ACLU of Arizona

The Arizona Supreme Court has allowed Proposition 314, the unlawful, anti-immigrant legislative referral formerly known as HCR 2060, onto the ballot.

This proposition will do far more to hurt Arizonans than protect us. It’s now up to voters to stop this egregious attack on our communities.

Border measure headed to ballot | Arizona Capitol Times A measure creating new criminal statutes barring illegal border crossings and enhancing drug offenses to include the sale of “lethal fentanyl” was cleared to go to voters by the Arizona Supreme Court Tuesday.

Arizona’s drug policies aren’t working and the harsh penalties for drug use are failing us. Harm reduction offers a better path, focusing on treatment and support.

Read more on why Arizona needs to take a harm reduction centered approach to drug policy here:

Arizona's War on Drugs It’s no secret that Arizona’s public officials fully bought into the War on Drugs; it has overwhelmingly affected the state’s policy, public health, and law enforcement landscape for decades. What you may not know is that Arizona’s punitive response to drugs is even older than the nationwide...

With primaries complete, it’s time to look ahead to the November. Our rights depend on it.

Join us on Tuesday, August 6 at 6:30 pm in central Phoenix to make sure you're prepared for the general election! We'll go over your rights at the ballot box, how to become a poll monitor to ensure accessible elections, and how to get involved in our campaign efforts in a way that works for you.

Democracy Defense Kickoff with the ACLU of Arizona! · ACLU of Arizona Join the ACLU of Arizona for our Democracy Defense Kick Off Event! This community event will ensure you're as prepared for the upcoming election as possible. We'll go over your rights at the ballot box, how to become a poll monitor to ensure safe and accessible elections, and how to get further invo...

Today is Primary Election Day! If you haven't voted yet, you can go to a polling location near you to vote in-person or drop off your ballot.

Visit https://www.acluaz.org/en/voter-information-hub to find essential links and resources as you head to the polls!

This story is one of many. Migrant advocacy groups in the Southwest have documented well over 1,200 cases where Border Patrol has confiscated medicine and not replaced it. In many cases, this has resulted in someone needing emergency medical attention.

31 members of Congress have signed a letter joining our efforts to urge Border Patrol to stop these confiscations — but our work isn’t over until we see actionable policy change.

These original illustrations were created by and inspired by our “From Hope to Heartbreak” report.

🔗Visit our bio link to read more about the latest developments to end harmful property confiscation at the border.

We released a report detailing how CBP was unlawfully confiscating and discarding migrants’ belongings. Since then, 31 members of Congress and +1000 supporters joined us in urging them to stop — but our work isn’t over until we see real change.

Read our latest blog post by border policy strategist, Noah Schramm, for the latest update on our efforts and to learn how you can take action.

Will Border Patrol finally stop destroying migrants' belongings? Here’s what we know. Twenty-seven House members and four U.S. Senators sent an open letter to Troy Miller, the Acting Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) last week, calling on the agency to finally address a longstanding practice of the U.S. Border Patrol: needlessly stripping migrants of their most...

Friendly reminder: it is NOT reccomended to mail in your ballot if you still have it. Instead, you can drop it off at a drop box or voting location now until July 30 at 7 pm.

Visit arizona.vote to find a voting location near you!

TODAY is the last recommended day to mail back your ballot, or you can drop it off at a secure drop box or voting location now until 7 pm on July 30, Primary Election Day.

You can also vote early in-person until July 26. Visit https://www.arizona.vote/ for more information!

The Monitoring Team appointed to assess the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office’s progress with the Court-Ordered reforms in the Melendres case wants to hear from you.

“We still cannot come up with a single reason why migrants should be stripped of their birth certificates and not given those back,” said Noah Schramm, ACLU of Arizona border policy strategist.

“It just doesn’t make any sense.”

Migrants say border agents continue to throw away their belongings like medicine Border Patrol accused of trashing medicine, cell phones, money, and government documents belonging to border crossers

Thank you for stopping by to say hi to us at all the Pride festivities last month! Our tabling goodies were H-O-T-T-O-G-O all month! 🗽🌈✨

Have you checked your voter registration for the 2024 primary elections? Today is the last day to register or update your registration information, so don't wait!

Visit ServiceArizona.com for more information and be sure to make note of these fast-approaching deadlines for this year's primary elections.

July 1: Primary voter registration deadline
July 3: Ballots mailed, voting locations and drop boxes become available
July 19: Last day to request a ballot in the mail
July 23: Last day to mail back your ballot
July 26: Deadline to vote early in-person
July 30: PRIMARY ELECTION DAY

We know Arizona’s largest police force has little regard for the human dignity of unhoused people in Phoenix. We saw clear proof in the report released by the Department of Justice just two weeks ago.

Today’s Supreme Court decision gives cities like Phoenix a green light to ramp up the harassment and criminalization of our unsheltered neighbors. Jailing people for simply trying to survive will only make matters worse in Arizona and across the country.

Divided Supreme Court rules in major homelessness case that outdoor sleeping bans are OK California Gov. Gavin Newsome says a Supreme Court ruling that cities can enforce bans on people sleeping outdoors in West Coast areas will give local officials more freedom to address the crisis.

It's been 2 years since the Dobbs decision sent abortion access into upheaval. Join Senator Laphonza Butler, patients, and providers at the AE England Building for a field hearing titled, "Chaos and Confusion: Examining Abortion Restrictions Since Dobbs" on June 25, 12:30 PM.

US Senate field hearing on state abortion laws scheduled for Phoenix Sen. Laphonza Butler, D-Calif., is leading the look at the post-Dobbs "patchwork" of state abortion restrictions.

Today is Juneteenth, a day that commemorates the emancipation of enslaved African Americans. June 19, 1865 is the day the news of freedom reached Galveston, Texas, two and a half years after the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation. For those who identify as Black in the United States, Juneteenth carries significance beyond being a historical milestone. It stands as a poignant call to action in our ongoing fight against systemic racism and anti-Blackness.

This past weekend, the Arizona Legislature adjourned sine die. Sine die is Latin for “without a day,” and serves to mark the end of the 56th legislative session, ending all unfinished business in both chambers for the year. Swipe for highlights from the final week of the session worth being aware of, and stay tuned for our full 2024 legislative recap in July!

Today marks the 52nd anniversary of America’s War on Drugs, a governmental effort that significantly heightened the penalties for those who sell drugs and those who use them. Heavy criminalization fractured families and communities – doing nothing to stop substance use.

Visit our blog to read part 1 of "Fifty-two Years of Fear and Failure" by Katelynn Shower, policy strategist for the ACLU of Arizona.

Fifty-Two Years of Fear and Failure: The War on Drugs Drug use has been prevalent in the United States since the mid-1860s with drugs like morphine and laudanum marketed as cure-all medications. However, as the 1900s approached presidential administrations began taking a more punitive approach to drugs. This was first seen with the passage of the 1909....

We are disappointed, but not surprised, at the findings issued today by the U.S. Department of Justice regarding its three-year investigation of the Phoenix Police Department.

This damning report makes clear that the Phoenix Police Department suffers from an ingrained permissive culture that tolerates and even encourages widespread use of force, including deadly force, against some of our community's most vulnerable people. Read the full statement below.

ACLU of Arizona Statement on DOJ Investigation of the Phoenix Police Department PHOENIX – Today, the Department of Justice released a report on their findings after a multi-year investigation into the Phoenix Police Department and the City of Phoenix. Scott Greenwood, interim executive director for the ACLU of Arizona shared the following comments: "We are disappointed, but n...

"Federal immigration systems wield enormous power, resources, and infrastructure. They are also deeply flawed, and often violate the civil and human rights of migrants. Under HCR 2060, Arizona would take on this burden directly, placing huge pressure on taxpayers, law enforcement, and the carceral system."

Victoria Lopez, director of program and strategy, published a commentary in the Arizona Mirror explaining the moral, legal, and financial consequences of HCR 2060.

The unconstitutional, anti-immigrant ballot referral is worse than you think The law upends decades of U.S. immigration and asylum law, and is an invitation for racial profiling.

BREAKING: HCR 2060 has passed in the House. With approval in both legislative bodies, this cruel, anti-immigrant ballot referral will bypass the governor’s desk to be placed on the 2024 ballot for voter consideration in November.

This is a dark day for many in Arizona, especially those who remember the devastation and fear caused by the state’s notorious ‘show me your papers’ law, SB 1070.

ACLU of Arizona Reacts to House Passing HCR 2060 Phoenix — Today, the Arizona State House passed HCR 2060, a sweeping anti-immigrant ballot referral that will bypass the governor’s desk to be placed on the 2024 ballot for voter consideration in November. Noah Schramm, border policy strategist for the ACLU of Arizona, shared the following react...

Happy Pride Month! 🤠 🌈 Here’s our ACLU of Arizona Gay Agenda for the month of June! Make sure you slay your way to one of our events this month and say hi to us! You can find more details for these events at the link in our bio.

BREAKING: Arizona State Senators voted to advance HCR 2060, an extreme, unconstitutional, and anti-immigrant ballot referral that would apply new state penalties to violations of federal immigration law. It will next be considered in the House.

If passed in both legislative bodies and approved by voters in November, HCR 2060 would pose serious threats to immigrants and citizens alike. Click to read our full press release.

ACLU of Arizona Reacts to Senate Vote on HCR 2060 Phoenix — Today, Arizona State Senators voted to advance HCR 2060, an extreme, unconstitutional, and anti-immigrant ballot referral that would apply new state penalties to violations of federal immigration law. It will next be considered in the House. If passed in both legislative bodies and appro...

HB2310 threatens educators, librarians, booksellers, parents and even minors themselves with harsh criminal penalties for communicating speech that is protected by the Constitution.
HB2310 criminalizes both innocuous and valuable speech, including age-appropriate, non-obscene speech about reproductive and sexual health, if shared by a minor. Under the new law, minors could face felony charges for sharing materials concerning sexual health or abuse and criminal penalties for consensual sexual behavior. This broad, vague government censorship is harmful to our youth and violates the First Amendment.

Any bill that claims to speed up the election processes by reducing a voter's ability to cast their ballot is not a solution – it’s blatant voter disenfranchisement. HCR 2056 would unnecessarily duplicate existing ID verification processes, shorten the window for people to cast their early ballots, and decrease polling locations, making it harder for working people, persons with disabilities, and persons of advanced age to cast a ballot.

The legislative referral does nothing to speed up the count or secure elections. It will do the opposite. This overt attack on voting rights does not belong on the ballot come November.

Yesterday’s decision to delay enforcement of the near-total ban provides some relief for Arizonans, but a 15-week limit and other laws will continue to create serious barriers to care.

Passing the Abortion Access Act remains essential. Reproductive healthcare decisions belong in the hands of patients and providers, not with politicians or the courts.

Arizona's 1864 abortion ban not enforceable until mid-August, state Supreme Court says The ruling says the ban cannot be enforced until after Aug. 12. Combined with a separate court order, that could mean the ban is never enforced.

URGENT: In a last-minute effort to further their cruel, anti-immigrant agenda, lawmakers have introduced HCR 2060. If passed, this unfunded proposal would bypass the Governor's desk and go directly on the November ballot. HCR 2060 is extreme, wasteful, and unconstitutional.

Contact lawmakers today and urge them to vote NO! https://action.aclu.org/send-message/hcr2060

Governor Hobbs signed the bill repealing Arizona’s 1864 near-total abortion ban earlier today. This is an important milestone for our state, but unfortunately this ban will not be lifted immediately. After that, people who need abortions will still face harmful laws like the 15-week ban.

Now is the time for Arizona voters to ensure important healthcare decisions are no longer in the hands of extremist politicians. Get involved: https://www.mobilize.us/acluofarizona/

In recent days, universities have disproportionately reacted to students exercising their First Amendment rights on campus.
 We urge state universities and colleges to protect students from discrimination and violence, including acts of violence by police and campus security.

BREAKING: After weeks of unwarranted delay, the Arizona State Legislature successfully passed a full repeal of the state’s 1864 near-total abortion ban. Read our full statement here: https://www.acluaz.org/en/press-releases/aclu-arizona-responds-repeal-near-total-abortion-ban

Congratulations to our Legal Director, Jared Keenan, on being awarded the Pro Bono Attorney of the Year Award!