Immigrants' Rights

Regardless of a person’s country of origin, everyone in the United States has constitutional rights. Yet xenophobia and structural inequities mean the rights of immigrants are disproportionately violated.

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Regardless of a person’s country of origin, everyone in the United States has constitutional rights. Yet xenophobia and structural inequities mean the rights of immigrants are disproportionately violated.

Expanding the rights of immigrants is a top strategic priority of the ACLU-NJ, and we advocate on all fronts: litigation, legislation, public outreach, and organizing.

We have driven powerful advocacy to fight immigration detention, to make driver’s licenses accessible for all New Jerseyans, and to end state and local law enforcement’s participation in federal detentions and deportation actions, among other work.

The Latest

News & Commentary
People's Agenda

Lawmakers Can Ensure a Fairer New Jersey During Lame Duck

Lame duck is an opportunity for lawmakers to build a fairer, more equitable future for all New Jerseyans. The ACLU-NJ calls on the Legislature to prioritize these key issues and bills ahead of the Sherrill administration.
Press Release
Press Release ACLU of New Jersey

ACLU-NJ and 29 Partner Organizations File Amicus Brief in Support of Community Trust Policies

The ACLU of New Jersey, representing themselves and 29 partner organizations, today filed a friend-of-the-court brief in support of community trust policies enacted by Newark, Jersey City, Paterson, and Hoboken that limit voluntary collaboration between municipal agencies and federal immigration enforcement.
Issue Areas: Immigrants' Rights
Court Cases: U.S. v. Newark
Press Release
Press Release

ACLU-NJ Responds to Reports of Expanded Immigration Detention at Fort Dix

Expanding immigration detention to military facilities sets a dangerous precedent and is contrary to the values embedded in our Constitution.
Press Release
Press Release

Mahmoud Khalil Seeks to Challenge Government’s Retaliatory, Post-Facto Charges Against Him in Federal Court

The preliminary injunction motion argues that the government’s post-hoc charge against Mr. Khalil was retaliatory and violates the First Amendment.
Court Case
Nov 05, 2025

State v. Garcia-Moronta & State v. Reyes-Rodriguez

Amicus briefs arguing that the delay in trying a defendant caused by their detention by ICE or deportation should count against the State in a speedy trial analysis when the State has failed to take reasonable steps to effectuate the defendant’s appearance for their criminal proceedings.
Court Case
Oct 28, 2025

U.S. v. Newark

Amicus brief in support of the power of the cities of Newark, Hoboken, Jersey City, and Paterson to implement community trust policies that limit voluntary collaboration between municipal agencies and federal immigration enforcement.
Court Case
Apr 22, 2025

Student Doe #1, et al v. Noem, et al

Complaint filed on behalf of Rutgers students who had their F-1 student immigration status effectively terminated.
Court Case
Aug 08, 2024

El Comité de Apoyo a los Trabajadores Agrícolas (CATA) v Platkin

Affirmative litigation challenging the constitutionality of excluding New Jersey farmworkers from equal wage and overtime pay.