D.C. Home Rule: What It Is, How It Works, and Why It Matters
Can President Trump take over D.C.? What is D.C. home rule? How does it work? And why does it matter? Here are some answers to these pressing questions.
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Rights of Federal Employees with Disabilities, Explained
The Trump administration has issued a number of directives affecting federal employees with disabilities, but laws protecting these workers remain.
Stop and Frisk FAQ: What you need to know in D.C.
D.C. police continue to stop and frisk people in D.C., and Black people disproportionally bear the brunt of this troubling tactic. Given how often D.C. police rely on this practice, here are some answers to...
Latest Press Releases
ACLU-D.C. Urges House of Representatives to Pass the District of Columbia Local Funds Act of 2025
We urge the House of Representatives to immediately vote to pass the ‘District of Columbia Local Funds Act of 2025,’ which would restore one billion dollars in local spending authority in the District.
Federal Court Broadens Temporary Block on Trump Using Alien Enemies Act to Remove Immigrants from the U.S.
A federal judge broadened the scope of an earlier temporary restraining order, blocking Trump from deporting anyone under the Alien Enemies Act while the case proceeds.
ACLU and Democracy Forward Sue Trump Administration Over Expected Invocation of Alien Enemies Act
The American Civil Liberties Union, Democracy Forward, and the ACLU of the District of Columbia sued the Trump administration today over the president’s expected unlawful and unprecedented invocation of the...
May 13, 2025 - 6:00pm
Bill of Rights Celebration
Join us on Tuesday, May 13th at Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company for an exciting evening of community, entertainment, and civil rights as we come together to honor those who have made outstanding contributions to this fight in the District.
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In the Courts
One of the main ways ACLU-D.C. works to protect civil liberties and civil rights is through litigation.
We litigate in the federal courts and in the local courts, and at every level: from D.C. Superior Court to the Supreme Court of the United States. Sometimes we’re able to solve a problem by just writing a letter.
REFUGEE AND IMMIGRANT CENTER FOR EDUCATION AND LEGAL SERVICES V. TRUMP – PREVENTING PRESIDENT TRUMP FROM SUMMARILY EXPELLING REFUGEES SEEKING ASYLUM
Federal law protects noncitizens fleeing persecution or torture, granting them asylum rights. We sued the Trump administration over the president’s proclamation aimed at completely shutting down asylum at the border, a move that puts thousands of lives at risk.
