Immigrants' Rights
Immigration, along with the American ideals of equality, fairness and social tolerance, have built the political, economic and cultural strength of this country from colonial days to the present. Yet virtually every group of newcomers--from Eastern and Western Europeans to Asians, Latinos and others-- has faced discrimination, hostility and stereotyping from those already here. The tensions between today's newest immigrants and established residents are much the same.
Regardless of one's views on U.S. immigration policy, the fundamental civil liberties protections of the Bill of Rights and the U.S. Constitution protect every person in this country--including citizens and non-citizens alike. While the government can legitimately control its borders, the power to exclude and deport people must be exercised fairly and humanely, subject to our constitutional norms and consistent with U.S. obligations under international law.
The Consitutional guarantee of due process ensures that we are treated fairly within the justice system. The U.S. is not a country that detains people, sometimes for years, without access to lawyers or family. Unfortunately, this is what is happening to thousands of immigrants caught up in raids, transferred into detention centers, and pressured into signing removal orders without being able to consult with counsel or family.
Advocating fair treatment for non-citizens has been an important part of the ACLU's work since its founding in 1920, when it opposed the summary arrest and deportation of Eastern European immigrants during the Palmer Raids. In Tennessee, the ACLU's work to preserve equal treatment and protection for immigrants includes lobbying against anti-immigrant legislation at the local, state and federal levels and advocating and litigating on behalf of immigrants, detainees and undocumented persons. In addition, ACLU-TN provides “Know Your Rights” trainings and distributes resources for immigrants and advocates in a range of languages.
The national Immigrants’ Rights Project (IRP) of the American Civil Liberties Union supports ACLU-TN in its efforts to raise awareness about and to protect immigrants’ rights.
Resources
Develop a better understanding of the justice system and the Constitutional safeguards that ensure fair treatment within the system.
Learn more about the problems with 287(g), a federal program that deputizes local law enforcement as immigration agents.
by Reason Magazine
Press Releases
February 16, 2011: Immigration Bill Betrays Fairness and Equality, Says ACLU of Tennessee
July 27, 2010: ACLU Of Tennessee Seeks Records About FBI Collection Of Racial And Ethnic Data - FBI’s Power To Track And Map “Behaviors” And “Lifestyle Characteristics” Of American Communities Raises Alarm
July 22, 2010: ACLU of Tennessee Launches Online Resource Center for Immigrants - Resources Aim to Preserve Fairness and Due Process
July 20, 2010: Local Racial Profiling Hearing Modeled After Mandela’s Truth and Reconciliation Commissions
July 14, 2010: Rights Working Group and Local Organizations Holding “Face the Truth” Hearing on Racial Profiling
June 30, 2010: As Holiday Weekend Approaches, ACLU of Tennessee Issues Alert To State Residents Traveling To Arizona
June 30, 2010: Conforme se aproxima el fin de semana feriado, la ACLU del estado de Tennessee difunde alerta a residentes del estado que viajen a Arizona
June 21, 2010: Ask Bredesen to Veto Tennessee's Own Arizona-Like Bill
June 21, 2010: ACLU Of Tennessee Calls on Governor Bredesen to Veto Arizona-like Racial Profiling Legislation
