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.
The American Civil Liberties Union has earned a four-star rating from 
The ACLU of Southern California is working at the forefront of local, state and national efforts to protect all immigrants – citizens and non-citizens alike – from unlawful imprisonment, discrimination, and law enforcement abuses, and to ensure that they are afforded their due process rights to a fair hearing and access to legal assistance in immigration proceedings. We work to ensure
– that no one can be imprisoned in an immigration jail for prolonged periods of time without an opportunity for a hearing where they can seek release on bond.
– that the conditions in which immigrants are detained are humane, and that detainees have adequate access to medical care, to visitation with their loved ones, and to legal materials and assistance.
– that no one can be deported without a fair hearing and access to legal assistance, including especially vulnerable populations such as people with mental disabilities.
– that everyone can be secure in their homes and their workplaces and protected from unconstitutional searches and arrests by federal immigration agents.
– that all non-citizens have equal access to naturalization and other important immigration benefits, regardless of race, religion, or national origin.
– that local law enforcement agencies do not unlawfully engage in the business of federal immigration enforcement, including by arresting, incarcerating, or confiscating property of an individual solely because of their immigration status.
Litigation
ACLU v. ICE is a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit seeking to vindicate the public’s right to know about the government’s worksite immigration policies and practices.
Franco v. Holder is a class action lawsuit seeking to establish the right to legal representation for hundreds of immigration detainees in California, Arizona, and Washington who suffer from severe mental disabilities.
Hamdi v. U.S.C.I.S. is a lawsuit against the U.S.C.I.S. for unlawfully denying Tarek Hamdi – a devout Muslim and Egyptian national – his entitlement to naturalize as a U.S. citizen on the erroneous belief that his charitable donations for humanitarian relief made him a national security concern.
Police Protective League v. LAPD is a lawsuit in which the ACLU, on behalf of CHIRLA and LA VOICE, has intervened to defend the legality of Special Order 7, an LAPD policy that limits car confiscations for unlicensed driving violations to circumstances in which they are lawful and warranted.
Rodriguez v. Hayes is a class action lawsuit seeking to establish that immigrants whom the government has detained for more than six months while their cases remain pending deserve the right to a hearing where they can argue for release on bond.
Roy v. Los Angeles County is a class action lawsuit against Los Angeles County for refusing to accept bail for individuals with immigration holds, and for unlawfully detaining people in County jail on the sole authority of an immigration hold.
The ACLU/SC regularly provides Know Your Rights (KYR) trainings and education materials on immigration topics, such as how to interact with law enforcement and car impoundments. If your organization or community would like to request a KYR training or information, please contact our Community Engagement Department.
Learn more about immigrant rights: follow the ACLU of Southern California on Twitter, on Facebook, and via email.
