Press Releases

Trump admin illegally holds pregnant mother and toddler with disabilities for a week at Dulles Airport

“She is just one of a number of pregnant people who’ve been detained in shocking numbers in the wake of President Trump’s executive order trying to end birthright citizenship – and it has to stop,” said ACLU-VA Senior Immigrants’ Right Attorney Sophia Gregg.
Issue Areas: Immigrants' Rights
Court Cases: Gyasi v. Scott

Gov. Spanberger allows ICE to continue making arrests inside Virginia’s courthouses

“The governor’s actions today constitute a voluntary surrender to the Trump administration and its lawless anti-immigrant agenda," said ACLU-VA Policy Director Chris Kaiser.
Issue Areas: Immigrants' Rights

ICE ordered to release man detained at a Virginia courthouse and unlawfully held for more than nine months

“Alex arrived in this country after enduring unimaginable circumstances, and he should never have been detained in the first place,” said ACLU-VA Senior Immigrants' Rights Attorney Sophia Gregg.
Issue Areas: Immigrants' Rights

Lawmakers reject Gov. Spanberger’s attempt to gut legislation that would protect Virginia’s courthouses from ICE’s warrantless arrests

“When ICE can lawlessly stalk Virginians through the halls of our courts, the rule of law itself is under attack. We can’t let our courthouses serve as places where people are hunted instead of heard,” said ACLU-VA Policy Director Chris Kaiser
Issue Areas: Immigrants' Rights

Georgetown peace scholar detained for speech last year asks appeals court to reaffirm his freedom

"The Trump administration is trying to silence speech it doesn’t agree with by targeting people like Dr. Suri and Mahmoud Khalil, but ideas are not illegal,” said ACLU-VA Senior Staff Attorney Geri Greenspan.

Virginia lawmakers limit the Trump administration’s ability to commandeer Virginia resources for its anti-immigrant agenda

“Virginia resources should go toward keeping Virginians safe, not disappearing them," said ACLU-VA Policy Director Chris Kaiser.
Issue Areas: Immigrants' Rights

Ending 287(g) agreements protects Virginia’s immigrant communities and makes us all safer

“Together, Virginia is speaking with one voice: we will not be coopted into carrying out the Trump administration’s brutal and legally dubious anti-immigrant agenda,” said ACLU-VA Policy Director Chris Kaiser.
Issue Areas: Immigrants' Rights

ACLU FOIA litigation reveals ICE actively considering opening six new immigration detention centers

“Abuse and civil rights violations are rampant in these facilities, and the public has a right to know where and how the government intends to expand its use of these deadly facilities," said ACLU-VA Senior Immigrants' Rights Attorney Sophia Gregg.
Issue Areas: Immigrants' Rights
Court Cases: ACLU Foundation v. ICE

Gov. Spanberger's executive order is the first step to make sure Virginia law enforcement is not a tool for ICE

“To make her vision into a reality, the governor must terminate the state’s existing 287g agreements and Virginia lawmakers must deliver meaningful legislation to her desk to protect Virginians,” said ACLU-VA Executive Director Mary Bauer.
Issue Areas: Immigrants' Rights