Press Releases

ICE's rogue tactics leave no safe place for immigrants

“Our courthouses should be a safe place for people to have access to the judicial process as witnesses, plaintiffs, or defendants.  These kinds of actions will have a chilling effect on all of us, especially victims of crime and witnesses who are immigrants," said Mary Bauer.
Issue Areas: Immigrants' Rights

Students sue Department of Defense schools over curriculum changes, book bans

“The government can’t scrub references to race and gender from public school libraries and classrooms just because the Trump administration doesn’t like certain viewpoints on those topics,” said Matt Callahan, Senior Supervising Attorney at the ACLU of Virginia. 
Issue Areas: First Amendment Rights

Video of arrest, new details in Trump administration’s case targeting Georgetown postdoctoral fellow Dr. Khan Suri for speech on Palestinian rights

“In my work, I’ve seen lots of injustice. I just didn't think it would happen to me here," says Dr. Khan Suri. 

Red Onion cannot be allowed to retaliate against incarcerated people for exercising their First Amendment rights

“Without electricity, people in solitary in Red Onion are completely cut off from the outside world, all for refusing to sign their name to something they believe is false,” said ACLU of Virginia Senior Staff Attorney Geri Greenspan. "That's not just cruel – it's unlawful."
Issue Areas: Criminal Legal Reform

ACLU of Virginia files emergency motion to stop Trump administration’s illegal deportation of Georgetown professor for exercising free speech

“Ripping someone from their home and family, stripping them of their immigration status, and detaining them solely based on political viewpoint and activism is a clear attempt by President Trump to silence dissent,” said ACLU of Virginia Senior Immigrants’ Rights Attorney Sophia Gregg.

Gov. Youngkin’s anti-immigrant executive order is playing politics with people’s lives

"It's disappointing that Gov. Youngkin is planning to throw good money after bad by wasting Virginians' tax dollars terrorizing local communities," said ACLU of Virginia Senior Immigrants' Rights Attorney Sophia Gregg.
Issue Areas: Immigrants' Rights

Lawsuit against Liberty University for firing transgender employee to move forward

“It's no surprise the judge ruled our case can move forward. Workplace discrimination against transgender people is against the law – no matter your religious beliefs,” said ACLU of Virginia Senior Transgender Rights Attorney Wyatt Rolla.
Issue Areas: LGBTQ+ Rights

Virginia’s path to automatic rights restoration gains momentum

The effort to enshrine automatic restoration of rights into Virginia's constitution successfully passed this year's legislative session today.The amendment must pass again in next year’s legislative session before heading to the ballot for a statewide vote in November 2026.
Issue Areas: Voting Rights

In a historic vote, constitutional amendment to protect reproductive freedom passes the General Assembly

Today’s vote was the last step in the legislative process for the 2025 General Assembly session, and is the first step in a two-year constitutional amendment process to protect Virginians’ right to make decisions regarding their own reproductive health care without government interference.
Issue Areas: Reproductive Rights