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Voting Rights Presentation Materials Now Available!
On March 8, 2008, the ACLU Foundation of Texas held a voting rights panel as a part of our 70th Anniversary Conference in San Antonio. The handouts from that panel are accessible below for your convenience. Read More...
International Human Rights Experts Denounce U.S. Record On Racial And Ethnic Discrimination
A United Nations committee today issued a strongly worded critique of the United States’ record on racial discrimination and urged the government to make sweeping reforms to policies affecting racial and ethnic minorities, women, and immigrants in this country. The American Civil Liberties Union called on the U.S. government to take vigorous steps to implement the committee’s recommendations and fulfill its human rights treaty obligations. Read More...
UN Demands US Government Answer for Border Wall
Today, the United Nations Committee charged with monitoring compliance with the International Convention on the Elimination All Forms of Racial Discrimination, an international treaty that was ratified by the U.S. in 1994, asked high-ranking U.S. government officials to explain the U.S.'s compliance, or lack thereof, with the treaty provisions that prohibit discrimination in areas such as housing, law enforcement, education, and the treatment of migrants. Since the treaty’s ratification, U.S. reporting on compliance has been inadequate, and this week’s hearings were no exception. Read More...
ACLU of TX Urges State Legislators to Keep State and Local Criminal Justice Agencies out of Federal Immigration Enforcement
Richardson, TX – Rebecca Bernhardt, Policy Development Director for the ACLU Foundation of Texas, will speak this morning at the joint hearing of the House Committees on Corrections and County Affairs to urge legislators to keep state and local agencies from taking on federal immigration enforcement duties. Read More...
The Future of Texas: 70th Anniversary Conference
Join the ACLU March 8th in San Antonio for our 70th anniversary conference. Luminaries participating include Cecile Richards, Stephen Klineberg and many others. Read More...
Are you ready to pick up the torch?
Join the ACLU of Texas in San Antonio for our 70th Anniversary Gala and Conference, March 8, 2008 on the Riverwalk! Learn more at www.aclutx70th.org! Read More...
ACLUTX 2008 Summer Intern Announcement
The American Civil Liberties Union Foundation of Texas is accepting applications for summer 2008 law internships. The ACLU is one of the nation's foremost defenders of civil liberties and civil rights. We are a nonpartisan organization dedicated to defending the Bill of Rights through litigation, legislation, and public education. The Texas affiliate of the ACLU, founded in 1938, is headquartered in Austin, and includes a regional office in Houston and thirteen chapters with over 17,000 members statewide. Read More...
ACLU Highlights Successes in the 80th Legislative Session
The American Civil Liberties Union of Texas celebrates the day after Sine Die with many notable successes. Read More...
ACLU Relieved as House Bill 13 Dies on Point of Order
House Bill 13 died today on a point of order raised by Representative Lon Burnam. The bill had received a flurry of attention as a border security bill and for putting a massive intelligence database into the Governor’s hands. Read More...
ACLU Concerned as Senate Passes New Version of HB 13
After passing the House two weeks ago, House Bill 13 has now passed through the Texas Senate. The bill had received a flurry of attention as a border security bill and for putting the massive database into the Governor’s hands, but many of those provisions have been stripped from it. Read More...
HB 29 and SB 268 Fact Sheet: An Illegal New Tax that Hurts Business and Requires an Expensive New Bureaucracy
HB 29 and SB 268 would impose a “fee” in the amount of 8% or 10% respectively on certain international money transmissions. The proposed fees on currency transfers abroad are in reality a new tax that: (1) Undermines U.S. foreign policy; (2) Requires an expensive new bureaucracy; (3) Disproportionately impacts Latinos and is likely unconstitutional. Read More...
Providing In-state Tuition to Immigrant Children is Good for Texas: Oppose HB 39, 141, 104 & 159
HB 39, by Rep. Paxton, HB 141, by Rep. Jackson and HB 159, by Rep. Zedler, would remove a provision from Texas law that permits long-time Texas-resident children who graduated from their Texas high school the in-state tuition rate for state colleges and universities, regardless of immigration status. HB 104, by Rep. Riddle, and HB 141, by Rep. Jackson, would create a new requirement for in-state tuition, verification of applicants’ lawful presence in the U.S. HB 39, 141 104 and 159 are bad for Texas. Read More...
HB 127 creates unnecessary bureaucracy and invasive questioning
HB 127 would create a new requirement that every state agency include in their annual report the cost of services and benefits provided to undocumented immigrant residents of Texas. Without substantial amendment, HB 127 is bad for Texas because it: (1) would create new bureaucracies in every state agency, vastly expanding state government and wasting valuable taxpayer resources; (2) singles out undocumented immigrants, without comparing the costs of state-provided services to the economic benefits they contribute to Texas; (3) could result in immigrants failing to use essential services, resulting in increased public health risks for all Texans.
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HB 240 & HB 113 Fact Sheet: Supporting Students Pursuing Citizenship
HB 240, by Representative Alonzo, and HB 113, by Representative Strama, ensure that students can pursue an application for United States citizenship without hurting their school attendance record or jeopardizing school district funding formulas. Read More...
HB 1121 Fact Sheet: Enabling Judges to Better Protect Victims of Human Trafficking
What the bill does: HB 1121 will add two findings to the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure. Under federal law, victims of human trafficking can apply for legal residency, but some Texas victims have a hard time doing so because state and federal definitions of trafficking differ. HB 1121 enables the judge in a criminal case involving trafficking to make a finding that will assist the victim of trafficking if they apply for a federal immigration visa. Read More...
SB 150 Fact Sheet: Put Public Safety and Victims’ Rights First in Texas
SB 150 ensures that victims and witnesses have access to local police services regardless of their immigration or nationality status. It protects people from being detained exclusively because of their immigration or nationality status. SB 150 is good for Texas because it: provides a practical solution to problems created by federal inaction; helps police prevent, investigate and solve crimes; preserves police resources for serious public safety issues.
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SB 151 Fact Sheet: Put Public Safety and Victims’ Rights First in Texas
SB 151 keeps medical professionals and emergency medical responders from playing the role of unofficial immigration agents, ensuring crime victims and accident victims receive lifesaving emergency services without fear of deportation. Read More...
Support SB 152: Accountability and Transparency in Government is Good for Texas
SB 152 requires that law enforcement agencies report to the Department of Public Safety information establishing the effectiveness of border enforcement programs in stopping terrorism, official corruption, violent crime and organized crime. Read More...
ACLU Will be Present during Press Tour at Hutto Facility
Attorneys with the American Civil Liberties Union’s National Office in New York and the ACLU of Texas said today that they would be available for comment at the T. Don Hutto Detention Facility tomorrow morning, Feb. 9, 2007. Read More...
State Court Judge Halts Farmers Branch Ordinance
ACLU and MALDEF Pleased That Unconstitutional Ordinance Will Not go Into Effect on January 12 Read More...
2007 Continuing Legal Education (CLE) Program Launches
The ACLU Foundation of Texas' Legal Department is very proud to announce the launching of our Continuing Legal Education (CLE) Program for 2007. Each month an expert on constitutional and civil rights/civil liberties law will offer a CLE presentation on an issue of importance to the local legal community. Read More...
Farmers Branch Documents Available Online
To see documents related to our case in Farmers Branch, click the links below. Read More...
HB 28 Fact Sheet: Don't Mess with the Constitution
HB 28 would take away several state benefits from children born in Texas to parents who entered the United States in violation of Federal law. It is in fact also an attempt to set up a legal challenge to the current interpretation of the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Read More...
ACLU, MALDEF File Temporary Restraining Order in Immigration Ordinance Challenge
The Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF) and the American Civil Liberties Union Foundation of Texas (ACLU) filed a request for a temporary restraining order blocking implementation of an anti-immigrant ordinance adopted by the Farmers Branch City Council on November 13, 2006. The ordinance is scheduled to go into effect on January 12.
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Grupo de derechos civiles registra desafio a ordenanza anti-inmigrante en Farmers Branch
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ACLU and MALDEF sue Farmers Branch challenging anti-immigrant ordinance
December 26--Today, the ACLU and the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF) filed suit in Dallas federal district court on behalf of Farmers Branch residents and landlords challenging that city’s recently adopted anti-immigrant ordinance. Read More...
ACLU of Texas Shares United Nation’s Concern About Increased Level of Militarization on Border
Committee spotlights issue significantly overlooked in national immigration debate Read More...
ACLU of Texas calls Border Hearings a Political Farce
Laredo Hearing only meant to politically posture and polarize debate not inform public or Congress Read More...
Civic leaders and immigrant advocates come together to press for comprehensive immigration reform
A diverse group of organizations, united by the certainty that the nation needs comprehensive immigration reform to effectively secure its borders, will hold a press conference Friday, July 7, 2006 in Laredo. Read More...
ACLU on May 1 Marches
The ACLU opposes Congressional immigration proposals on privacy and due process grounds. Learn more about the proposals as you prepare to participate in today's Mayday marches. Read More...
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