The ACLU of Texas is the Texas state-level affiliate of the national American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), a prominent social-liberal advocacy, litigation, and campaign advocacy group. The ACLU of Texas supports left-of-center positions through courtroom activism (operated through the ACLU of Texas Foundation) and direct lobbying. ¹ Positions supported by the ACLU include increasing restrictions on campaign speech activity, increased limitations on freedom of religion, erosion of voter-integrity laws, and the expansion of government support for abortions. ²

Funding and Expenses

In 2017 the ACLU of Texas generated $2,731,4445, of which $2,726,743 came from contributions and grants received by the organization. ³  The ACLU of Texas spent $1,425,590 on salaries and benefits, operational costs, and fundraising. ⁴ In 2017, the organization also possessed $2,304,319 in assets after accounting for all liabilities. ⁵

Advocacy

Vote-by-Mail

During the COVID-19 epidemic of 2020, the ACLU of Texas advocated for increased use of mail-in ballot voting irrespective of whether the a voter has an actual disability or physical limitation preventing him or her from voting. ⁶ Mail-in ballot expansion was advocated for by the ACLU of Texas despite concerns regarding the increased threat of election fraud. ⁷

This campaign included a joint litigation effort with the Texas Democratic Party and  Texas Civil Rights Project within the Texas court system seeking to assert a general right to mail-in ballots in light of COVID-19. ⁶

On April 15, 2020 the litigation effort won a ruling that citizens in Texas can request a mail-in ballot form in the July 2020 elections but that the decision will be subject to further review later in the summer of 2020. ⁸

Immigration Enforcement

The ACLU of Texas has petitioned the Department of Homeland Security and Customs and Border Protection to end all immigration enforcement during the COVID-19 pandemic. ⁹

Lobbying

The ACLU of Texas has lobbied in support of HB 226, legislation that would repeal sections of SB 4 directing Texas law enforcement to assist federal immigration officers. ¹⁰

The ACLU of Texas has lobbied against SB 9, legislation that would create increased safe-guards against voter fraud, such as heightened penalties for ineligible voters registered to vote despite being legally disqualified from doing so. ¹¹

Leadership

Ranjana Natarajan is the president of the ACLU Foundation of Texas and a professor at the University of Texas. ¹² In 2014 Natarajan wrote an opinion piece arguing for a federal, top-down, and comprehensive national policy regarding racial discrimination in policing despite policing regulations falling under the traditional “state powers” that were reserved for the states. ¹³

1. “About” ACLU of Texas.  https://www.aclutx.org/en/about/about-us
2. “Issues – All issues” ACLU of Texas. https://www.aclutx.org/en/issues
3. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax” Guidestar.org. Accessed May 1, Part I, Line 8-12.
4. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax” Guidestar.org. Accessed May 1, Part I, Line 18.
5. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax” Guidestar.org. Accessed May 1, Part X, Line 33.
6. “CIVIL LIBERTIES AND COVID-19” ACLU of Texas. https://www.aclutx.org/en/campaigns/civil-liberties-and-covid-19
7. Findell, Elizabeth. “In Texas a Battle Brews Over Voting by Mail Amid Coronavirus” April 16, 2020. Accessed May 3, 2020. https://www.wsj.com/articles/in-texas-a-battle-brews-over-voting-by-mail-amid-coronavirus-11587037108
8. Lopez, Ashley. “Texas Judge Set To Order State To Allow All Voters To Request Mail-In Ballots” April 15, 2020. Accessed May 5, 2020. https://www.npr.org/sections/coronavirus-live-updates/2020/04/15/835515753/texas-judge-set-to-order-state-to-allow-all-voters-to-request-mail-in-ballots
9. “ACLU LETTER ON CBP CIVIL INTERIOR ENFORCEMENT, DETENTION, AND BORDER WALL CONSTRUCTION DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC” ACLU.  https://www.aclu.org/letter/aclu-letter-cbp-civil-interior-enforcement-detention-and-border-wall-construction-during
10. “Legislation –  HB 2266” ACLU of Texas. https://www.aclutx.org/en/legislation/hb-2266-repeal-sb4
11. “Legislation –  SB 9” ACLU of Texas. https://www.aclutx.org/en/legislation/sb-9-voter-suppression
12. “Ranjana Natajan” University of Texas at Austin School of Law. https://law.utexas.edu/faculty/ranjana-natarajan/
13. Natarajan, Ranjana. “Comprehensive National Policy That Outlaws Racial Profiling Should Cover State, Local Police” The Huffington Post. December 9, 2014. Updated February 8, 2015. Accessed May 4, 2020. https://www.huffpost.com/entry/comprehensive-national-po_b_6297186