President Trump's continued effort to take over D.C. streets with federal agents and National Guard troops is a brazen power grab. But we will not be intimidated into silence by these heavy-handed tactics. Just one day before Trump's control over the D.C. police department expired, we came together at the 2025 Annual ACLU-D.C. Membership Meeting to discuss our response and discuss our collective resilience and resistance. Everyone left that evening ready to use our collective knowledge and experience to keep fighting. At this critical moment, knowledge is power.

Here are highlights of our recent work and resources you can use to protect civil rights and liberties in D.C. every day.

Lawsuit: Challenging Illegal Arrests of Immigrants

We sued the Trump administration for engaging in a pattern of illegal arrests of immigrants in Washington, D.C. We filed the lawsuit on behalf of four affected D.C. residents and the national immigration organization CASA. Just like ordinary people, the government is also required to follow the law. But federal agents have disregarded the law while arresting hundreds of people in D.C. since August. We will do everything we can to protect immigrants against unjust, unconstitutional, and inhumane policies and practices.

Know your rights: Encountering Police or Troops

This summer, Trump ordered officers and military troops to flood D.C. streets, leaving people scrambling to understand what to do during encounters with police or troops. What should you do if you're stopped? What should you do if you witness someone being stopped? This guide explains your rights and what to do if you encounter police or troops.

Victory: Student First Amendment Rights in D.C.

The Arab Student Union at Jackson-Reed High School, represented by the ACLU-D.C., recently settled a lawsuit challenging their school administration for unlawfully censoring the student club's pro-Palestinian speech. As part of the settlement, the students won significant free speech guideline changes for all student clubs at District of Columbia Public Schools.

Blog: Students and Free Speech

With the new school year in full swing, it's a good time to understand what free speech rights students have and the limits of those rights. Read this blog to learn what you need to know about students and the First Amendment.

Together, we will continue to challenge harmful policies and build a more just and free D.C.

Thanks for sticking with us,

ACLU of the District of Columbia