Thursday, January 22, 2026

ACLU Meltdown over One Year of Trump 2.0

 

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Arthur –

Just over a year ago, President Donald Trump was sworn in for a second term. His assault on our fundamental rights and attempts to expand presidential power began immediately, resulting in a record 225 executive orders and counting – more orders than he signed in all four years of his first term.

One year in, our work is guided by a simple principle: We are only in a constitutional crisis if we allow ourselves to be.

With that in mind, we are urgently asking for your committed support and solidarity as we begin the second year of Trump's presidency. Please, will you be one of the 500 new members we need to fuel our critical work in the months ahead by making your first gift now?

YES, I'M READY TO DEFEND CIVIL LIBERTIES!

DONATE NOW

Although we faced an incredibly bleak landscape for civil rights and liberties in 2025, the ACLU did not relent. Thanks to supporters like you, Arthur, we were ready on day one and able to meet the Trump administration with resolve – defeating, delaying, and diluting their most dangerous attacks at every turn.

  • Birthright Citizenship. The ACLU is challenging an executive order attempting to end birthright citizenship with a class-action lawsuit, protecting over 129,000 children. This spring, ACLU National Legal Director Cecillia Wang will argue in front of the Supreme Court against this unconstitutional attack.
  • Alien Enemies Act. We're suing the Trump administration over the president's unlawful invocation of this centuries-old wartime act. The courts have repeatedly sided with us and ruled against the Trump administration, finding that individuals must be given due process to challenge their removal. We will keep fighting until we end this illegal invocation for good.
  • Free Speech. The ACLU and our partners acted swiftly to secure the release of international students and scholars Mahmoud Khalil, Rümeysa Öztürk, Mohsen Mahdawi, and Dr. Badar Khan Suri who were detained by the Trump administration for their lawful speech, reaffirming that political advocacy is not grounds for deportation.
  • Troops in our Cities. We took action when military troops were sent to cities across the country. Thanks to a string of court victories prohibiting deployments, and sustained political opposition, President Trump announced that he was pulling National Guard troops out of Los Angeles, Chicago, and Portland.
  • Equal Protection for Trans Youth. When President Trump signed an executive order to withhold funds from medical providers and institutions that provide gender-affirming medical treatments to any trans person under 19, we challenged the order. A court has temporarily blocked the Trump administration from enforcing it, protecting trans youth and their families nationwide.

As we continue to fight back – and win – against the Trump administration's massive constitutional violations and dangerous attacks on our democracy, we are relying on grassroots support from our members in all 50 states and beyond.

Thank you,

The ACLU Team

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