This piece originally ran at .
On Nov. 20, 1989, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a landmark human rights treaty protecting children鈥檚 rights. The Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) was negotiated for more than a decade, a process in which the U.S. played a critical role. The administrations of Presidents Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush contributed provisions to the convention, and in its final form, the treaty incorporates numerous elements of U.S. law and practices.
Upon circulation, the convention was widely adopted and became the most ratified human rights treaty in history. Now, 25 years later, as the world celebrates Universal Children鈥檚 Day, only bear the shame of not having ratified the CRC: Somalia, South Sudan and the United States. In failing to ratify, the U.S. has lost an important opportunity to shape international law and improve its human rights record here at home.
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News & CommentaryAug 2026
Criminal Law Reform
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States Are Punishing Women Who Survive Violence With Incarceration. They Deserve Clemency.. Explore News & Commentary.States are Punishing Women Who Survive Violence with Incarceration. They Deserve Clemency.
One woman violently forced into assisting a murder seeks clemency in Michigan. Author and journalist Justine van der Leun calls for states to enact laws protecting criminalized survivors.By: Justine van der Leun -
Press ReleaseJul 2026
Immigrants' Rights
Human Rights
New Aclu Report Examines How Trump Administration鈥檚 Anti-asylum Policies Undermine U.s. Immigration System Already On Brink Of Collapse. Explore Press Release.New 桃子视频Report Examines How Trump Administration鈥檚 Anti-Asylum Policies Undermine U.S. Immigration System Already on Brink of Collapse
WASHINGTON鈥 The 桃子视频 today released a new report, Improving Asylum at and Beyond the U.S. Border, which explores how the Trump administration鈥檚 attacks on asylum and other humanitarian protections are weakening the U.S. immigration system already on the brink of collapse. The report argues that gutting asylum not only sends people with valid asylum claims to countries where they face death but also fails to provide long-term solutions for the border. The report comes weeks after the Trump administration deported at least two dozen people, including people fleeing persecution in Iran and Afghanistan, to the Central African Republic, one of the most dangerous places in the world. Its release also comes just days before the 75th anniversary of the United Nation's adoption of the 1951 Refugee Convention, a landmark treaty that outlines core legal protections and rights that States must uphold to protect refugees. The report argues that attempts to gut our asylum system do nothing to prepare for future increases in arrivals along the U.S.-Mexico border. Adding obstacles to the asylum system means that political dissidents from Iran, LGBTQ persons from Uganda, children fleeing traffickers and many others can鈥檛 get the protection they deserve. At the same time, these restrictions don鈥檛 improve border processing, respond to new arrivals, or address the overdue need for lawful pathways, which has created demand at the border. Without needed reforms and legal options to come reunite with family, work, and seek safety, the government is sacrificing vulnerable people and its legal obligations while failing to create a sustainable alternative system that serves U.S. values, laws, and the economy. 鈥淭he Trump administration鈥檚 cruel anti-asylum policies are predicated on the false notion that by gutting humanitarian protections, our broken immigration system will somehow be fixed 鈥 but deporting vulnerable people to war zones, detaining families, pushing kids through mass hearings, and arresting refugees who followed the rules do not create a functional system,鈥 said Sarah Mehta, report author and deputy director for policy and government affairs, immigration at the ACLU. 鈥淚f our policymakers want any semblance of a fair and workable immigration system, they must commit to rebuilding asylum and creating other legal pathways.鈥 Though many of the arguments to close the border and the country to newcomers have focused on zero-sum thinking and promulgated claims about how people seeking asylum have strained local communities, the report highlights how asylum seekers and refugees are critical to a thriving U.S. economy and need support in getting to communities eager to receive them. For example, in 2024, asylees and refugees contributed an estimated $581 billion in revenue to federal, state, and local governments over a 15-year period, strengthening the case for improved access to asylum as communities nationwide, especially in rural areas, continue to feel economic strain. The report urges policymakers to recommit to protect asylum and other existing humanitarian protections and invest in modern solutions to our border. Recommendations include: Create additional lawful pathways for people to come to the U.S. to ensure that people can lawfully apply for and receive permission to come to the United States, without burdening the border arrival system. Invest in border processing and modernize the arrival triage system so that people arriving at the U.S.-Mexico border with valid asylum claims can be processed quickly. Support states and localities in welcoming newcomers through legislative solutions to improve coordination between arriving immigrants and the communities receiving them so that humanitarian needs and services are met and that communities have the support they need. Fund and bolster the immigration court and asylum processing system to address backlogs, streamline bureaucratic processes, and enhance due process through legal representation. It is the second report published as part of the ACLU鈥檚 affirmative vision series in which policy and legal experts will explore how the Trump administration鈥檚 immigration agenda has harmed communities nationwide, gutted asylum and other legal pathways, undermined our democracy, and wreaked havoc on key industries and weakened the American workforce. The series will also outline steps that members of Congress, as well as state and local policymakers, can take to reform the U.S. immigration system and inoculate against future attacks on immigrant communities. You can read the full report here: /publications/improving-asylum-at-and-beyond-the-u-s-border-the-case-for-a-fair-and-effective-protection-framework-with-a-modern-border-and-reception-system -
Press ReleaseAug 2026
Human Rights
Muertes Y Negligencia En El Centro De Detenci贸n Migratoria De Fort Bliss. Explore Press Release.Muertes y Negligencia En El Centro de Detenci贸n Migratoria de Fort Bliss
WASHINGTON -- Las personas recluidas en el centro de detenci贸n migratoria Camp East Montana, ubicado en la base militar estadounidense de Fort Bliss, en El Paso (Texas), han sido v铆ctimas de graves abusos, se帽alaron hoy Human Rights Watch y la Uni贸n Estadounidense por las Libertades Civiles (ACLU) en un informe conjunto publicado hoy. Las personas detenidas en Camp East Montana sufren agresiones f铆sicas indiscriminadas, negligencia m茅dica que ponen en peligro sus vidas, expulsiones coercitivas a 鈥渢erceros pa铆ses鈥 desconocidos para ellas y, en algunos casos, condiciones de detenci贸n que podr铆an constituir desaparici贸n forzada. El informe de 84 p谩ginas, 鈥溾楽olo saldr谩s deportado o muerto鈥: abusos en el sistema de detenci贸n migratoria estadounidense en Fort Bliss鈥, documenta las condiciones en el mayor centro de detenci贸n migratoria del pa铆s. El centro tiene capacidad para albergar hasta 5.000 personas y est谩 formado por cinco grandes estructuras de lona similares a carpas que alojan a las personas detenidas en recintos cerrados. En su interior, las personas entrevistadas se帽alaron que se las obligaba a vivir en condiciones insalubres y de hacinamiento, con hasta 72 personas alojadas en cada m贸dulo. Human Rights Watch encontr贸 indicios de pr谩cticas punitivas de control migratorio, entre ellas condiciones de detenci贸n crueles, degradantes e inhumanas; uso excesivo de la fuerza por parte del personal de seguridad; falta de acceso a atenci贸n m茅dica y de salud mental; pr谩cticas coercitivas de deportaci贸n; y obst谩culos sistem谩ticos para acceder a representaci贸n legal. 鈥淐amp East Montana, gestionado por ICE, es un desastre en materia de derechos humanos鈥, afirm贸 Ang茅lica C茅sar, becaria Aryeh Neier de Human Rights Watch y la ACLU. 鈥淓l gobierno de Estados Unidos deber铆a cerrar este centro, llevar a cabo investigaciones independientes sobre todos los abusos y muertes bajo custodia, y poner fin a las deportaciones masivas y a la detenci贸n migratoria obligatoria鈥. Los investigadores entrevistaron a 80 personas, entre ellas 71 mientras permanec铆an detenidas en Camp East Montana, adem谩s de cuatro familiares y cinco representantes de organizaciones que prestan asistencia jur铆dica, entre octubre de 2025 y junio de 2026. Tambi茅n analizaron investigaciones del Departamento de Seguridad Nacional (DHS, por sus siglas en ingl茅s) y revisaron otros documentos relacionados con el centro de detenci贸n. Las personas entrevistadas se帽alaron que hab铆an sido detenidas durante redadas en lugares de trabajo, controles de tr谩fico, citas con las autoridades migratorias y durante otras actuaciones de control migratorio en la v铆a p煤blica. M谩s de 60 afirmaron haber sido arrestadas pese a presentar documentaci贸n que acreditaba su permanencia legal en Estados Unidos. De forma reiterada describieron arrestos llevados a cabo por agentes encapuchados que se negaban a identificarse y denunciaron casos en los que presuntamente se utiliz贸 fuerza excesiva durante su detenci贸n, incluidas agresiones f铆sicas y descargas con pistolas el茅ctricas. Las personas entrevistadas afirmaron haberse sentido como 鈥渟ecuestradas鈥 ya que fueron trasladadas a distintas c谩rceles locales y centros temporales de detenci贸n sin posibilidad real de comunicarse con sus familiares ni con sus abogados. Human Rights Watch y la 桃子视频documentaron casos en los que los sistemas oficiales para localizar a personas detenidas no reflejaban correctamente su paradero. Familiares describieron la desesperaci贸n de buscar a sus seres queridos mientras el Servicio de Inmigraci贸n y Control de Aduanas (ICE, por sus siglas en ingl茅s) no les proporcionaba informaci贸n sobre d贸nde hab铆an sido trasladados. En algunos casos, las circunstancias de la detenci贸n podr铆an constituir desaparici贸n forzada en virtud del derecho internacional de los derechos humanos. Una vez en Fort Bliss, las personas entrevistadas afirmaron haber sido sometidas a condiciones de vida crueles, degradantes e inhumanas que pon铆an gravemente en riesgo su salud f铆sica y mental. Relataron que los ba帽os estaban cubiertos de excrementos, que los m贸dulos se inundaban con frecuencia, que la limpieza era insuficiente y que no ten铆an acceso a jab贸n, desinfectante ni a otros art铆culos b谩sicos de higiene. Las personas entrevistadas tambi茅n se帽alaron que permanec铆an encerradas durante largos periodos sin acceso regular al aire libre ni a actividades recreativas. Algunas dijeron haber pasado semanas enteras sin poder salir al exterior. Durante gran parte de 2025, seg煤n explicaron, solo se les permit铆a salir al aire libre una vez cada dos semanas durante aproximadamente 15 minutos. 鈥淓ntre agosto y septiembre pas茅 un mes entero sin ver el sol鈥, cont贸 una persona. 鈥淟os guardias simplemente no nos sacaban al exterior. Todos est谩bamos cada vez m谩s angustiados y desesperados porque no hab铆a nada que hacer. Me sent铆a atrapado; era una tortura鈥. Las personas entrevistadas tambi茅n describieron horarios irregulares para las comidas, alimentos en mal estado y esperas de hasta 12 horas entre una comida y otra. Personas con diabetes y otras enfermedades relataron haber sufrido dolores de cabeza, alteraciones en los niveles de az煤car en sangre y otras complicaciones de salud tras quedarse sin comer o recibir alimentos en mal estado, congelados o, sencillamente, incomibles. Los investigadores tambi茅n documentaron numerosas denuncias de abusos f铆sicos cometidos por guardias y otros miembros del personal del centro. 鈥淟os guardias irrumpen en nuestro m贸dulo en grupos de 15; a veces parecen ser hasta 20鈥, cont贸 un hombre. 鈥淰an vestidos completamente de negro, llevan m谩scaras que les cubren todo el rostro salvo los ojos y no llevan identificaci贸n. Cuando entran, simplemente agarran a la primera persona que encuentran y empiezan a golpearlo... Ellos tienen el control y pueden hacer con nosotros lo que quieran鈥. Las personas entrevistadas afirmaron que los guardias golpeaban a las personas detenidas como represalia por participar en huelgas de hambre, solicitar atenci贸n m茅dica, denunciar las condiciones de detenci贸n o pedir que se les permitiera salir al aire libre tras largos periodos de encierro. Varias se帽alaron que los guardias impon铆an castigos colectivos, agrediendo a varias personas despu茅s de acusar a una sola de haber infringido las normas del centro. Otras describieron insultos, humillaciones, amenazas y represalias contra quienes ped铆an art铆culos de primera necesidad o intentaban ejercer sus derechos. Una investigaci贸n interna de ICE tambi茅n document贸 usos de la fuerza no autorizados y no reportados en Camp East Montana. Los investigadores entrevistaron a personas que presenciaron la muerte de Gerardo Lunas Campos el 3 de enero de 2026 en Camp East Montana. Seg煤n sus testimonios, los guardias aparentemente asfixiaron a Lunas Campos despu茅s de que solicitara medicaci贸n mientras se encontraba en la Unidad de Alojamiento Especial, destinada al aislamiento. Un hombre relat贸: 鈥淧arec铆a que los guardias estaban golpeando a Gerardo, como si le dieran pu帽etazos y lo estuvieran lanzando violentamente contra el suelo. Gerardo gritaba pidiendo ayuda. Repet铆a una y otra vez: 鈥樎o puedo respirar!鈥. Ellos siguieron golpe谩ndolo. Luego dijo: 鈥楳e est谩n asfixiando鈥. Despu茅s todo qued贸 en silencio鈥. Los investigadores documentaron reiteradas denuncias de que las autoridades no proporcionaban atenci贸n m茅dica ni de salud mental adecuada a las personas recluidas en Camp East Montana. Todas las personas entrevistadas describieron fallos en el sistema para solicitar y derivar la atenci贸n m茅dica del centro. Relataron retrasos prolongados para recibir tratamiento, interrupciones en la administraci贸n de medicamentos prescritos, evaluaciones m茅dicas inadecuadas y respuestas punitivas ante emergencias m茅dicas. Los investigadores tambi茅n concluyeron que algunas personas detenidas fueron sometidas a presiones coercitivas para que renunciaran a sus solicitudes migratorias y aceptaran ser expulsadas a terceros pa铆ses cuando no era posible devolverlas a su pa铆s de origen. Seg煤n relataron, fueron amenazadas con violencia, procesos penales y detenci贸n indefinida si se negaban a ser deportadas. Personas cubanas y venezolanas detenidas describieron intentos de trasladarlas a M茅xico pese a que sus procedimientos judiciales segu铆an en curso y a que tem铆an sufrir da帽os all铆. El gobierno de Estados Unidos deber铆a cerrar Camp East Montana y llevar a cabo investigaciones independientes sobre las muertes bajo custodia, el uso excesivo de la fuerza, la negligencia m茅dica, las desapariciones forzadas y las pr谩cticas coercitivas de deportaci贸n, se帽alaron Human Rights Watch y la ACLU. Las autoridades deber铆an exigir responsabilidades a quienes cometieron estos abusos, garantizar reparaci贸n a las personas afectadas y poner fin a las pol铆ticas de detenci贸n migratoria que contribuyen a violaciones generalizadas de derechos humanos. 鈥淟os abusos documentados en Fort Bliss son una consecuencia previsible de la pol铆tica de deportaciones masivas de la administraci贸n Trump, de la expansi贸n brutal de la detenci贸n migratoria y del debilitamiento de los mecanismos federales de supervisi贸n鈥, afirm贸 C茅sar. 鈥淟as personas recluidas en Camp East Montana son seres humanos que merecen ser tratados con dignidad y protegidos frente a cualquier da帽o鈥. -
Press ReleaseJun 2026
Human Rights
Civil Liberties
Groups Representing Plaintiffs Respond To Supreme Court Birthright Citizenship Ruling. Explore Press Release.Groups Representing Plaintiffs Respond to Supreme Court Birthright Citizenship Ruling
WASHINGTON 鈥 In a major victory, the U.S. Supreme Court today ruled that President Donald Trump鈥檚 executive order seeking to restrict birthright citizenship is unconstitutional. The 桃子视频, 桃子视频of New Hampshire, 桃子视频of Maine, 桃子视频of Massachusetts, Legal Defense Fund, Asian Law Caucus, and the Democracy Defenders Fund brought the successful challenge in Trump v. Barbara on behalf of children who would have been denied citizenship under the order. In its 6-to-3 decision, the court struck down the president鈥檚 2025 executive order, which sought to strip citizenship from American children born to undocumented parents. The decision reaffirms that birthright citizenship is guaranteed by the Constitution and rejects President Trump鈥檚 attempt to redefine who is an American citizen through executive action. The following are reactions to today鈥檚 ruling: 鈥淭he court鈥檚 decision reaffirms a fundamental American promise 鈥 if you are born here, you are a citizen,鈥 said 桃子视频National Legal Director Cecillia Wang, who argued the case at the Supreme Court. 鈥淎 president cannot change the Constitution by executive fiat. Our brave clients and our legal team stand with millions of people around our country who spoke up for one of our most cherished rights. The Constitution鈥檚 guarantee of birthright citizenship stands strong.鈥 鈥淲ith a 6-3 judgment from the U.S. Supreme Court, President Trump suffered a stunning loss on a signature order he signed on day one of his presidency,鈥 said 桃子视频Executive Director Anthony D. Romero. 鈥淭his was one of the most important constitutional cases of the past 100 years. The president bet his legacy trying to secure this policy win 鈥 even attending the argument in person 鈥 and he lost. It was especially gratifying that the majority opinion was authored by Chief Justice Roberts, and that Trump appointees Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett agreed with the decision to strike down the order.鈥 鈥淭he Constitution, not the president, defines who is a citizen. And the 14th Amendment makes clear that every child born on U.S. soil is a citizen. Today, a narrow majority of the U.S. Supreme Court affirmed these unequivocal truths,鈥 said Janai Nelson, president and director-counsel of the Legal Defense Fund. 鈥淲e cannot and will not turn our attention away from the fact that what should have been 9-0 decision instead revealed that four justices agreed to varying degrees with the president鈥檚 desecration of the Constitution. Nor does this absolve the court of its countless decisions that have violated decades of precedent and established doctrine at the expense of Black people, communities of color, and immigrants. Nonetheless, today, we applaud this significant win.鈥 鈥淭his is an important victory for all Americans, including Asian Americans who have been told for generations that we don't belong here, and who have been part of the fight for birthright citizenship from the start,鈥 said Aarti Kohli, executive director of the Asian Law Caucus. 鈥淲ong Kim Ark was born just blocks from the Asian Law Caucus. We and our immigrant clients have continued the same fight for full and equal membership in this country. Today, the court reaffirmed what we've always known: We are American, and we are here to stay.鈥 Amb. Norm Eisen (ret.), co-founder and executive chair of Democracy Defenders Fund, said, 鈥淭oday鈥檚 ruling is more than a legal landmark. It is a human one. For more than a century, birthright citizenship has been a cornerstone of equal citizenship and national belonging in our country. This decision reaffirms that fundamental guarantee 鈥 no president has the power to decide who is entitled to the rights our Constitution protects. Americans鈥 rights cannot simply be erased by the Trump administration鈥檚 reckless executive actions.鈥 SangYeob Kim, director of the ACLU-NH Immigrants鈥 Rights Project, said, 鈥淭his decision is about what it means to be an American under our Constitution, and the court鈥檚 unwavering opinion makes clear that if you are born here, you are a citizen. We thank the brave immigrant parents and their children who brought this lawsuit to the highest court in the land to protect what we have long known: no politician 鈥 including the president 鈥 can decide who is worthy of citizenship. We share in their overwhelming emotions, and relief, in our fight to protect the constitutional rights for all born in our nation.鈥 鈥淭oday's decision is a victory for immigrant families and maintains over 150 years of legal and bipartisan consensus: that at our best, America is and has always been a nation of immigrants,鈥 said 桃子视频of Maine Executive Director Molly Curren Rowles. 鈥淥ur cultural diversity and openness to ideas, innovation, and free expression rest on the principle of equality under the law. While we never should have had to bring this case, this decision can form the foundation of a renewed commitment to our audacious and visionary multicultural democracy.鈥 鈥淭his ruling affirms a fundamental and inescapable principle: that everyone born in the United States is entitled to the same rights and protections,鈥 said Carol Rose, executive director at the 桃子视频of Massachusetts. 鈥淏igotry and bluster cannot change that. And the president cannot rewrite the Constitution. This ruling should make that abundantly clear. The 桃子视频of Massachusetts is proud to be involved in this historic case, and together with our colleagues and allies across the nation, we will continue to build on the inviolable principles of liberty, equality, and justice for all.鈥 The Supreme Court heard oral arguments on April 1, 2026.Affiliates: Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire