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2026 General Assembly

Stay informed about significant bills in Virginia's 2026 legislative session that will impact Virginians' civil rights and liberties.
News & Commentary
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Justice-Impacted Voices: Freedom to be Paulettra

Paulettra James is married to Jerry James, who is incarcerated. She co-founded Sistas in Prison Reform to bring her husband home from prison. Here's her story.
Know Your Rights
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Know Your Rights: Immigrants Stopped By Police or ICE

Regardless of your immigration status, you have guaranteed rights under the Constitution. Help make sure everyone knows their rights.
Action | Take Action
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Become a Member

We fight every day in the courts, in the legislature, and in our communities to create a Virginia for all. But we can’t do it alone.

Press Releases

Jan 18, 2026

Gov. Spanberger's executive order is the first step to make sure Virginia law enforcement is not a tool for ICE

“To make her vision into a reality, the governor must terminate the state’s existing 287g agreements and Virginia lawmakers must deliver meaningful legislation to her desk to protect Virginians,” said ACLU-VA Executive Director Mary Bauer.

Jan 16, 2026

Virginians will get to vote directly on whether to enshrine critical civil rights and civil liberties in our state constitution

"Amending Virginia’s constitution is a vital part of shoring up our rights here at home and putting them firmly out of reach of partisan politics," said ACLU-VA Executive Director Mary Bauer.

Jan 08, 2026

Virginia Department of Corrections has not been vindicated of abuse, neglect, racism, and retaliation at Red Onion State Prison

"Lawmakers gave the ombudsman’s office the authority to bring transparency to VDOC, not to shield it from allegations of wrongdoing," said ACLU-VA Senior Supervising Attorney Vishal Agraharkar.

Issues We're Monitoring

Criminal Legal Reform First Amendment Rights Immigrants' Rights LGBTQ+ Rights Reproductive Rights Voting Rights View All Issues

Featured Case

We are taking legal action to defend immigrants' rights, protect transgender people from discrimination, fight back against censorship efforts, and do so much more to defend civil rights and civil liberties across the Commonwealth.
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Sarmiento et al. v. Perry et al.

The ACLU of Virginia filed a class action lawsuit on behalf of four young people and a class of those in similar circumstances who Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) are unlawfully holding in Virginia detention centers, flagrantly ignoring federal laws that give these young immigrants a legal right to be in the United States.