News and Commentary

As the leading civil rights organization in the Lone Star State, we at the ACLU of Texas believe it is our duty to keep the public informed about the state of their civil liberties. The work we do at the legislature, in the courts, and in our communities is important, but there is no better defender of civil rights than a public that is informed and engaged.

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Dec 10, 2014

As If! Women Aren’t Clueless, Even If Politicians Continue to Act That Way

Late last week, the Arkansas Medical Board initially voted 7-6 not to intrude into the relationship between women and their doctors. They declined to require medical providers to perform an ultrasound exam...

By By Talcott Camp, ACLU Reproductive Freedom Project

Late last week, the Arkansas Medical Board initially voted 7-6 not to intrude into the relationship between women and their doctors. They declined to require medical providers to perform an ultrasound exam...

By By Talcott Camp, ACLU Reproductive Freedom Project
Dec 10, 2014

New DOJ Profiling Guidance: LGBTQ-Inclusive, But Inadequate

This piece originally appeared at Slate's Outward blog...

By By Ian S. Thompson, ACLU Washington Legislative Office

This piece originally appeared at Slate's Outward blog...

By By Ian S. Thompson, ACLU Washington Legislative Office
Dec 10, 2014

Stepping Out of the Shadows

My mother, Estela, and I arrived in the United States in 1988. I was two years old as she carried me in her arms across the Mexico-U.S. border. I was too young to understand what was happening, but my mom...

My mother, Estela, and I arrived in the United States in 1988. I was two years old as she carried me in her arms across the Mexico-U.S. border. I was too young to understand what was happening, but my mom...

Dec 9, 2014

The US's Story of Torture Doesn't Have to End With Impunity

After five long years of investigation, declassification, and redaction – not to mention outright obstruction by the CIA – the Senate Intelligence Committee today shone more light on CIA torture and made a...

By Hina Shamsi

After five long years of investigation, declassification, and redaction – not to mention outright obstruction by the CIA – the Senate Intelligence Committee today shone more light on CIA torture and made a...

By Hina Shamsi
Dec 8, 2014

A Dangerous Precedent: Why Allow Racial Profiling at or Near the Border?

At a moment when the federal government is taking racial profiling seriously, it was gratifying to ...

At a moment when the federal government is taking racial profiling seriously, it was gratifying to ...

Dec 8, 2014

Required Reading: Prequels to the Torture Report

As early as tomorrow, the long-awaited Senate torture report will finally see the light of day. If all goes as planned, the Senate Intelligence Committee will release the roughly 500-page executive summary...

By By Marcellene Hearn, Senior Staff Attorney, ACLU National Security Project

As early as tomorrow, the long-awaited Senate torture report will finally see the light of day. If all goes as planned, the Senate Intelligence Committee will release the roughly 500-page executive summary...

By By Marcellene Hearn, Senior Staff Attorney, ACLU National Security Project