Press Releases

NFL Players, Justice Advocates Pay Bail to Free Immigration Activist Jose Bello

BAKERSFIELD — Farm worker and immigration activist Jose Bello, who was arrested and imprisoned by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents shortly after reciting an anti-ICE and Trump administration poem at a public meeting, has been freed. His ICE-imposed bail of $50,000 was paid by:

ACLU Files Lawsuit on Behalf of Humanitarian Activists Targeted by Trump Officials

LOS ANGELES — Humanitarian activists on both sides of the U.S./Mexico border who provided aid to migrants were widely lauded for their service. But to the Trump administration, they were an enemy that had to be stopped. In March, it was revealed that the federal government operated a covert surveil

Court Rejects ACLU Bid to Release Rights Activist Jose Bello

SAN FRANCISCO – A federal court judge in San Francisco rejected a First Amendment lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union Foundation of Southern California regarding farm worker and college student Jose Bello, now imprisoned at Mesa Verde detention center in Bakersfield. Bello was arrest

ACLU Back in Court to Challenge Orange County Jailhouse Informant Program

SANTA ANA — The American Civil Liberties Union, the ACLU Foundation of Southern California, and the law firm of Munger, Tolles & Olson LLP today filed an appeal to a court ruling on its lawsuit against Orange County's District Attorney and Sheriff, whose departments conducted a secret jailhouse info

California Bill to Reduce Police Killings, Hold Officers Accountable Advances in Legislature

SACRAMENTO — Today, the California Assembly voted to pass Assembly Bill 392: The California Act to Save Lives, critical legislation that will change the use of force standard in California to a "necessary" standard to reduce the number of police shootings. If passed and signed into law, AB 392 will

UCLA Falsely Claims Bear Used by Palestinian Rights Group is a Trademark Violation

A 'Cease and Desist' Threat from the University is the Latest Attempt to Silence the Group LOS ANGELES — The ACLU Foundation of Southern California & Palestine Legal today wrote to the University of California Los Angeles to strongly refute the school's claim that a bear logo used by a Palestinian

Governor Brown Signs Landmark Police Reform Legislation Sponsored by ACLU of California

Sacramento — Today, Governor Jerry Brown signed Senate Bill 1421 (Skinner) and Assembly Bill 748 (Ting), historic police reform legislation sponsored by the ACLU of California. Peter Bibring, Director of Police Practices for the ACLU of California, responded with the following statement: