Know Your Rights

Everyone has basic rights under the U.S. Constitution and civil rights laws. The phrase “knowledge is power” is certainly true when protecting your rights. The ACLU-D.C. has easy-to-use resources of “Know Your Rights” materials to help District residents understand their rights and react effectively when their rights are under threat. If you believe your civil liberties or civil rights were violated, the best way to request help from the ACLU-D.C. is online at acludc.org/help

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Know Your Rights
Jul 09, 2026
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.
  • Immigrants' Rights

Connaissez vos droits lorsque vous êtes en contact avec l'ICE dans la région du DMV

Mais vos droits ne changent PAS lorsque vous franchissez ces frontières.
Know Your Rights
Jul 09, 2026
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.
  • Immigrants' Rights

በDMV ውስጥ ከ ICE ጋር ግንኙነት ሲያደርጉ መብቶችዎን ይወቁ

ነገር ግን እነዚህን ድንበሮች ሲያቋርጡ መብቶችዎ አይለወጡም።
Know Your Rights
Jul 09, 2026
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.
  • Immigrants' Rights

了解在DMV与ICE接触时的权利

但您的权利并不因穿越边界而改变。
Know Your Rights
May 01, 2026
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.
  • Immigrants' Rights

تعرف على حقوقك عند الاحتكاك بإدارة الهجرة والجمارك (ICE) في منطقة العاصمة واشنطن الكبرى (DMV)

لكن حقوقك لا تتغير عندما تعبر هذه الحدود.
Know Your Rights
Jan 20, 2026
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.
  • Immigrants' Rights

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)
Know Your Rights
Aug 29, 2025
Stylized graphic of police officers in uniform wearing bulletproof vests, tinted red against a blue background. The design uses sharp geometric framing and halftone texture.
  • Criminal Justice Reform|
  • +1 Issue

Encountering Law Enforcement and Military Troops in D.C.

No matter what uniform they wear, federal agents and military troops are bound by the Constitution, including our rights to peaceful assembly and due process.
Know Your Rights
Apr 10, 2024
drug free zones
  • Criminal Justice Reform|
  • +1 Issue

Drug-Free Zones

ACLU-D.C. believes that the new drug-free zones are ineffective, racially discriminatory, and unconstitutional, but they are the law for now. Here are your rights and what to do in drug-free zones.
Know Your Rights
Apr 08, 2020
stop and frisk
  • Criminal Justice Reform|
  • +1 Issue

Stop-and-Frisk

Here's what you should know when interacting with police in D.C.
Know Your Rights
Nov 09, 2017
federal employee speech
  • Government Employees' Rights|
  • +1 Issue

Federal Employee Speech & the First Amendment

As a government employee, you still have a First Amendment right to speak out on important issues.