When we fight, we win.

The Brief: Rights, Justice, Action.

Welcome to the December issue of The Brief, the monthly email newsletter of the ACLU of Northern California. As we approach the end of a challenging year, we're thankful for your continued support. We hope you enjoy time spent with family and friends over the holidays. Get some rest and recharge. Come January, we'll be right back in the fight.

Video: ACLU NorCal Year in Review

During a year of unprecedented attacks on our civil rights and civil liberties, we stood by our values and defended democracy. Learn more. <[link removed]>

A person holding a sign that reads, 'Hope is a weapon, don't give it up' <[link removed]>

Follow us on social:

Facebook <[link removed]> Bluesky <[link removed]> Instagram <[link removed]> YouTube <[link removed]>
A large group of folks with protest signs speaking out against ICE. ICE must improve inhumane conditions at SF holding facility

In a victory for human rights, a federal district court ordered ICE to improve conditions in the temporary holding cells in its San Francisco office. Since June, the agency has routinely detained immigrants for up to three days in rooms designed for stays of no longer than 12 hours. Among other changes, ICE must immediately:

* Provide access to medical care, mental health care, and prescription medications;

* Supply beds, mattresses, and clean bedding;

* Distribute toiletries and menstrual products; and

* Dim the lights overnight and turn up the heat.

The ruling stemmed from the federal class-action lawsuit we filed with our partners in September. Our case also seeks to end the Trump administration's unlawful practice of arresting people at mandatory hearings in immigration court.

Read More <[link removed]> Please note: This link will take you to a third-party website, sfchronicle.com.

A person holding up their phone, taking a picture of a group of people. A victory for online free speech

Faced with the prospect of losing in court, the Department of Homeland Security backed down and withdrew a subpoena to Meta demanding the names of anonymous Instagram users who documented ICE raids in Los Angeles. In our motion to prevent Meta from turning over our client's personal information, we argued that the government's subpoena violated First Amendment protections for anonymous political speech. Although DHS has threatened to prosecute anyone who films or posts video of federal immigration agents online, the First Amendment unequivocally protects the right to record law enforcement <[link removed]> conducting their duties in public and to share those recordings. The government is trying to stifle dissent, but the Constitution is on our side.

Watch Video <[link removed]> Please note: This link will take you to a third-party website, youtube.com.

Image of tracking technology being used on cars. San Jose police track drivers' locations without warrants

The San Jose Police Department operates a vast network of nearly 500 automated license plate readers that record the plate number, location, date, and time of passing vehicles. If you drive in the city, there's a good chance these high-speed surveillance cameras will capture your daily comings and goings. But that's not even the worst part.

SJPD retains millions of records of drivers' movements for an entire year and routinely allows its own officers and other law enforcement agencies across the state to search the database for location information without a warrant, in violation of the California Constitution. Police could abuse this unchecked power to track people's movements and pry into their private lives, uncovering where they live, work, worship, and receive medical care. And even though sharing license plate data with ICE and other federal and out-of-state law enforcement agencies is illegal under state law, Bay Area police departments are still doing it. <[link removed]> With the Electronic Frontier Foundation, we sued San Jose to stop the city and SJPD from searching license plate data without first getting a warrant.

Read More <[link removed]> Please note: This link will take you to a third-party website, kqed.org.

Video: Tenants have a right to privacy.

In some San Francisco apartment buildings, landlords are using surveillance technology to monitor tenants' behavior inside their homes. We're suing. Learn more on YouTube. <[link removed]>

Image of an ACLU staffer discussing the ways smart-home tech could be abused by landlords <[link removed]> Please note: This image will take you to a third-party website, youtube.com.

Final thoughts:

* Following months of community pressure, Modesto revised its unconstitutional ordinance banning masks at protests. Incredibly, they made it worse. <[link removed]> Please note: This link will take you to a third-party website, modbee.com.

* With the national ACLU, we filed a Freedom of Information Act <[link removed]> request for federal policies related to filming immigration enforcement activity and answers about retaliation against people exercising their First Amendment rights.

* Gamers are teaming up with activists <[link removed]> in the online worlds of Fortnite and Grand Theft Auto to teach people about their rights when dealing with ICE. Please note: This link will take you to a third-party website, wired.com.

* Do you have any feedback for us about The Brief? Or burning questions about a recent court ruling or your civil rights? We'd love to hear from you! <[link removed]>

Thanks for reading this issue of The Brief. We'll see you back here in January 2026!

Make your voice heard today!

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