … Continue reading
ACLU of California Responds to Gang of 8 Immigration Plan
Statement by Hector Villagra, Executive Director of the ACLU of Southern California: “The ACLU of California welcomes the federal comprehensive immigration reform bill announced late Tuesday night by the Senate Gang of 8. This historic bill has the potential to … Continue reading
School Success and Opportunity Act Passes Assembly Education Committee
(Sacramento) The School Success and Opportunity Act (AB 1266), authored by Assemblymember Tom Ammiano, has passed the Assembly Education Committee by a vote of 5-2. The School Success and Opportunity Act addresses the exclusion of transgender students from classes and … Continue reading
Ninth Circuit Rules Detained Immigrants Have Legal Right to Bond Hearings
(Los Angeles) A panel of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals today ruled that immigrants who have experienced prolonged detention have a right to a bond hearing to determine whether or not they should continue to be detained. “The Ninth … Continue reading
ACLU/SC Deputy Executive Director James Gilliam recipient of Loyola Law School award
(Los Angeles) Today, the ACLU of Southern California (ACLU/SC) is proud to announce that its Deputy Executive Director James Gilliam is a recipient of Loyola Law School’s Outlaw Alumni of the Year Award. Gilliam received his law degree from Loyola … Continue reading
ICE closes deportation case of woman with barking dogs
On Friday, March 29th, ICE closed the deportation case of Ruth Montaño, the Bakersfield mother who faced deportation following her arrest for having dogs that barked too much. ICE’s announcement that it would not seek to deport Ruth came just … Continue reading
ACLU/SC urges Anaheim to establish civilian police review board
Today the ACLU Foundation of Southern California (ACLU/SC) sent a letter to the Anaheim City Council it to establish a Civilian Police Review Board to promote police accountability and restore community trust in the police force. The letter details the … Continue reading
Mother that faces deportation for barking dogs shows need for reform
Update! ICE closes deportation case against Ruth Montaño When Sheriff’s Department officials sought to detain and deport a mother of three because her small dogs were barking too loudly, the ACLU of California intervened, citing her case as a prime … Continue reading
ACLU expert to testify at landmark hearing on harsh immigration system
“Immigration reform must improve the severe civil liberties problems built into our current system,” said Ahilan Arulanantham, ACLU senior staff attorney, before testifying at a Senate hearing. “Every person in the United States, including all immigrants, has fundamental rights under … Continue reading
LGBTQ and gender non-conforming students at Sultana High School victims of unexpected bullies: teachers and administrators
The ACLU Foundation of Southern California (ACLU/SC), and the law firm of Nixon Peabody LLP sent a letter to administrators at Sultana High School and the Hesperia Unified School District in San Bernardino County demanding that school officials stop censoring … Continue reading
