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 >>

2008

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)

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)

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)

U.S. v. Esparza-Mendoza (2004)

Alvarez v. State of Utah (2001)

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)

“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)

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