U.S. Advocacy and Litigation

The U.S. Advocacy and Litigation program partners with grassroots human rights defenders to reduce the scope and power of mass incarceration in American society.

Together, we fight for changes to the criminal and immigration systems that guarantee respect for everyone’s human rights.

Our Issues

Racial Discrimination

Everyone deserves fair and equal treatment from police, no matter race or color. We defend the human right to freedom from racial discrimination.

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Torture

Everyone deserves respect for their inherent dignity from police. We defend the human right to freedom from torture and cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment.

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Extrajudicial Killings

Everyone deserves to be able to safely interact with police. We defend the human right to freedom from extrajudicial killings.

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Arbitrary Detention

Everyone deserves due process if police take away their liberty. We defend the human right to freedom from arbitrary detention.

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Our Work

Litigate

We go to court with human rights defenders pursuing systemic change.

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Expose

We uncover wrongdoing in reports, complaints, and public hearings.

READ OUR REPORTS

Educate

We inform the public and policymakers about systemic human rights abuses and how to stop them.

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Focus Areas

Shut down Louisiana immigration detention

Inside Louisiana’s nine immigration detention centers, overseen by the New Orleans, Louisiana ICE field office, officials rampantly violate detained peoples’ human rights to coerce them into accepting deportation.

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End solitary confinement

International human rights law recognizes prolonged solitary confinement as torture. But this abusive practice is common and on the rise in the United States.

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