Immigrants' Rights

When the government has the power to deny legal rights and due process to one vulnerable group, everyone’s rights are at risk.

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Immigrants' Rights in North Carolina

287g Agreements in North Carolina

  • A 287(g) agreement gives local law enforcement the power to enforce federal immigration law—something they normally cannot do. These agreements turn local officers into Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, fueling deportations, racial profiling, and fear in immigrant communities.

Faces of North Carolina

  • The Faces of North Carolina is a video series campaign dedicated to highlighting the stories of immigrants and their families living across our state. At a time when anti-immigrant rhetoric is growing, this campaign seeks to humanize the individuals behind these harmful narratives and demonstrate the vital role immigrants play in the prosperity of North Carolina.

We Have Rights

  • An empowerment campaign to prepare for and safely defend our rights during encounters with Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Information for Immigrant Driver's License Applicants

  • The NCDMV recently issued a Declaratory Ruling in March 2023 addressing some of the issues immigrants have experienced obtaining full-term, eight-year driver’s licenses and putting new rules in place for immigrants applying for driver’s licenses in North Carolina.

Immigrant Civil Rights Assistance Request Form

  • A form intended for attorneys who serve immigrant communities, either in civil or criminal court, and who are aware of potential civil rights violations occurring in those communities. It is not intended to be used to locate an immigration attorney (i.e., an attorney to defend against deportation or apply for immigration relief); individuals seeking those referrals may consult general directories, such as the Find a Lawyer page on the website for the American Immigration Lawyers Association.

The Latest

News & Commentary
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SB153 – Anti-Immigrant “North Carolina Border Protection Act” Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Senate Bill 153, also called the "North Carolina Border Protection Act", is a blatant attack on immigrant communties in North Carolina. After becoming law when the General Assembly overrode the Governor's veto, SB153 forces state law enforcement agencies to partner with ICE, prevents local governments and universities from protecting immigrant communities, and creates additional barriers to public benefit access. This FAQ answers your questions about what the law does, which agencies are affected, and what rights you have, regardless of your immigration status.
News & Commentary
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Proyecto de Ley del Senado 153 – Ley de Protección Fronteriza de Carolina del Norte contra Inmigrantes: Preguntas Frecuentes (FAQ)

El Proyecto de Ley del Senado 153, también llamado como "La Acta de Protección fronteriza de Carolina del Norte" es un ataque evidente hacia la comunidad inmigrante en Carolina del Norte. Tras convertirse en ley cuando la Asamblea General de Carolina del Norte anulo el veto del gobernador, el Proyecto de Ley del Senado 153, fuerza la participación de agencias del orden estatales con ICE , impide que los gobiernos locales y universidades protejan a comunidades inmigrantes, y crea barreras adicionales al acceso de beneficios públicos. Estas preguntas frecuentes (FAQ), contestan sus preguntas sobre lo que hace esta ley, cuales agencias son afectadas, y cuales son sus derechos a pesar de su estado migratorio.
Press Release
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NCGA Overrides Governor’s Veto on SB 153, Expands ICE Powers Despite Documented Abuses and No Accountability

Issue Areas: Immigrants' Rights
Resource
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287(g) Agreements in North Carolina

A 287(g) agreement gives local law enforcement the power to enforce federal immigration law—something they normally cannot do. These agreements turn local officers into Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, fueling deportations, racial profiling, and fear in immigrant communities.
Court Case
March 3, 2026

Aceituno Damages Claim

Court Case
February 25, 2026

Aceituno v. USDHS

Court Case
May 23, 2023

FLOC v. Stein

North Carolina farmworkers and a coalition of civil rights groups are challenging a state law that guts the ability of farmworkers to organize and make collective bargaining agreements with employers.
Court Case
April 12, 2017

Public Records on President Trump's Muslim Bans

ACLU affiliates across the country filed 13 separate Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) lawsuits demanding government documents about the on-the-ground implementation of President Trump’s Muslim bans.