Immigrants' Rights

Upholding the rights of the politically disenfranchised is vital; when the government has the power to deny legal rights and due process to one group of people, it puts all of our rights in danger. The ACLU is one of the nation's leading advocates for the rights of immigrants, refugees, and non-citizens by challenging unconstitutional laws and practices and countering the myths upon which many anti-immigrant laws are based.

Immigrants' Rights.

Upholding the rights of the politically disenfranchised is vital; when the government has the power to deny legal rights and due process to one group of people, it puts all of our rights in danger. The ACLU is one of the nation's leading advocates for the rights of immigrants, refugees, and non-citizens by challenging unconstitutional laws and practices and countering the myths upon which many anti-immigrant laws are based.

The Latest

Resource
Immigrants are welcome here

Immigrants' Rights and Resources Hub

Regardless of your immigration status, you have guaranteed rights.
Press Release
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Immigrants and U.S. Citizens Sue DHS over Unconstitutional “Home Entry” Policy

Lawsuit alleges that DHS and ICE violated the Fourth Amendment rights of immigrants and U.S. citizens by secretly instructing agents to enter homes without a warrant
Issue Areas: Immigrants' Rights, Due Process/Procedural Rights
Know Your Rights
A black‑and‑white photo of a protest crowd holding a sign that reads “America would be nothing without immigrants,” overlaid with an orange geometric shape and a stylized illustration of two hands reaching toward each other.

Conozca sus derechos al interactuar con el ICE en el DMV

Sus derechos NO cambian cuando traspasa esos límites.
Know Your Rights
A black‑and‑white photo of a protest crowd holding a sign that reads “America would be nothing without immigrants,” overlaid with an orange geometric shape and a stylized illustration of two hands reaching toward each other.

Know Your Rights when Interacting with ICE in the DMV

Your rights do NOT change when you cross the DMV (D.C., Maryland, and Virgina)
Legislation
Feb 25, 2026

MPD 2026 Performance Oversight

The current occupation of D.C. and overzealous policing we are witnessing from federal law enforcement agencies alongside officers of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD, the Department) are not new for some communities. Black, immigrant, and other marginalized people, who have long been over policed and used as scapegoats for policy failures or political fodder, have always been the canaries in the coal mine. And they have also been at the forefront of movements fighting to make this society one that truly protects and keeps all of us safe.
Status: Performance Oversight
Position: Oversight Testimony
Legislation
Oct 01, 2020

ACLU-DC Testimony Before the DC Council Committee on the Sanctuary Values Amendment Act

The ACLU-DC testified in strong support of the bill, which limits the District’s involvement in federal immigration enforcement by prohibiting cooperation between District government agencies and federal immigration authorities such as Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Status: Introduced
Position: Support
Legislation
Feb 19, 2016

Bill 21-0422, the “UDC DREAM Amendment Act of 2015”

The ACLU supports the UDC DREAM Amendment Act of 2015, as a matter of fairness for all those high-achieving students who graduated from District high schools and successfully gained admission to the University of the District of Columbia, often against remarkable odds.
Position: Support