America First Legal Newsletter – October 18, 2025

Your unwavering support has been vital in our fight to uphold the Constitution, defend American sovereignty, and protect the freedoms that make this country exceptional. We are proud to share an overview of some of our most recent work:

THIS WEEK’S KEY ACCOMPLISHMENTS:

VICTORY — America First Legal Defeats the ACLU in Landmark Case Upholding Pennsylvania Sheriff’s Authority to Partner With ICE

A Pennsylvania court has delivered a major win for law and order by dismissing a politically driven lawsuit filed by the ACLU and the Community Justice Project on behalf of various plaintiffs including the NAACP  trying to block Bucks County Sheriff Fred Harran, who had lawfully executed a Section 287(g) agreement with the federal government from cooperating with ICE through the lawful 287(g) program.

Importantly, the court found that Sheriff Harran acted within his legal authority to partner with federal immigration officials to keep his community safe—despite pressure from radical activists. The court made clear that local sheriffs are not subordinate to liberal county politicians and that enforcing immigration laws is not only legal but necessary for public safety. This is a strong rebuke to the ACLU’s open-borders agenda and a victory for constitutional law enforcement and the rule of law.

FINAL DAYS: Just Three Days Left to Comment on America First Legal’s Petition for a Rule Requiring Proof of Citizenship to Vote

Americans have just three days left to make their voices heard on AFL’s petition with the U.S. Election Assistance Commission seeking a rule requiring proof of citizenship for federal voter registration. AFL is urging Americans to speak out and submit a comment before the October 20, 2025, deadline, to help secure our elections. 

The proposed rule aims to ensure that only U.S. citizens can vote in federal elections by closing loopholes that allow non-citizens to register. The right to vote belongs solely to American citizens, and now is the time to defend that principle.

Submit your comment here.

Fox News: AFL Senior Counsel Ian Prior Joins Laura Ingraham

AFL Senior Counsel Ian Prior Joins The Ingraham Angle to Expose Loudoun County Public Schools. 

Watch the interview here.

America First Legal Files Federal Civil Rights Complaint Against the City of Seattle for Illegal Government-Wide Race-Based Discrimination

AFL has filed a federal civil rights complaint against the City of Seattle, urging the Department of Justice to investigate Seattle’s radical, race-based “diversity, equity, and inclusion” (DEI) policies. Seattle’s creation of its The Race and Social Justice Initiative, an initiative that advocates that the City’s actions are to be viewed through the prism of “lead[ing] with race,” openly discriminates by embedding race into the City’s governance, hiring, promotions, and public spending, pushing left-wing ideology over merit and equal treatment.

The complaint outlines how Seattle’s DEI mandates—including race quotas, biased hiring panels, and misused taxpayer funds—violate federal civil rights laws. No American city should be allowed to violate the law, especially while availing itself of federal funds to push divisive, discriminatory policies under the guise of “equity.”

America First Legal Continues Fight to Defend President Trump’s Constitutional Authority to Federalize the Illinois National Guard and Restore Order in Chicago

AFL has filed an amicus brief urging the Seventh Circuit to uphold President Trump’s authority under the U.S. Constitution to deploy the Illinois National Guard and restore order in lawless Chicago. The district court’s decision unlawfully stripped the President of powers clearly granted by the Constitution and Congress—powers long recognized as essential to executing federal law and protecting federal officers.

The brief highlights recent violent protests and law enforcement failures in Chicago, stressing that the danger to federal personnel is real, not speculative. AFL’s amicus brief urges the court to reject the radical overreach of the judiciary and reaffirm the President’s Constitutional duty to defend national security and the rule of law.

AMERICA FIRST LEGAL IN THE NEWS: 

Washington Examiner: Pennsylvania judge upholds county sheriff’s ICE cooperation agreement

 “The decision for now is a win for America First Legal… which represented Harran in partnership with the law firm Zimolong. AFL said the outcome reinforces that local law enforcement agencies can assist ICE in removing dangerous criminals and ensuring public safety.

‘This is a decisive victory for the rule of law and for every law enforcement officer who refuses to bow to political pressure,’ said Gene Hamilton, president of AFL. ‘Radical activists tried to weaponize the courts to stop a sheriff from enforcing the law. The court saw through it.’”

The Federalist- Records: Blue States Can’t Provide Any Evidence To Defend Anchor Baby Citizenship

“Four states suing the Trump administration to defend the citizenship of illegal aliens and a nonsense definition of ‘birthright citizenship’ do not have any evidence to prove the ‘harm’ they claim in the lawsuit, according to records obtained by America First Legal (AFL).

AFL filed public records requests with the plaintiff states to see if they had the data or records to prove their own claims. Not one did.

‘America First Legal tested whether several plaintiff states challenging the President’s birthright citizenship executive order actually suffered the harm they alleged: that they would have to spend more money on children deemed noncitizens because the federal government would no longer be covering costs,’ AFL Vice President Dan Epstein said in a statement. ‘The evidence either did not exist or was simply not something the states monitored. Suing a presidential Administration without a concrete injury is an abuse of the courts and the justice system. States must do their homework before running to court with allegations lacking evidentiary support.’”

The Center Square - Brief filed in effort to restore Fourteenth Amendment, end birthright citizenship

“America First Legal is leading the charge for the United States to return to the “original meaning” of the Fourteenth Amendment, meaning that children born to illegal aliens in the country are not American citizens.

‘Citizenship is not automatic, nor is it a right: it is earned through allegiance, consent, and law,’ a press release from nonprofit law firm America First Legal (AFL) said.

‘The framers said it plainly: the Citizenship Clause does not include ‘aliens or anyone owing allegiance to a foreign sovereignty,’’ the release said. ‘Courts and scholars ever since have agreed.’”

America First Legal Foundation is an IRS-approved section 501(c)(3) public charity. Your donation to America First Legal Foundation is tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.

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