News & Commentary

While the Deferred Action for Parental Accountability Program (DAPA) is being challenged in court and countless immigrant families are caught in the legal battle, we want to pause and remind everyone to remain vigilant of their rights.

We are very pleased to announce that California Lawyer magazine has honored our own Julia Harumi Mass with a 2015 California Lawyer Attorney of the Year (CLAY) award!

I was born and raised in LA, but sheriffs detained me because they didn’t believe I was an American. I've sued the LA Sheriff’s Department for detaining and harassing me for more than 14 hours after they should have released me.

With a smile, Sonny Villar said, “Magkikita tayo sa daan,” as he wrapped up his testimony at an Asian Pacific Islander (API) media briefing on AB 60 driver’s licenses last Monday at the Asian Resource Center. California’s AB 60, also known as the Safe and Responsible Driver Act, went into effect January 2015 and allows all eligible California residents to apply for a driver’s license, regardless of their immigration status. API community organizations provided materials in Chinese, Korean, Tagalog, Thai, Vietnamese, Urdu, Tongan, Samoan, Fijian, and Khmer.

Countless immigrant families have been torn apart as a result of our failed immigration system. We hope the President’s deportation relief programs can move forward soon.

Recently, the ACLU of Southern California participated in an event in Kern County on AB 60, California’s new Safe and Responsible Driver Act. The act, which went into effect on Jan. 2, 2015, permits any eligible Californian to obtain a driver license, regardless of immigration status.

The excitement in the room over the AB 60 license and its importance to the community was palpable. The event, organized by the State Bar of California and hosted by Kern County Supervisor Leticia Perez, was standing room only. Over 350 people were in attendance.

This is my family's American Dream story. I am a divorced, single mother, and an undocumented immigrant. I have resided in the United States for almost 30 years.

It’s a month since AB 60 - The Safe and Responsible Driver Act went into effect: since then, all eligible Californians can apply for a driver’s license, regardless of immigration status. This is a huge victory that immigrants and advocates fought for over two decades.

The Obama administration's decision eight months ago to massively expand the detention of immigrant families with children means that more newborns, toddlers, and young children will suffer imprisonment for no good reason inside dangerous detention facilities.