ACLU of the District of Columbia

A white graphic with the Washington, D.C. flag positioned diagonally at the top. Below black and red text reads: "Stop D.C. warrantless immigration arrests. ICE must be held accountable. Join us as we demand that ICE stop ignoring court orders and tearing families apart. March 11, 2026 @ 10am. Location: 1 Columbus Circle Northeast, Washington, D.C. 20002." At the bottom of the graphic are the logos for the ACLU-D.C., National Immigration Project, We Are Casa, Washington Lawyers' Committee, and AMICA Center for Immigrant Rights."

ICE must be held accountable for its illegal civil immigration arrests in the District. Join us on March 11th as we demand that ICE stop ignoring court orders and tearing families apart.

Your Questions Answered: Can Congress Stop President Trump’s Illegal War Against Iran? Amid President Donald Trump's unconstitutional war against Iran, ACLU experts break down who has the power to declare war — and how Congress can assert its war powers. ACLU experts explain constitutio...

Amid President Donald Trump's unconstitutional war against Iran, ACLU experts break down who has the power to declare war — and how Congress can assert its war powers.
https://www.aclu.org/news/civil-liberties/your-questions-answered-can-congress-stop-president-trumps-illegal-war-against-iran

A dark purple graphic. A photo of the D.C. Delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives Eleanor Holmes Norton at a protest is at the top of the graphic. Below is a quote from her in white that that reads: "You can't win what you don't fight for." In the bottom left corner of the graphic is the ACLU-D.C. logo. A purple text box and white text in all caps that reads: "WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH" is in the bottom right corner.

As a lifelong civil rights lawyer and activist, Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton’s leadership has advanced civil rights, strengthened legal protections for women, and kept the fight for D.C. statehood front and center.

Progress doesn’t happen by accident but because we, the people demand it.

a rainbow mural of the number 51

You can help protect democracy by protecting D.C.

Tell Congress to support D.C. statehood today.
https://action.aclu.org/send-message/congress-support-dc-statehood-now

A light grey graphic with a photo of Ronicsa Chambers, a 20-year veteran of the Federal Aviation Administration with a thin black border placed at the top of the graphic, Above the photo is small black text that reads: "ACLU MAGAZINE. SPRING 2026." Below the photo is black text that reads: "Ronicsa Chambers pictured at the White House, is a 20-year veteran of the Federal Aviation Administration. Civil Service. The ACLU-D.C. is suing the Trump administration for unlawfully firing career civil servants and violating their First Amendment rights." The ACLU-D.C. logo is in the bottom left corner. A black right arrow is in the bottom left corner.

A light grey quote graphic from Ronicsa Chambers, a 20-year veteran of the Federal Aviation Administration with black text that reads: "“It’s important that federal workers in this community know that they matter. The work that you did matters, and being fair, being equitable? There is no shame in that work." The ACLU-D.C. logo is in the bottom left corner. In the bottom right corner is small black text that reads "ACLU MAGAZINE | SPRING 2026.”

The latest issue of the ACLU magazine spotlights our legal fight to defend federal employees who were unlawfully terminated by the Trump administration for advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Read more about this case in the ACLU magazine: https://bit.ly/4rCyhWR

A slightly transparent photo of an ICE agent overlayed a dark blue background. Dark blue and white text reads: “COMMUNITY UPDATE: ACLU-D.C. Congratulates the D.C. Council on Passing the Federal Agent Arrest Reporting Bill.” The ACLU-D.C. logo is in the top left corner.

A dark blue quote graphic from ACLU-D.C. executive director Monica Hopkins. White and light yellow text reads: “Community policing depends on trust—and that trust disappears when people fear that reporting a crime could lead to deportation, unfounded imprisonment, or racial profiling. We cannot allow anyone in our nation’s capital to be abducted or hurt by federal agents. If agents do this, it should not remain a secret.” The ACLU-D.C. logo is in the bottom left corner.

NEW: The D.C. Council unanimously passed two bills today that shine a light on what federal agents are doing in our nation’s capital. Today’s unanimous vote sends a clear message: if a federal agent arrests or hurts someone, we should know the who, what, when, where, and why.

A light orange quote graphic from ACLU-D.C. senior counsel Art Spitzer. Dark red text reads: “[Yesterday’s] action by the Justice Department confirmed that President Trump cannot punish law firms for representing clients he doesn’t like.” The ACLU-D.C. logo is in the bottom left corner.

Yesterday, the Trump admin dropped its defense of the president’s executive orders sanctioning four law firms for taking on cases he didn’t like or hiring employees he perceived as enemies.

This assault on the rule of law failed thanks to the brave lawyers who refused to compromise their integrity.

D.C. Home Rule: What It Is, How It Works, and Why It Matters - ACLU of DC 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. Chances are that D.C. home rule has been on you...

Can President Trump take over D.C.? What is D.C. home rule? How does it work? And why does it matter?

We've got some answers to these pressing questions: https://www.acludc.org/news/dc-home-rule-what-it-how-it-works-and-why-it-matters/

Black graphic with white and neon text reading: "Ahead of the midterm elections, we've taken action to protect voters' rights and data in..." with 31 states and DC listed

Black graphic with white and neon green text reading "At the federal level, we're intervening to defend states that are rightfully refusing to hand over their full voter lists — which include voters' sensitive data — to the Department of Justice. We also got a key provision of President Trump's anti-voter executive order struck down, which threatened to upend our elections and enact barriers that disenfranchise eligible voters."

Black graphic with white and neon green text reading "At the state level, elected officials have passed laws purging eligible voters from the rolls, attacking mail-in voting, diluting the power of voters of color, making it harder for voters with disabilities to vote, criminalizing handing out food and water to voters in line, and more. We're fighting in court to make sure every eligible voter can cast our ballot freely."

We won't sit on the sidelines while politicians attack our freedom to vote and the Trump administration comes after voter lists and other private data.

Lala Zanell, activist and ACLU campaign manager speaks at a podium during a public rally, bundled in a lavender scarf and beanie. Her quote reads: “We cannot advocate for Black lives if we are not advocating for Black trans lives.” ACLU and “Black Futures Month” logos appear on the bottom corners of the image.

LaLa Zanell is a dedicated force in the fight for trans liberation. Before working at the ACLU, she fought for police reform, advocated for LGBTQ New Yorkers who've experienced violence and defended transgender rights before the White House and Congress.

Text-based graphic with black background. White text reads: “8 PEOPLE HAVE DIED in immigration custody since January 1.” ACLU logo at bottom

Text-based graphic with black background. White text reads: “Jairo Garcia-Hernandez, a 27-year-old who was being held in a Florida detention facility, died in ICE custody.” ACLU logo at bottom.

Jairo Garcia-Hernandez is at least the 8th person to die in ICE's custody this year.

ICE has a history of abusive conditions and medical neglect in immigration detention, and the Trump administration's rush to expand detention capacity has only made matters worse.

A dark purple graphic with light pink and white text that reads: “Challenging the national narrative. The son of formerly enslaved parents and one of the first Black scholars to earn a Ph.D. from Harvard University, Carter G. Woodson recognized early on in his life that the exclusion of Black people from history books was not an oversight, but a deliberate attempt to rewrite history. In 1915, Woodson founded what is now called the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH), headquartered in Washington, D.C., to research, preserve, and elevate Black life and achievement.” A dark purple and white dual-tone image of a stack of books is below and left of the text. The ACLU-D.C. logo is in the bottom left corner. A light pink right arrow is in the bottom right corner.

A dark purple graphic with light pink and white text that reads: “Change starts at home. From his D.C. rowhouse — now preserved as the Carter G. Woodson Home National Historic Site — situated at the center of federal power, Woodson built a national infrastructure for historical scholarship and public education on Black contributions to society. Woodson insisted that the story of America could not be told honestly without centering the experiences of Black people. And he warned that when communities are denied their history, they are denied power.” A dark purple and white dual-tone image of the Carter G. Woodson Home National Historic Site is in the bottom left of the graphic. The ACLU-D.C. logo is in the bottom left corner. A light pink right arrow is in the bottom right corner.

A dark purple graphic with light pink and white text that reads: “Making history. In the face of structural racism, Woodson responded with action. He established “Negro History Week” in 1926, strategically choosing the second week of February to coincide with the already-celebrated birthdays of Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln. What began as a week celebrating Black historical contributions became Black History Month fifty years later. This annual national observance affirms the simple truth that U.S. history is Black history.” A dark purple and white dual-tone image of the Carter G. Woodson memorial statue in Washington, D.C. is in the bottom left of the graphic. The ACLU-D.C. logo is in the bottom left corner. A light pink right arrow is in the bottom right corner.

A dark purple graphic with light pink and white text that reads: “Understand the past, safeguard the future. Across the country, we’re seeing continued efforts to whitewash curricula and restrict discussions about the brutal realities of systemic racism. These efforts are not new. They are part of a long tradition of discomfort with the uncomfortable truths that lie at the heart of this country’s identity. Woodson confronted similar resistance in his time. He rejected the notion that history should be curated for comfort, instead arguing that understanding our past is the only way to secure our freedoms and build a more just society.” A dark purple and white dual-tone image of building blocks with a judge’s gavel, the justice scales, and a courthouse inscribed on them is in the bottom right corner of the graphic. The ACLU-D.C. logo is in the bottom left corner.

A century after he launched Negro History Week, we honor Carter G. Woodson and his vision for a fuller, more honest understanding of our nation’s story.

Black history is U.S. history, and defending the freedom to learn it is essential to protecting our democracy.

A dark blue and red dual-tone photo of President Donald Trump. Overlayed is neon yellow and white text that reads: "TUESDAY, MARCH 3. 6pm - 8:30pm. PENN SOCIAL. 801 E St NW. Link in bio. PROFS AND PINTS PRESENTS: TRUMP, YOUR RIGHTS, AND RESISTANCE. ACLU-D.C.’s legal director Scott Michelman will discuss the legal landscape in D.C. a year into President Trump’s second term and how District residents can protect their rights and our democracy." The ACLU-D.C. logo is in the bottom left corner.

With less than one week to buy tickets, don’t miss the chance to hear from civil rights experts about how recent policy shifts from the Trump administration have impacted our freedoms — and what we can do next.

Secure your spot now before they’re gone: https://bit.ly/3LbVO0Y

D.C. DISAPPROVAL RESOLUTIONS AND RIDERS - ACLU of DC Most forms of local D.C. law are transmitted to Congress for a specified review or “layover” period. The length of the layover period differs based on the type of law the District has enacted (60 days...

📖 If you live in D.C., learn more about disapproval resolutions: www.acludc.org/publications...

📲 If you live outside of D.C., tell your senators to support D.C. statehood: action.aclu.org/send-message...

A dark green graphic with light blue and white text that reads: “D.C.’s local tax dollars are in limbo. Last week, Congress passed and President Trump approved a congressional disapproval resolution that could leave a nearly $700 million hole in our local budget.” Above the text is a collage of blue and white dual-tone images of a pile of cash, the U.S. capitol building, and a protestor holding up a sign that reads: “HANDS OFF D.C.” overlayed a light blue abstract shape. The ACLU-D.C. logo is in the bottom left corner, and a light blue right arrow is in the bottom right corner.

A dark green graphic with light blue and white text that reads: “In 2025, our D.C. Council passed a law that decoupled our local tax code from the federal one to give the District more local tax dollars to spend on much-needed programs. This is a common move for many states — to choose where and where not to link to the federal tax code. However, last week, Congress passed a disapproval resolution repealing the D.C. Council’s law to decouple the District’s local tax code from the federal one.” Below the text is a blue and white dual-tone image of a judge’s gavel. The ACLU-D.C. logo is in the bottom left corner, and a light blue right arrow is in the bottom right corner.

A dark green graphic with light blue and white text that reads: “Under D.C. Home Rule, District laws are passed by the D.C. Council, who are elected by the people of D.C. and carry out the will of District residents through legislation. However, D.C. laws can’t go into effect until after a “congressional review period.” Congress can use this authority to block and override the will of the people by passing disapproval resolutions to overturn the local laws. This is only the fifth time in the history of D.C. Home Rule that a disapproval resolution has passed Congress and been signed by the President.” The ACLU-D.C. logo is in the bottom left corner, and a light blue right arrow is in the bottom right corner.

A dark green graphic with light blue and white text that reads: “Though Congress has disapproved this move for D.C., our D.C. Council Chair has said that the 30 days for Congress to disapprove expired before the Senate voted to disapprove it. Now, D.C.’s local tax dollars are in limbo. If the disapproval stands, then the District will be forced to follow the federal tax code for our own local tax dollars, which now means that we have nearly $700 million less for programs that local residents and leaders want. Importantly, the disapproval will mean that the child tax credit will not be funded.” The ACLU-D.C. logo is in the bottom left corner, and a light blue right arrow is in the bottom right corner.

As D.C. residents, we deserve the right to govern ourselves and our local tax dollars without Congress micromanaging our day-to-day affairs. 1/2

Building Safety Through Resources - ACLU of DC Research has demonstrated that places with higher rates of poverty experience more crime. To build communities that are safe and advance justice for all, D.C. must invest in reaching people with the r...

Despite what President Trump says, the safest communities are the ones with the most resources, not the most police.

Addressing the root causes of public safety issues is actually how we keep our communities safe and advance justice for all.
https://bit.ly/3LnEu9g

A light pink quote graphic from Anise Jenkins, longtime civil rights and D.C. statehood advocate, Executive Director of Stand Up! for Democracy in DC. Dark purple text reads: “D.C. residents pay federal taxes and are obligated to serve in the military when called to do so and yet we don’t have a full vote in the U.S. House of Representatives and no representation in the U.S. Senate and that’s not fair. Black Futures Month.” A light pink and dark purple dual-tone image of Jenkins is to the right of the quote. The ACLU-D.C. logo is in the bottom left corner.

Anise Jenkins’ legacy is a reminder that freedom is incomplete without power and representation. The struggle for D.C. statehood is a civil rights fight rooted in racial justice and democratic equity.

Support the ongoing fight for D.C. statehood: https://dcstatehoodnow.org/

Mary Beth’s lawsuit that made it all the way up to the Supreme Court, which ruled in favor of Mary Beth and students’ right to free speech.

Today, we still defend all of our right to speak out on our beliefs just as fiercely as we did in 1969.

A black and white photo of Mary Beth Tinker and her mother at a Des Moines school board meeting in 1969.

57 years ago today, 12-year-old Mary Beth Tinker wore a black armband to school in protest of the Vietnam War. The school board's response was to ban such demonstrations and suspend Mary Beth for not abiding.

Represented by the ACLU, Mary Beth and her family filed a First Amendment lawsuit. 🧵

The Constitution guarantees birthright citizenship.

No president can change that.

Un graphique noir avec un texte orange et blanc qui dit : « CONNAÎTRE SES DROITS ». Se préparer aux interventions de l'ICE : Plans d'urgence. Si vous apprenez qu'une opération de contrôle de l'immigration pourrait avoir lieu au sein de votre communauté, il est important d'agir rapidement et de vous préparer. Une façon de se préparer consiste à établir un plan d'urgence. QUE DOIT COMPRENDRE VOTRE PLAN D'URGENCE  - Données personnelles (nom, numéro de sécurité sociale/numéro d'identification fiscale, lieu de naissance). - Coordonnées des personnes à contacter en cas d'urgence, avocat/prestataires de services juridiques, ambassade ou consulat. - Informations familiales (personnes s'occupant des enfants, médecins, informations sur les médicaments, allergies/besoins alimentaires). - Informations concernant votre médecin traitant, vos médicaments, vos allergies et autres besoins en matière de santé.

texte orange et blanc qui dit : Conservez votre plan d'urgence en lieu sûr : Conservez-le avec vos documents importants (passeport, ordonnances, papiers d'immigration). Ne l'emportez jamais avec vous. Ne partagez son emplacement qu'avec des membres de votre famille ou des amis de confiance, jamais avec l'ICE. ÉTAPES SUPPLÉMENTAIRES - Prévoyez un plan de garde d'enfants au cas où vous seriez détenu, afin qu'un autre adulte ait l'autorité nécessaire pour s'occuper de vos enfants si vous n'êtes pas en mesure de le faire. - Désignez un tuteur suppléant, une personne qui pourra temporairement s'occuper de vos enfants mineurs et prendre des décisions à leur place si vous êtes arrêté, détenu ou expulsé pour des raisons liées à l'immigration. - Établissez un plan financier afin que quelqu'un puisse gérer vos factures et vos comptes si vous n'êtes pas en mesure de le faire. Pour en savoir plus sur vos droits lorsque vous interagissez avec l'ICE dans le DMV, rendez-vous sur www.acludc.org/kyr.

一幅黑色背景、橙色和白色文字的图形，上面写着："了解自身权利"。准备应对ICE突袭: 应急预案。如果您得知社区内可能有移民执法行动，一定要及时行动并做好准备。一项准备工作是制定紧急预案。 紧急预案应包括以下内容 - 个人信息（姓名、社会安全号码/个人纳税识别号、出生地）。 - 可信赖的紧急联系人、律师/法律服务提供者、大使馆或领事馆的联系信息。 - 家庭信息（儿童照护者、医生、药物信息、过敏情况或饮食需求）。 - 您自己的医生信息、用药情况、过敏情况及其他健康需求。" 图形右上角有一个拼贴图形，内容包括一张示威标语牌，上面写着“人民的力量强于掌权者”，旁边叠加着一个亮橙色抽象图形和一个ICE徽章。 左下角是ACLU-D.C.标志。右下角是一个亮橙色的右箭头。

一幅黑色背景、橙色和白色文字的图形，上面写着："了解自身权利"。准备应对ICE突袭: 应急预案。请妥善保管您的紧急预案：将其与重要文件（护照、处方、移民文件）一并保管。切勿随身携带。只与可信赖的家人或朋友分享存放位置，绝不可告诉ICE。 其他措施 - 制定儿童照护计划，以备在您被扣留期间有其他成年人有权照顾您的孩子。 - 指定一名候补监护人，该人在您因移民事务被逮捕、扣留或驱逐期间能够临时照管并为未成年子女做出决定。 - 制定财务计划，以便在您无法处理账单和账户时有人能够代管。希望了解在DMV地区与ICE接触时的权利，请访问：www.acludc.org/kyr。 左下角是ACLU-D.C.标志。

Un gráfico negro con texto naranja y blanco que dice: "CONOZCA SUS DERECHOS". Preparación para las redadas del ICE: Planes de emergencia. Si se entera de posibles aplicaciones de la legislación migratoria en su comunidad, es importante actuar rápidamente y estar preparado. Una forma de prepararse es elaborar un plan de emergencia. QUÉ INCLUIR EN SU PLAN DE EMERGENCIA - Información personal (nombre, SSN/ITIN, lugar de nacimiento). - Información de contacto para contactos de emergencia de confianza, abogado/proveedores legales, embajada o consulado. - Datos familiares (cuidadores, médicos, información de medicamentos, alergias/necesidades alimenticias de los niños). - Información de su propio médico, medicamentos, alergias y otras necesidades de salud.

Un gráfico negro con texto naranja y blanco que dice: "CONOZCA SUS DERECHOS". Preparación para las redadas del ICE: Planes de emergencia. Conserve su plan de emergencia en un lugar seguro: Guárdelo con documentos importantes (pasaportes, recetas, papeles migratorios). Nunca lo lleve consigo. Comparta su ubicación únicamente con familiares o amigos de confianza, pero nunca con el ICE. PASOS ADICIONALES - Elabore un plan de cuidado de niños en caso de que lo detengan, de modo que otro adulto tenga la autoridad para cuidar a sus hijos si usted no puede hacerlo. - Designe a un tutor provisorio, una persona que pueda cuidar temporalmente a sus hijos menores y tomar decisiones por ellos en caso de que lo arresten, detengan o deporten por asuntos relacionados con la inmigración. - Prepare un plan financiero para que alguien pueda manejar las facturas y cuentas si usted no puede hacerlo. Para conocer más sobre sus derechos al interactuar con el ICE en DMV, visite www.acludc.org/kyr.

ብርቱካናማ እና ነጭ ጽሑፍ ያለው ጥቁር ግራፊክ፤ እንዲህ ይላል፡ “መብቶችዎን ማወቅ”። ለ ICE ድንገተኛ የኢሚግሬሽን ፍተሻ/ወረራ (raids) መዘጋጀት፡- የአስቸኳይ ጊዜ ዕቅዶች በማህበረሰብዎ ውስጥ ሊኖሩ ስለሚችሉ የኢሚግሬሽን ህግ ማስከበሪያዎች ካወቁ፣ በፍጥነት እርምጃ መውሰድ እና ዝግጁ መሆን አስፈላጊ ነው። ለመዘጋጀት አንዱ መንገድ የድንገተኛ ጊዜ ዕቅድ ማውጣት ነው። በድንገተኛ ዕቅድዎ ውስጥ ምን መካተት እንዳለበት - የግል ዝርዝሮች (ስም፣ SSN/ITIN፣ የትውልድ ቦታ)። - ለታመኑ የድንገተኛ ጊዜ ተጠሪዎች፣ ጠበቃ/ህጋዊ አቅራቢዎች፣ ኤምባሲ ወይም ቆንስላ የእውቂያ መረጃ። - የቤተሰብ ዝርዝሮች (የልጆች ተንከባካቢዎች፣ ዶክተሮች፣ የመድኃኒት መረጃ፣ አለርጂዎች/የአመጋገብ ፍላጎቶች)። - የራስዎ ሐኪም መረጃ፣ መድሃኒቶች፣ አለርጂዎች እና ሌሎች የጤና ፍላጎቶች። በግራፊክሱ የላይኛው ቀኝ ጥግ ላይ "የሕዝብ ኃይል ከስልጣን ላይ ካሉት ሰዎች የበለጠ ጠንካራ ነው" የሚል የተቃውሞ ምልክት የሚያሳይ የኮላጅ ግራፊክ እና ደማቅ ብርቱካናማ ረቂቅ ቅርፅ ያለው የICE ባጅ ተሸፍኗል። የ ACLU-DC አርማ ከታች ግራ ጥግ ላይ ነው። ደማቅ ብርቱካናማ ቀኝ ቀስት ከታች በቀኝ ጥግ ላይ ነው።

ብርቱካናማ እና ነጭ ጽሑፍ ያለው ጥቁር ግራፊክ፤ እንዲህ ይላል፡ “መብቶችዎን ማወቅ”። ለ ICE ድንገተኛ የኢሚግሬሽን ፍተሻ/ወረራ (raids) መዘጋጀት፡- የአስቸኳይ ጊዜ ዕቅዶች የድንገተኛ ጊዜ ዕቅድዎን ደህንነት ይጠብቁ። አስፈላጊ ከሆኑ ሰነዶች (ፓስፖርት፣ መድሃኒት ማዘዣዎች፣ የኢሚግሬሽን ወረቀቶች) ጋር ያከማቹት። በጭራሽ ከእርስዎ ጋር ይዘው አይንቀሳቀሱ። ያለበትን አካባቢ ለታመኑ ቤተሰብ ወይም ጓደኞች ብቻ ያጋሩ፣ በጭራሽ ለICE አያጋሩ። ተጨማሪ እርምጃዎች - ምናልባት ታስረው ከሆነ፣ እርስዎ ማድረግ ካልቻሉ ሌላ አዋቂ ሰው ልጆችዎን የመንከባከብ ሥልጣን እንዲኖረው የሕፃናት እንክብካቤ ዕቅድ ያውጡ። - ከኢሚግሬሽን ጋር በተያያዙ ጉዳዮች ምክንያት ቢታሰሩ፣ ቢታሰሩ ወይም ቢባረሩ ለአካለ መጠን ያልደረሱ ልጆችዎን ለጊዜው መንከባከብ እና ውሳኔ መስጠት የሚችል የመጠባበቂያ ሞግዚት ይመድቡ። - እርስዎ ማድረግ ካልቻሉ አንድ ሰው ክፍያዎችን እና አካውንቶችን ማስተናገድ እንዲችል የገንዘብ እቅድ ያዘጋጁ። በDMV ውስጥ ከICE ጋር ሲገናኙ ስለሚኖሩዎት መብቶች የበለጠ ለማወቅ www.acludc.org/kyr ን ይጎብኙ። የ ACLU-DC አርማ ከታች ግራ ጥግ ላይ ነው።

🧵 We stay safe by staying informed. That's why we've translated our graphics discussing how to prepare in case of ICE raids in your community.

Share this with family and friends, and learn more about your rights when encountering ICE agents in the DMV: https://bit.ly/4sXINsQ

A sepia-toned historical portrait of Frances Ellen Watkins Harper in a high-collared dress, holding a book. Her quote reads: “I would sleep, dear friends, where bloated might can rob no man of his dearest right; My rest shall be calm in any grave where none can call his brother a slave.” from her 1858 poem “Bury Me in a Free Land.” Abolitionist and sufragistt, Frances Ellen Watkins Harper. ACLU and “Black Futures Month” logos are visible.

Frances Ellen Watkins Harper was a celebrated writer and lecturer who fought for women’s rights and the abolition of slavery.

One of the first Black people to publish a short story, Frances authored many poetry collections and helped enslaved people escape through the Underground Railroad.

Late last night, we filed a motion to enforce that ruling because the administration’s own documentation shows that they are failing to comply with the court’s order.

Immigration agents are not above the law. Everyone in D.C. has rights, regardless of who they are or their immigration status. 3/3

In December 2025, the court issued a preliminary injunction stopping the administration’s policy or practice of making warrantless civil immigration arrests without the pre-arrest probable cause determination that federal immigration law requires. 2/3

A pale pink graphic with a dark red and white dual-tone image of law enforcement overlayed the top half of the graphic. Pale pink and dark red text reads: "COMMUNITY UPDATE: ICE is still conducting warrantless civil immigration arrests without the pre-arrest probable cause, despite a federal court order to temporarily stop this illegal practice. We filed a motion to enforce that ruling." The logos for the ACLU-D.C., WE ARE CASA, Washington Lawyer's Committee for CIvil Rights and Urban Affairs, Amica Center for Immigration Rights, and the National Immigration Project are at the bottom of the graphic.

NEW: The Trump administration is openly defying a federal court order to temporarily stop conducting illegal civil immigration arrests in D.C. — and we're fighting back. 1/3

Birthright Citizenship at SCOTUS: Your Voice Matters From President Trump's first day in office, he's targeted birthright citizenship as part of a broader effort to define who belongs in our country. This abuse of power cannot go unanswered. Take action...

The ACLU is going to the Supreme Court to defend birthright citizenship on April 1st – and we need you there with us.

Add your name in support of safeguarding citizenship for all babies born in the U.S., and we'll bring your signature with us to D.C.
https://bit.ly/4aLlaLT

65 Years (and Counting) of Defending Civil Rights and Liberties in the Nation’s Capital - ACLU of DC Since our founding by a group of volunteer lawyers in 1961, the ACLU of D.C. has been steadfast in defending fundamental rights and liberties in our nation’s capital.

Since 1961, the ACLU-D.C. has continuously defended fundamental freedoms in our nation’s capital — protecting our civil rights and liberties, challenging injustice, and building community power.

Celebrate 65 years of justice with us and see where we're headed next: https://bit.ly/3MLWkTY

A black and white gradient image of Rev. Jesse Jackson with a quote overlayed in white text that reads: "No one should negotiate their dreams. Dreams must be free to flee and fly high. No government, no legislature, has a right to limit your dreams. You should never agree to surrender your dreams. The ACLU-D.C. logo is in the bottom left corner.

Today we remember Rev. Jesse Jackson, whose decades of civil rights advocacy expanded opportunity and defended voting rights for all, and who insisted that D.C. residents deserve full democratic representation.

May we carry his legacy forward as we continue the fight for freedom and equality.

A light pink quote graphic from Pauli Murray, lawyer and legal theorist, and ACLU board member. Dark purple text reads: “As an American, I inherit the magnificent tradition of an endless march toward freedom and toward the dignity of all mankind. Black Futures Month.” A light pink and dark purple dual-tone image of Murray is to the right of the quote. The ACLU-D.C. logo is in the bottom left corner.

Pauli Murray’s legal scholarship didn’t just challenge inequality; it reimagined constitutional justice for all.

Long before Brown v. Board, Murray argued that segregation itself was unconstitutional, and their work became a cornerstone for dismantling the policy of “separate but equal.”