Human Rights

Sweeping reforms are needed for ‘broken’ immigration system, ABA report finds

On Wednesday, the ABA Commission on Immigration delivered a comprehensive report on how the immigration court system should be reformed. “Our nation’s immigration system is broken,” says ABA President Bob Carlson. “Tinkering around the edges will not fix it. We need fundamental reform in every aspect of the system.”

Mar 20, 2019 1:01 PM CDT

Judge blocks forfeiture of trademark rights to motorcycle club logo on First Amendment grounds

A federal judge in California has ruled that the federal government cannot seize the trademark rights to the logo used by the Mongols motorcycle club. U.S. District Judge David Carter of the Central District of California ruled Thursday that the forced transfer of trademark rights would violate the First Amendment…

Mar 1, 2019 11:53 AM CST

ABA Center for Human Rights is a living legacy of its founder, says 6th Circuit judge

Willie Kimani was a Kenyan lawyer who was brutally murdered in 2016. At the time of his death, he was representing a victim of police misconduct and calling for an investigation into the implicated police officers. The evidence has since linked his murder to the police officers he had sought…

Feb 28, 2019 6:45 AM CST

Lawsuit challenges Trump’s remain-in-Mexico policy for asylum-seekers

A lawsuit filed Thursday challenges the Trump administration’s policy of requiring asylum-seekers at the southern border to remain in Mexico as they await their hearings.

Feb 15, 2019 9:20 AM CST

Formerly separated immigrant families begin process for suing Trump administration

Eight immigrant families separated at the border last year under a rescinded Trump administration policy have filed claims for millions in damages, the Associated Press reported Monday.

Feb 12, 2019 2:41 PM CST

Judge on international court quits over alleged interference from Turkey and the White House

A judge on a United Nations criminal court says he quit after concluding that the diplomatic world sees no value in an independent judiciary. Christoph Flugge said he resigned after alleged political interference by Turkey and the United States, report the Guardian, the South China Morning Post and the Independent.…

Jan 29, 2019 9:25 AM CST

Immigrant and refugee rights should be protected, ABA House urges

Delegates to the ABA's House of Delegates lined up Monday afternoon to condemn the federal government's "zero tolerance" policy for people caught crossing the border illegally.

Jan 28, 2019 8:40 PM CST

Chinese human rights lawyer who helped train legal activists is sentenced to prison

A prominent human rights lawyer was sentenced to prison on Monday on a charge of “subversion of state power” in a closed trial.

Jan 28, 2019 9:35 AM CST

Threats to human rights and the rule of law around the world require our attention

For the past decade, I have been a good friend of a tax judge in Turkey. On July 16, 2016, his last tweet read: “Arrest warrants were issued for 2,745 judges and prosecutors INCLUDING ME who were suspended [this] morning.”

Jan 24, 2019 1:00 PM CST

What do experts predict will be the immigration law battles in 2019?

Yet more litigation, congressional action, a worsening immigration court backlog and new, daring programs by the Trump administration are all highly likely in 2019, immigration court watchers say.

Jan 3, 2019 3:40 PM CST

ABA releases updated standards for treatment of unaccompanied immigrant minors

The ABA’s Commission on Immigration on Friday released updated standards for the detention, care and legal representation of unaccompanied immigrant minors.

Dec 11, 2018 6:30 AM CST

Clooney Foundation works with ABA on program to monitor trials for human rights violations

The ABA announced on Wednesday that is partnering with the Clooney Foundation for Justice and Columbia Law School to “monitor trials around the world that pose a high risk of human rights violations.” The program, set to launch next year, is known as TrialWatch, according to an ABA press release…

Dec 5, 2018 11:16 AM CST

Trump threatens to close border after CBP deploys tear gas; conflicting reports of deal with Mexico

President Donald Trump threatened to permanently close the Southern border on Monday, a day after U.S. Customs and Border Protection used tear gas on migrants at a border crossing leading to San Diego. "We will close the Border permanently if need be," Trump tweeted.

Nov 26, 2018 9:30 AM CST

Judge strikes down federal ban on female genital mutilation, tosses charges against eight people

A federal judge in Detroit has dismissed charges of female genital mutilation against eight people in a decision that found Congress had no authority to ban the procedure.

Nov 21, 2018 11:05 AM CST

ABA backs legislation that would bar housing bias against people based on income source

ABA President Bob Carlson is applauding a bill that would expand the protections of the Fair Housing Act to prevent discrimination based on a person’s lawful source of income. Last year, the ABA House of Delegates adopted policy urging the implementation of such legislation and opposing prejudice against people who…

Nov 14, 2018 4:30 PM CST