Press Releases

Pregnant mother and toddler with disabilities ordered “not to spend another night in Dulles”

“No one should be subjected to the inhumane conditions they endured and we will keep fighting the Trump administration’s illegal detention of people without due process,” said ACLU-VA Executive Director Mary Bauer.
Issue Areas: Immigrants' Rights
Court Cases: Gyasi v. Scott

Trump admin illegally holds pregnant mother and toddler with disabilities for a week at Dulles Airport

“She is just one of a number of pregnant people who’ve been detained in shocking numbers in the wake of President Trump’s executive order trying to end birthright citizenship – and it has to stop,” said ACLU-VA Senior Immigrants’ Right Attorney Sophia Gregg.
Issue Areas: Immigrants' Rights
Court Cases: Gyasi v. Scott

Gov. Spanberger allows ICE to continue making arrests inside Virginia’s courthouses

“The governor’s actions today constitute a voluntary surrender to the Trump administration and its lawless anti-immigrant agenda," said ACLU-VA Policy Director Chris Kaiser.
Issue Areas: Immigrants' Rights

ICE ordered to release man detained at a Virginia courthouse and unlawfully held for more than nine months

“Alex arrived in this country after enduring unimaginable circumstances, and he should never have been detained in the first place,” said ACLU-VA Senior Immigrants' Rights Attorney Sophia Gregg.
Issue Areas: Immigrants' Rights

Thousands of disproportionately impacted Black Virginians should finally have their voting rights restored on June 1

“We are committed to working with the Commonwealth to implement this historic expansion of voting rights and ensure newly eligible voters know their rights have been restored," said ACLU-VA Senior Supervising Attorney Vishal Agraharkar.
Court Cases: King v. Youngkin

Lawmakers reject Gov. Spanberger’s attempt to gut legislation that would protect Virginia’s courthouses from ICE’s warrantless arrests

“When ICE can lawlessly stalk Virginians through the halls of our courts, the rule of law itself is under attack. We can’t let our courthouses serve as places where people are hunted instead of heard,” said ACLU-VA Policy Director Chris Kaiser
Issue Areas: Immigrants' Rights

Virginians' protection from discrimination still two-tiered after Gov. Spanberger signs Virginia Human Rights Act without closing loophole

“If public institutions can still shield themselves from accountability for discrimination, then the law still falls short where it matters most,” said ACLU-VA Policy Director Chris Kaiser.
Issue Areas: LGBTQ+ Rights

Gov. Spanberger restores Virginia’s election integrity by focusing on data, not conspiracy theories

“In order for democracy to function as intended, every eligible voter must have the opportunity to participate in the democratic process,” said ACLU-VA Policy Director Chris Kaiser.
Issue Areas: Voting Rights

Religious belief does not give employers license to fire transgender employees

“Christianity has been so weaponized against the LGBTQ community, but there doesn’t need to be a conflict: you can be transgender and Christian. I am," said ACLU-VA client Ellenor Zinski.
Issue Areas: LGBTQ+ Rights