Rights of Immigrants

Upholding the rights of the politically disenfranchised is vital; when the government has the power to deny legal rights and due process to one group of people, it puts all our rights in danger. The ACLU works to uphold the due process and equal protection clauses embodied in our Constitution and Bill of Rights, which apply to every “person,” and are not limited to U.S. citizens. Other immigrants’ rights issues that the ACLU works to address include prolonged detention periods, the application of labor laws to non-citizens, legal residents, and Americans alike, as well as violations of the Fourth Amendment’s prohibition of warrantless intrusions into private homes. The ACLU of Colorado has filed suits challenging federal detention proceeding regulations and alleging illegal imprisonment of a man held for 47 days instead of 48 hours because of suspected immigration violations.