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.

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Mar 6, 2017

Top 5 Reasons for Texas Lawmakers to Raise the Age of Criminal Responsibility

In Texas, adulthood usually means 18. Seventeen year olds cannot vote, serve in the military, or buy lottery tickets. There is an exception, though: kids are automatically charged, jailed, and imprisoned as...

By Nick Hudson

Prison bars in the shape of the state of Texas

Mar 3, 2017

Humans of the Border: Gabriel Sanchez

A beginner drag queen discovers that in...

Mar 2, 2017

Texas Legislature Cheat Sheet

Step 1: Find out who represents you

Step 2: Track bills you care about: ...

Step 1: Find out who represents you

Step 2: Track bills you care about: ...

Mar 1, 2017

A Private Prison Already Failed Willacy County. And Now They Want it Back?

Ten years ago, Willacy County officials made a catastrophic mistake. And they’re about to make it again.

In 2006, “Tent City” opened in Willacy County as a detention facility for civil immigration...

Ten years ago, Willacy County officials made a catastrophic mistake. And they’re about to make it again.

In 2006, “Tent City” opened in Willacy County as a detention facility for civil immigration...

Feb 20, 2017

Humans of the Border: Gaby Zavala

Facebook is who I am. Really. Why do I have all the selfies? Well, I don’t have a partner, someone to always tell me, “You’re beautiful.” Selfies build up my self-esteem. I have yet to figure out my...

Jan 30, 2017

A Message from Terri Burke on the President’s Travel Ban

Fred Korematsu would have turned 98 today. The victim of another wrongheaded and un-American executive order that betrayed our nation’s ideals, Korematsu was locked up in an internment camp in Topaz, Utah...