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The Dream Is Now

THE DREAM IS NOW is an effort of concerned citizens who believe we need to fix America’s broken immigration system and give undocumented youth and their families the chance to earn their citizenship. We support common sense immigration reform that includes the principles of the DREAM Act.

The ACLU of SC, SC Appleseed, SC Immigration Coaltion and SC Lowcountry Immigration Coalitionare sponsoring screenings of the documentary The Dream is Now in gatherings across the state June 22 -23. These timely gatherings will feature the documentary and discussions on the status of Comprehensive Immigration Reform and how citizens can make their voices heard on this human issue.

Dates and Locations

Comprehensive Immigration Reform

The ACLU of SC, the NAACP, the South Carolina AFL-CIO and the South Carolina Progressive Network back comprehensive immigration reform that includes a pathway to citizenship.

The comprehensive federal bill (S.744), known as the “gang of eight” immigration bill would offer a path to citizenship for an estimated 11 million illegal immigrants. S. 744, is not perfect. The fines and fees are too large for low-income families, and the wait time too long for the pathway to legalization for folks who have already been waiting, but it is the best opportunity in decades for fixing our broken immigration system.

Senator Graham Key To Federal Immigration Reform (5-29)

We need a fair federal immigration policy reform that keeps families together.

Your rights when encountering police (pdf 281KB)

Sus Derechos Ante el Art. 17-13-170 (pdf 1770KB)

Report of Immigration Law Enforcement Incidents (pdf 124 KB)
This report may be mailed (address on form) or faxed to 843-720-1428

Denuncia de Conducta Policial Indebida (pdf 84 KB)
This report may be mailed (address on form) or faxed to 843-720-1428

Ultima Actualización de la Enmienda a la Ley de Inmigración Ilegal de SC (SB20)

Status of the Amended SC Illegal Immigration Reform Act (SB20)

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June 13, 2013. The Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) unanimously invalidated patents on two genes associated with hereditary breast and ovarian cancer in response to a lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union and the Public Patent Foundation (PUBPAT) on behalf of researchers, genetic counselors, patients, breast cancer and women's health groups, and medical professional associations representing 150,000 geneticists, pathologists, and laboratory professionals.

By invalidating these patents, the Court lifted a major barrier to progress in further understanding how we can better treat and prevent diseases.

The SCOTUS decision
ACLU press release
ACLU Women's Rights Project attorney Sandra Park has written a blog about the decision
Video
Infographic

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The war on marijuana is a failure

A New Report from the American Civil Liberties Union

The ACLU is the first to examine state and county marijuana arrest rates nationally by race between 2001 and 2010. The report reveals a number of troubling racially biased trends.

Blacks in South Carolina were arrested for marijuana possession at 2.8 times the rate of whites in 2010, despite comparable marijuana usage rates. State and local governments have aggressively enforced marijuana laws selectively against Black people and communities, ensnaring hundreds of thousands of people in the criminal justice system at tremendous human and financial cost.

In South Carolina, the counties with the largest racial disparity in marijuana possession arrests were Spartanburg, Anderson, Oconee, Newberry and Richland. In the past 10 years, marijuana possession arrest rates have risen 29% and the racial disparities among such arrests have increased 57.4%.

South Carolina spent $49,540,640 enforcing marijuana laws in 2010. Nationally, states spent an estimated $3.61 billion enforcing marijuana possession laws in 2010 alone.

Visit the War on Marijuana in Black and White web site for more information and the full report.

June 18, 2013 NAACP calls ACLU study 'disturbing'

June 12, 2013 ‘War on Marijuana’ takes inordinate toll on African-Americans - Letter to the Editor

June 4, 2013 ACLU of SC Press Release

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Civil society or surveillance society?

“If I’m not doing anything wrong, why should I care if the police are watching me?”

Privacy, Technology and YOU.

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