News and Commentary

As the leading civil rights organization in the Lone Star State, we at the ACLU of Texas believe it is our duty to keep the public informed about the state of their civil liberties. The work we do at the legislature, in the courts, and in our communities is important, but there is no better defender of civil rights than a public that is informed and engaged.

Filter News
Dec 23, 2020

Allowing COVID-19 to Spread Unchecked in Texas Jails Threatens the Safety of All Texans

Smart Justice

In the past year, many of us have made difficult choices to keep ourselves and loved ones safe from COVID-19. But throughout Texas county jails, incarcerated people have fewer options and depend on local...

By Savannah Kumar

In the past year, many of us have made difficult choices to keep ourselves and loved ones safe from COVID-19. But throughout Texas county jails, incarcerated people have fewer options and depend on local...

By Savannah Kumar
Image: A stylized phot of the interious of a prison shows two levels of cell rows. Documents showing the ACLU of Texas and Texas Jail project logo are splayed across the image.
Image: A stylized phot of the interious of a prison shows two levels of cell rows. Documents showing the ACLU of Texas and Texas Jail project logo are splayed across the image.
Dec 18, 2020

Three Ways to Act on International Migrants Day

Texas is no stranger to the issue of migration.

Long before the modern U.S.-Mexico border was established in...

Texas is no stranger to the issue of migration.

Long before the modern U.S.-Mexico border was established in...

Image: Three women look on towards an unpictured speaker. They hold signs that say with the hashtag #FamiliesBelongTogether. One holds a U.S. flag up with her sign.
Image: Three women look on towards an unpictured speaker. They hold signs that say with the hashtag #FamiliesBelongTogether. One holds a U.S. flag up with her sign.
Dec 9, 2020

Biden Must Remove Border Patrol from Border Communities to Restore Civil Rights and Liberties

Shaw Drake, He/Him/His, Staff Attorney and Policy Counsel, Border and Immigrants’ Rights, ACLU of Texas...

Shaw Drake, He/Him/His, Staff Attorney and Policy Counsel, Border and Immigrants’ Rights, ACLU of Texas...

A Customs and Border Protection officer questions immigrants in Rio Grande Valley sector of the Texas border on Aug. 20, 2019.
A Customs and Border Protection officer questions immigrants in Rio Grande Valley sector of the Texas border on Aug. 20, 2019.
Dec 3, 2020

The Election is Over — Now Let’s Lead Freedom Forward

Smart Justice

In the past year, we’ve witnessed so many agonizing examples of the brutal reality of systemic racism. We’ve mourned the loss of more than 270,000 American lives from a deadly pandemic. We’ve seen a...

In the past year, we’ve witnessed so many agonizing examples of the brutal reality of systemic racism. We’ve mourned the loss of more than 270,000 American lives from a deadly pandemic. We’ve seen a...

Image: A stylized image of the Texas Capitol building is juxtaposed against a gradient background
Image: A stylized image of the Texas Capitol building is juxtaposed against a gradient background
Nov 13, 2020

Transgender Awareness Week: The Road Ahead for Trans Texans

Trans Awareness week runs from Nov. 13 to Nov. 19 and ends, officially, on Nov. 20, with Transgender Day of Remembrance.

This week is about celebrating the power, love, and resilience that all trans...

Trans Awareness week runs from Nov. 13 to Nov. 19 and ends, officially, on Nov. 20, with Transgender Day of Remembrance.

This week is about celebrating the power, love, and resilience that all trans...

Image: An image of balloon arch with alternating trans pride colors overlaps a stylized image of a crowd of people gathered.
Image: An image of balloon arch with alternating trans pride colors overlaps a stylized image of a crowd of people gathered.
Nov 2, 2020

Count Every Vote

In an unprecedented year, it’s only natural that we have an unprecedented election. It’s the first in our lifetimes to occur during a global pandemic, and one in which an unprecedented number of votes are...

By David Donatti

In an unprecedented year, it’s only natural that we have an unprecedented election. It’s the first in our lifetimes to occur during a global pandemic, and one in which an unprecedented number of votes are...

By David Donatti
Photo: A paper application for absentee ballot is shown.
Photo: A paper application for absentee ballot is shown.