American Civil Liberties Union of New Hampshire (ACLU-NH)

As one of the 53 state affiliates of the ACLU, the ACLU-NH has participated in over 20 percent of the national ACLU’s lawsuits against the second Trump administration as of December 2025. ³

Background

The American Civil Liberties Union of New Hampshire is the New Hampshire state affiliate of the American Civil Liberties Union founded in 1968. It engages in litigation, legislative advocacy, and organizing advocacy campaigns, working in coordination with its 501(c)(3) sister organization, the ACLU Foundation of New Hampshire. ¹

ACLU-NH advocates protections for immigrants “regardless of immigration status,” opposes abortion restrictions, opposes incarceration, supports left-of-center racial issues, and supports left-of-center LGBT interests. ²

Litigation

As of December 4, 2025, the national American Civil Liberties Union had filed 110 lawsuits against the second Trump administration, which it argued in its 2025 annual report has used “authoritarian tactics” and advanced an “unconstitutional agenda.” ⁴ The American Civil Liberties Union of New Hampshire participated in over two dozen of the lawsuits filed by ACLU-affiliated organizations against the administration. ACLU-NH executive director Devon Chaffee attributed the group’s readiness to litigate against the Trump administration to its familiarity with and opposition to the Heritage Foundation-led Project 2025. ³

In March 2025, the American Civil Liberties Union of New Hampshire, the American Civil Liberties Union, the ACLU of Massachusetts, the National Education Association (NEA), and the National Education Association–New Hampshire filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Education challenging its February 2025 letter threatening to cut federal funding to any institution engaging in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts. The lawsuit alleged that the letter limits “academic freedom,” violates due process, and that the Department of Education “has no authority to dictate curriculum or educational programs.” It also argues that it unconstitutionally restricts speech by prohibiting discussions on race, diversity, equity, and inclusion at schools. ⁵

In February 2025, the ACLU-NH, the ACLU, the ACLU of Maine, the ACLU of Massachusetts, the Asian Law Caucus, the State Democracy Defenders Fund, the Legal Defense Fund, the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), and Make the Road New York filed a lawsuit that led to a preliminary injunction that blocked President Donald Trump’s executive order that sought to restrict birthright citizenship. ⁶

Advocacy

In April 2023, the American Civil Liberties Union of New Hampshire published a press release condemning the New Hampshire Senate for failing to pass HB 88 and HB 224. HB 88 would have made abortion access a right under New Hampshire law, and HB 224 would have repealed the penalties for violating New Hampshire’s prohibition on abortions after 24 weeks gestation. In response, ACLU-NH executive director Devon Chaffee stated that efforts to ban or restrict abortions were “extremist” and politicians supporting them will be “held accountable.” ⁷

In September 2024, the ACLU-NH published a press release criticizing then-New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu (R) for signing into law HB 1569 due to its election integrity provisions. ⁸ HB 1569 requires that unregistered voters who wish to vote on election day bring identification proving their citizenship. ⁹ In response, Chaffee stated “there’s simply no good reason” to implement “roadblocks” that could result in barring eligible voters from voting. ⁸

Leadership

Devon Chaffee has served as the executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of New Hampshire since 2012 after working for the ACLU-NH for one year as a legislative counsel. Previously, Chaffee served as an advocacy counsel, associate, and human rights fellow for Human Rights First. ¹⁰

Financials

In 2024, the American Civil Liberties Union of New Hampshire reported $233,849 in total revenue and $1.1 million in total assets. ¹¹ It also reported $162,535 in total expenses, including $69,180 for public education campaigns and $25,750 for lobbying. ¹²