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.

A photo collage featuring a group of protesters, a mother hugging her son, and the Statue of Liberty.

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 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.

The Latest


News & Commentary
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ACLU-NC Condemns ICE's Secretive Deal to Reopen Private Prison for Immigration Detention

ACLU-NC condemns ICE's contract to reopen the GEO Group-owned Rivers Facility in Winton, calls for transparency and accountability.
Press Release
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ACLU-NC Files Damages Claims Against the Federal Government on Behalf of North Carolinians Harmed by Immigration Agents

Claims filed across 17 states and Washington, D.C. under the Federal Tort Claims Act seek justice for citizens and noncitizens alike harmed by federal immigration agents and accountability for the federal administration’s violent and lawless agenda
Issue Areas: Immigrants' Rights
Press Release
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ACLU-NC, NC Justice Center Urge Counties to Comply with Limits on Immigration Detention Amid Reports of Over-Detentions

Issue Areas: Immigrants' Rights
Press Release
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ICE Plans to Open Detention Center in NC by End of 2026

Issue Areas: Immigrants' Rights

Cases, Campaigns & Legislation


Legislation
May 6, 2026

HB 1061: Plyler Educational Protections Act

The Plyler Educational Protections Act would establish statewide protections for public education and privacy for all students, regardless of immigration status.
Position: Support
Legislation
May 12, 2025

HB 690: Bar Immigrants from Public Services

This bill requires multiple state agencies to verify immigration status and/or take measures to prevent undocumented immigrants from accessing public services.
Status: Passed House
Position: Oppose
Legislation
May 12, 2025

HB 318: Cooperation with ICE Expansion

This bill expands upon the provisions in HB 10, which requires sheriffs to cooperate with ICE.
Status: Became Law Over Governor's Veto
Position: Oppose
Legislation
May 12, 2025

HB 261: Increase Penalties for Immigrants

This bill would increase penalties for unrelated crimes committed by people who have been previously removed from the U.S.
Status: Passed House
Position: Oppose