Immigrants' Rights
The ACLU has been one of the nation's leading advocates for the rights of immigrants, refugees and non-citizens, challenging unconstitutional laws and practices, countering the myths upon which many of these laws are based.
Click here to learn more about our national Immigrants' Rights Project >>
ACLU of Utah’s
Immigrants’ Rights Project
The ACLU of Utah is providing outreach and public education services to immigrant communities throughout the State of Utah, as well as to the general public about issues affecting the immigrant population. Through “Know Your Rights” presentations, we inform immigrant groups about their civil and constitutional rights. We also provide education and information to the general public to dispel myths about immigration and to promote understanding of those constitutional rights which extend to all who reside within the United States. We also will protect those rights by investigating reports of abuse and responding to them with redress or resolution.
Press Releases - Litigation
Legal Advocacy and Policy Work
Legislative Reports - Resources - Events
Attorney General Shurtleff Urged to Reject Using Information from "the list" in Criminal Prosecutions
Posted 8/26/10 - The American Civil Liberties Union of Utah (ACLU of Utah) yesterday joined with ten other Utah civil rights organizations and individuals in urging Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff to reject using in any criminal investigation information contained in the now-infamous “list” of 1,300 Utah residents who are allegedly in the country unlawfully. The letter responds to recent statements from Shurtleff indicating that his office may be reviewing “the list”—which law enforcement acknowledges was created and distributed by state employees in violation of state and federal law—for invalid social security numbers with the intention of prosecuting individuals on “the list” for state crime violations.
Read the press release (PDF) >>
Read the letter to Attorney General Shurtleff (PDF) >>
Read a Deseret News article >>
Salt Lake City Launches Anti-discrimination Campaign
Posted 8/20/10 - The ACLU of Utah has partnered with Salt Lake City's Office of Diversity & Human Rights to promote a city wide anti-discrimination campaign. The specific goal of the campaign is to create awareness about employee and employer rights and responsibilities and maintain employment fairness among the immigrant and refugee communities. The campaign will offer bilingual training sessions on employment law and best business practices to eliminate discrimination. Upcoming workshops will be held on August, 24, September 4, and October 5th.
More information on the campaign >>
Read a Salt Lake Tribune article >>
ACLU of Utah Joins Nationwide Letter to DHS Secretary Criticizing Response to and Potential Use of the List
Posted 7/29/10 - The ACLU of Utah this week joined with 120 other civil rights organizations and individuals nationwide to urge Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano categorically to reject use by DHS of the now-infamous “list” of 1,300 Utah residents who are allegedly in the country unlawfully.
Read the press release >> English / Spanish
Read the letter
>>
Read a letter to Senator Bennett >>
Read a letter to Senator Hatch >>
Read a Deseret News article "121 groups ask feds to denounce, discard 'Utah list'">>
Court Blocks Implementation Of Key Sections Of Arizona's Racial Profiling Law
Posted 7/28/10 - Ensuring that Arizona law enforcement will not be required to demand "papers" from people they stop who they suspect are "unlawfully present" in the U.S., a federal court in Phoenix today blocked key provisions of Arizona's racial profiling law, scheduled to go into effect on July 29, pending a final court ruling on its constitutionality. The ruling came in a lawsuit filed by the Department of Justice challenging the Arizona law. The ruling vindicates similar claims made by the American Civil Liberties Union and a coalition of civil rights groups in a separate lawsuit challenging the discriminatory measure.
Read more >>
ACLU of Utah Seeks Records About FBI Collection of Racial and Ethnic Data
Posted 7/27/10 - FBI's Power to Track and Map "Behaviors" and Lifestyle Characteristics" of American Communities Raises Alarms. According to a 2008 FBI operations guide, FBI agents have the authority to collect information about and map so-called “ethnic-oriented” businesses, behaviors, lifestyle characteristics and cultural traditions in communities with concentrated ethnic populations. Although some racial and ethnic data collection by some agencies might be helpful in lessening discrimination, the FBI’s attempt to collect and map demographic data using race-based criteria for targeting purposes invites unconstitutional racial profiling by law enforcement, says the ACLU.
Read
the press release >> English / Spanish
Read the full Freedom of Information Act request to the FBI >>
Learn more by reading the FBI's Domestic Intelligence and Operations Guide (DIOG) chapter which details provisions for using racial and ethnic data or you can access the entire DIOG here >>
Read a blog post by Sam Ritchie with the national ACLU, "Is the FBI Engaging in Race-Based Snooping?" >>
TAKE ACTION: Tell your member of Congress that you want them to find out what racial & ethnic demographic information the FBI is collecting in your community and how it’s being used.
Read a Salt Lake Tribune story, "ACLU wants FBI to explain data it's collecting on ethnic groups" >>
Read a Deseret News story, "ACLU worries FBI may be doing racial profiling" >>
Would You Ask This Man For His Papers?
Posted 7/22/10 - Would you ask this man for his papers? Why? Because of the color of his skin? Because of the language he's speaking? Because he's doing yard work?
The fact is, there is no way to tell who is documented and who is not. If SB 1070 is allowed to go into effect, American citizens WILL be subjected to racial profiling. People in this country legally will be stopped, interrogated and harassed simply because of what they look like or the language they are speaking.
That's not right and it's not constitutional. Help us protect the constitution. Help us stop SB 1070. What Happens in Arizona, Stops in Arizona >>
Swift Action to Address Stolen Information on List of Names Was Correct Response
Posted 7/16/10 - Governor Gary Herbert announced today that the state has discovered the identities of those individuals who released personal and private information unlawfully taken from restricted government databases. The ACLU of Utah commends the Governor and Attorney General for responding quickly to media and public demands for an investigation, once the list of 1300 names (of individuals alleged to be in the country without official documents) became public earlier this week.
Learn more about the ACLU of Utah's position on the list in Executive Director Karen McCreary's blog entry for the Huffington Post >>
Watch Legislative & Policy Counsel Marina Lowe discuss the list on KSL Channel 5 >>
Read the full press release>>
TRAVEL ALERT FOR JULY 4 WEEKEND:
If You Are Headed to Arizona, You Had Better Know Your Rights!
Posted 6/30/10 - The ACLU of Utah today issued a Travel Alert for all Utahns who are traveling to Arizona for the July Fourth holiday weekend. The recent racial profiling anti-immigrant law passed in that state poses a serious threat to the civil liberties of anyone passing through Arizona - but especially those who appear to be from a different country.
Full Travel Alert - with tips for if you are stopped >>
Press release >> English / Spanish
Access the ACLU's Mobile "Bust Card" >>
FAQs about the Arizona Law >>
ACTION ALERT: What Happens in Arizona Stops in Arizona!
Posted 5/3/10 - Arizona's new law, S.B. 1070, is  unconstitutional and betrays American values. The law essentially turns Arizona into a police state, requiring citizens and immigrants alike to carry “papers” to avoid arrest. The law encourages racial profiling and undermines public safety by diverting scarce resources toward false threats; eroding trust between law enforcement and Latinos. Here in Utah, Rep. Sandstrom is threatening to introduce similar unconstitutional and extreme legislation. This law is bad for the United States, Arizona and will be bad for Utah too.
Read an article in the June 2010 ACLU of Utah newsletter >>
Read an ACLU of Utah action alert >>
TAKE ACTION: Send a strong message to your state lawmaker and Governor Gary Herbert: What Happens in Arizona Stops in Arizona >>
Raising Arizona: Utah should not copy bad law - a Salt Lake Tribune Editorial >>
A Police State - blog post by Vivek Malhotra, ACLU Immigrants' Rights Project>>
Press Releases
Constitution’s
protection against unreasonable search and seizure applies to all immigrants:
ACLU files a brief urging Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals to reverse an
unprecedented lower court ruling on U.S. v. Esparza-Mendoza (1/6/04)
ACLU Withdraws Appeal of Official English Decision;
Cites Court’s Reading of the Statute as “Largely Symbolic” and Attorney
General’s Positive Step (9/4/01)
Utah
Judge Rules English-Only Statute Does Not Prohibit Government Employees
from Using Languages Other than English (3/6/01)
Litigation
U.S.
v. Esparza-Mendoza (2004)
Alvarez v. State of Utah (2001) Legal Advocacy and Policy Work
ACT NOW to stop unfair immigration legislation! (2/15/2008)
The ACLU of Utah distributed a letter to the Senate Government Operations and Political Subdivisions Standing Committee outlining problems with SB 81, "Illegal Immigration" and calling for support of SB 97, "Immigration Task Force." (2/8/2008)
The ACLU of Utah Urges Representatives to vote against HB 98 and HB 257
(2/7/2008)
ACLU of Utah opposes HB 237 "Illegal Immigration Enforcement Act" (1/30/2008)
ACLU of Utah Opposes Ballot Initiative A "English as the Official Language of Utah" (2000)
ACLU Opposes Federal Pilot Project to Grant Immigration Authority to Salt Lake City Police (1998)
From Our Legislative Reports
ACLU of Utah sends letter to Governor asking him to veto bill mandating use of flawed E-Verify program (2010)
ACLU sends letter to Senate Education Standing Committee supporting bill that would allow one year to review SB 81, a controversial immigration law (3/2/09)
The ACLU of Utah Opposes Senate Bill 81”Illegal Immigration” (2009)
ACT NOW to stop unfair immigration legislation! (2008)
The ACLU of Utah distributed a letter to the Senate Government Operations and Political Subdivisions Standing Committee outlining problems with SB 81, "Illegal Immigration" and calling for support of SB 97, "Immigration Task Force." (2008)
The ACLU of Utah Urges Representatives to vote against HB 98 and HB 257 (2008)
ACLU of Utah opposes HB 237 "Illegal Immigration Enforcement Act" (2008)
“Illegal Immigration Enforcement Act,” would have granted state and local law enforcement officers the power to enforce federal immigration laws. (2007)
Legislators Consider Bills that Would Integrate Law Enforcement and Immigration Duties and Ban Benefits to Undocumented Immigrants (2007)
Lawmakers passed “Amendments to Driver License and Identification Cards,” allowing people without ITINs to get a driving privilege card if they can provide proof that they are from another country, do not qualify for an SSN, and are legally in the United States; and “Penalties for False Driver Licenses and Identification Cards,” setting penalties for using false information for obtaining a driver’s license or for using a false driver’s license or identification card. (2005)
The legislature considered “Income Tax Subtraction for Specialized Immigrant Services,” (2005)
“Limitation on Government Benefits to Aliens Unlawfully Present in the United States,” would have prohibited state and local governments from providing benefits to undocumented immigrants unless required by federal law. (2004)
"Legal Presence" Provisions sought to prohibit illegal aliens from obtaining a valid Utah driver license by narrowing the list of accepted documentation that can be used to apply for a license, including the use of a Matricula Consular card. (2004)
"Undocumented Workers Driver License Revisions" (2004)
"Residence Requirements for Driver License" had a wide list of requirements for proving state residency making it easier for legal immigrants and others to apply for a Utah Drivers License. (2004)
The Utah State House of Representatives Votes to Oppose the English-Only Initiative; Sponsor Vows to Bring it to the Ballot in the Year 2000 (1999)
Resources
Immigrants' Rights: A National ACLU Perspective
Posted 10/21/09 - If you missed the real thing, check out the keynote talk from our Annual Membership Meeting! Vivek Malhotra of the ACLU's Immigrants' Rights Project breaks down the ACLU's work in this area, highlights anti-immigration legislation around the country, and talks about the future of federal immigration reform.
See all six related videos >>
Restore Fairness to the Immigration System
Posted 10/5/09 - In the aftermath of 9-11, our country has seen a steady erosion of basic human rights. Some of our laws have been denying basic due process to thousands of people in the United States, and many policies discriminate against people on the basis of national origin, race, religion, citizenship or immigration status. We need to change these laws, and ensure that our government upholds the human rights and civil liberties of all people in the US. The ACLU is part of a national campaign asking our government to restore fairness and due process to the broken immigration system.
Watch a 9 minute video, find more information and take action >>
ACLU Releases Report on Immigration Detention Centers
Posted 8/3/09 - The ACLU of Southern California and the National Immigration Law Center has released a comprehensive report about the state of deplorable conditions in immigration detention centers nationwide, concluding that the rights of detainees are routinely and systematically violated.
Read the report >
Why Defend Immigrants
Posted 1/26/09 - The ACLU has a long history of defending the Constitution, which from the very beginning has included defending the rights of immigrants. Immigration, along with the American ideals of equality, fairness and social tolerance built the political, economic and cultural strength of this country from colonial days to the present.
Read more by downloading a pdf flyer >>>
The Impact of SB 81
"Illegal Immigration" on Utah (PDF) >>
(April 2009)
El Impacto De La Ley SB 81, "Inmigracion Ilegal" (PDF) >>
(May2009)
Senate Bill 81”Illegal Immigration”
Posted 1/26/09 - Last year’s infamous piece of legislation, SB 81 “Illegal Immigration,” is due to be implemented in July 2009, with a few minor adjustments. We are in good company as we continue to oppose the implementation of SB 81, with Chambers of Commerce, police departments, AILA attorneys, immigrant advocates and churches all expressing concern about the legislation.
Read more by downloading a pdf info sheet >>>
Read a 2/18/09 letter by Salt Lake County Mayor, Peter Corroon, opposing SB 81 and supporting SB 113 (PDF) >>
Conzca Sus Derechos Que Hacer Si Agentes de Migracion o de la Policia lo Detienen Mientras Camina y la Policía Local
Why Defend Immigrants (2009)
Know Your Rights When Encountering Law Enforcement - This booklet addresses what rights you have when you are stopped, questioned, arrested, or searched by law enforcement officers. This booklet is for citizens and non-citizens with extra information for non-citizens in a separate section. (2008)
English-Only Legislation (1997)
Immigration Assistance:
The following organizations provide legal assistance for immigration issues: Catholic Community Services at (801) 428-1256, International
Rescue Committee at (801) 328-1091, and Holy
Cross Ministries at (801) 908-0293.
Free or
Low-Cost Sources of Legal Assistance in Utah
Events
Ogden Church Hosts ACLU "Freedom to Dream: The Rights of Immigrants"
Posted 8/27/09 - An engaged and enthusiastic audience of over 45 people watched a film and participated in discussion with panelists Rev. Theresa Novak, Mark Alvarez, Rep. Jessie Garcia, and Juan Ruiz.
Read an Ogden Standard
Examiner article about the event >>
See some photos of the event >>
Freedom to Dream: Rights of Immigrants
Posted 8/21/09 - The ACLU of Utah hosted a film showing and panel discussion in Logan on Thursday, August 20, 2009.
Read a newspaper article about the event >>
Check out a few photos from the panel discussion >>
"Freedom to Dream: Rights of Immigrants"
Just because an individual is living in the U.S. without citizenship
DOES NOT MEAN he or she must live without the rights and protections outlined in our Constitution.
FRIDAY, MARCH 27, 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Free of Charge, Open to the Public
Get the details >>
Freedom to Dream: Rights of Immigrants
Film Night & Community Discussion
Posted 1/2/09 - What rights does the U.S. Constitution guarantee to non-citizens? In the absence of federal immigration reform, state laws and city ordinances form a threatening patchwork of potential civil liberties violations. What can we do the protect the dignity of all people - regardless of their documented status? Join us on January 23 to explore a complicated topic and options for action.
Get the details >>
Don't Miss the Last Film in the Civil Liberties Film Series
THE LEAST OF THESE is an hour-long documentary that explores one of the most controversial aspects of American immigration policy: family detention. The facility was initially activated with little media attention or public knowledge. The film explores the government rationale for family detention, conditions at the T. Don Hutto Residential Center, collateral damage, and the role - and limits - of community activism in bringing change. The film considers how core American rights and values – presumption of innocence, the protection of children, upholding the family structure
as the basic unit of civil society, and America as a refuge of last resort – should apply to immigrants, particularly children. Join us after the film for a panel discussion, featuring Lisa Graybill, Legal Director of the ACLU of Texas - and one of the ACLU attorneys who helped to litigate the Hutto Detention Facility case!
Monday, December 7, 7:00 p.m.
Salt Lake City Main Downtown Library
More information (PDF) >>
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