Press Releases

Mother of Slain Mexican Teen Sues U.S. Border Patrol Agents, Seeks Trial in Shooting Death of Her Son

TUCSON – Araceli Rodriguez, the mother of slain Mexican teen Jose Antonio Elena Rodriguez, filed a federal lawsuit today in Arizona to pursue justice for her son, who was killed nearly two years ago by U.S. Border Patrol agents, identified only as John Does in the lawsuit.

Federal Appeals Court Rules Arizona Must End Ban on Drivers’ Licenses for DREAMers

PHOENIX – Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer was wrong to bar some young immigrants from receiving driver’s licenses, a panel of federal judges ruled today.
Issue Areas: Immigrants' Rights

ACLU Claim Reveals Tucson Police Continue Rights Violations Under SB 1070 Law

TUCSON – The American Civil Liberties Union has initiated a second legal claim against the Tucson Police Department (TPD) after finding that the implementation of the “show me your papers” provision of SB 1070 continues to result in the violation of people’s constitutional rights.

Coalition Files New Suit to Halt Arpaio’s Workplace Raids

PHOENIX – Several Maricopa County residents, joined by immigrant rights and civil rights groups, will today announce the filing of a new class-action lawsuit,Puente Arizona v. Arpaio, which challenges the County’s enforcement of two state laws that turn immigrants into felons.
Issue Areas: Immigrants' Rights

Detainees at Pinal County Jail Demand End to Detention Contract with ICE

PHOENIX and TUCSON – Earlier this week, 150 men detained at the Pinal County Jail (PCJ) in Florence, Arizona signed and released a letter documenting the facility’s deplorable conditions and calling on Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to end its detention contract with the jail.

Unaccompanied immigrant children report serious abuse by U.S. officials during detention

CHICAGO, LOS ANGELES, PHOENIX and MIAMI—Widespread abuse of unaccompanied immigrant children at the hands of U.S. border officials spurred a group of civil and human rights organizations to file a complaint today on behalf of more than 100 children, each of whom reported experiencing abuse.
Issue Areas: Immigrants' Rights

South Tucson Officials Agree to Comprehensive Revision of Police Practices Related to SB 1070

SOUTH TUCSON, ARIZ.—The American Civil Liberties Union and officials of South Tucson late yesterday signed a comprehensive settlement overhauling the South Tucson Police Department’s policies with respect to immigration enforcement.
Issue Areas: Immigrants' Rights

Federal Court Deals New Blow to Arizona’s Anti-Immigrant SB 1070

Today, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals issued an opinion upholding a preliminary injunction against the "harboring" provision of Arizona's SB 1070 law. The harboring provision was blocked by the district court in September of 2012, and the state of Arizona appealed to the Ninth Circuit.
Issue Areas: Immigrants' Rights