(Sacramento) The School Success and Opportunity Act (AB 1266), authored by Assemblymember Tom Ammiano, has passed the Assembly Education Committee by a vote of 5-2. The School Success and Opportunity Act addresses the exclusion of transgender students from classes and activities, and clarifies existing anti-discrimination law to provide clear protections to transgender students.

(Los Angeles) A panel of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals today ruled that immigrants who have experienced prolonged detention have a right to a bond hearing to determine whether or not they should continue to be detained.

(Los Angeles) Today, the ACLU of Southern California (ACLU/SC) is proud to announce that its Deputy Executive Director James Gilliam is a recipient of Loyola Law School’s Outlaw Alumni of the Year Award. Gilliam received his law degree from Loyola Law School in 2003 and has been one of its most active alumni.  The Outlaw Alumni Award is bestowed on graduates who demonstrate, in their practice of law and public service, a deep concern for social justice and an unwavering commitment to advance the rights of the LGBT community.

On Friday, March 29th, ICE closed the deportation case of Ruth Montaño, the Bakersfield mother who faced deportation following her arrest for having dogs that barked too much.  ICE’s announcement that it would not seek to deport Ruth came just days after the ACLU of Southern California (ACLU/SC) and Cuentame, a Latino organization that uses social media to shine the light on social justice issues, released a short video about her case.  The ACLU of Southern California applauds ICE for taking swift action to correct its mistakes, as Ruth never should have been placed in deportation proceedings in the first place.

Today the ACLU Foundation of Southern California (ACLU/SC) sent a letter to the Anaheim City Council it to establish a Civilian Police Review Board to promote police accountability and restore community trust in the police force. The letter details the limitations of the current oversight structure for allegations of police misconduct in Anaheim, including a lack of transparency, a lack of impartiality, and an absence of resident involvement.

Update! ICE closes deportation case against Ruth Montaño When Sheriff’s Department officials sought to detain and deport a mother of three because her small dogs were barking too loudly, the ACLU of California intervened, citing her case as a prime example of how racial profiling has crept into local law enforcement practices.  Today, the ACLU of California and Cuéntame, a project of Brave New Foundation, are premiering a video about the case of Ruth Montaño, and concurrently are launching an advocacy campaign asking the public to call for reform at the state and federal level and on ICE to immediately terminate deportation proceedings against her.

“Immigration reform must improve the severe civil liberties problems built into our current system,” said Ahilan Arulanantham, ACLU senior staff attorney, before testifying at a Senate hearing. “Every person in the United States, including all immigrants, has fundamental rights under our Constitution, including the due process right to a fair day in court before being locked away for months in an immigration prison or permanently banished from our country.

The ACLU Foundation of Southern California (ACLU/SC), and the law firm of Nixon Peabody LLP sent a letter to administrators at Sultana High School and the Hesperia Unified School District in San Bernardino County demanding that school officials stop censoring the speech and activities of the Gay Straight Alliance (GSA) school club, stop discriminating against lesbian, bisexual, gay, transgender and queer/questioning (LBGTQ) students in the school, and allow students to wear gender non-conforming clothing to the upcoming prom.  

Assemblymember Tom Ammiano has introduced the School Success and Opportunity Act, Assembly Bill 1266, co-authored by Senator Mark Leno and Senator Ricardo Lara. The bill will ensure that California public schools understand their responsibility for the success and well-being of all students, including transgender students, and will allow transgender students to fully participate in all school activities, programs, and facilities.