News & Commentary

House Bill 6 (HB 6) is no ordinary voter suppression bill. Not only would the proposed legislation make it much more difficult for Texans to vote, it would make voting potentially dangerous with a new series of extreme criminal penalties. 

Brian Tashman, Deputy Division Director, ACLU

Immigration a

The ACLU of Texas and ACLU National staff are deeply saddened about the sudden loss of our client, Kiara Yarbrough, who passed away at the age of 26. We offer our deepest condolences to Kiara’s family, including her two young sons, and wish them comfort during this difficult time. Kiara embodied the idea that speaking truth to power is at the heart of justice. As a plaintiff in our case, Sanchez v. Dallas County Sheriff, she helped shine a spotlight on Dallas County Jail’s failure to prevent and control the spread of COVID-19.

Four formerly incarcerated people — including one Texan and his family — share their stories about what it’s like to be incarcerated during the pandemic, while friends and family members are left helpless on the outside.

This week, Texas Governor Greg Abbott delivered his annual State of the State address, a state-mandated speech meant to inform the people of Texas about the governor’s legislative and governing priorities. With more than 37,000 Texans dead from COVID-19, notably Abbott’s agenda did not include a single item to address the pandemic for regular Texans. It offered nothing to help people get vaccines more quickly, support hospitals and schools, nor make nursing homes safer. 

This piece was originally published in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. 

Today marks the opening of the 87th Texas Legislative Session — and it signals enormous opportunity and peril for civil liberties in Texas. With a tense national political climate, a pandemic devastating communities across Texas, and lingering racial unrest since the killing of George Floyd, this session will be one of the most challenging — and most important — we have seen in recent history. 

In the past year, many of us have made difficult choices to keep ourselves and loved ones safe from COVID-19. But throughout Texas county jails, incarcerated people have fewer options and depend on local leaders to enact precautions to keep them safe. 

Texas is no stranger to the issue of migration.