CIVIL RIGHTS POLICIES, ANALYSIS, AND RESOURCES
Latest Civil Rights Posts
Attorney General Sessions’ Reinstatement of “Federal Adoption” Technique in DoJ Asset Forfeiture Program
On July 19, 2017, Attorney General Jeff Sessions issued an order that sought to reinstate and expand an asset seizure technique, which is known as “federal adoption.” This technique applies to assets and property seized by local law enforcement officers. State and local governments first seize…
Tax Implications of Trinity Lutheran Church of Columbia, Inc. v. Comer
On June 26, 2017, in a separation of church and state case, the United States Supreme Court issued its decision in Trinity Lutheran Church of Columbia, Inc. v. Comer. In a 7 – 2 decision, the court ruled that the “express policy of denying grants to any applicant owned or controlled by a church, sect or other religious entity violated…
U.S. Commission on Civil Rights Investigating Civil Rights Enforcement Under The Trump Administration
On June 16, 2017, the United States Commission on Civil Rights stated its concern with the Trump Administration’s proposed budget cuts to civil rights offices throughout the Federal Government. As a result, the Commission unanimously approved a two-year comprehensive…
Congress Takes Bipartisan Action to Counter Attorney General Jeff Session’s Charging and Sentencing Policy
On May 10, 2017, Attorney General Jeff Sessions put forth the “Department Charging and Sentencing Policy” for all federal prosecutors. The memorandum instructs all federal prosecutors to [1] charge and pursue the most serious readily provable offense and [2] disclose to the sentencing…
U.S. Census Bureau Announces That It Will Not Include Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity As A Category For Data Collection
Last year, in April 2016, Members of Congress asked the United States Census Bureau to include “sexual orientation and gender identity” as a subject that Americans can be asked to be categorized as in the upcoming 2020 Census. Nearly a year later…
Religious Exemption To Be Used To Discriminate In Texas Adoption Cases
On May 10, 2017, the House of Representatives of the Texas State Legislature approved House Bill 3859, popularly known as “The Freedom To Serve Children Act.” The bill provides a defense for state-funded faith-based private adoption agencies that will insulate them from potential lawsuits for their…
Campaign Finance Issue Hiding Behind President Trump’s Executive Order On Religious Liberty and Free Speech
On May 4, 2017, President Donald Trump signed an executive order titled “Promoting Free Speech and Religious Liberty.” Section 2 of the order ensures that the “Department of the Treasury [will] not take any adverse action against any individual, house of worship…
Legal Framework For National Security Agency (NSA) Surveillance & Data Collection on American Citizens
On April 28, 2017, the National Security Agency (NSA) announced that they would “stop certain foreign intelligence collection under Section 702” of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. This law provided the legal basis for the NSA to collect phone…
Senate Bill 823 Against Warrantless and Random Searches of American Citizens Digital Devices At U.S. Border Crossings
On April 4, 2017, Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) introduced in the U.S. Congress the “Protecting Data At The Border Act.” The bill is aimed at protecting the privacy rights…