Immigrants' Rights
No matter where we come from or how we got here, all Nebraskans deserve to live with dignity, free from discrimination based on race, religion, or national origin. Immigrants are our friends, family members, and neighbors, and they have the right to be treated fairly, including due process under the law. We refuse to let politicians use fear to divide us or scapegoat members of our communities. Immigrants' rights is one of the priority issue areas in our 2025-2028 Strategic Plan.
What you need to know
140,000
Census numbers show about 140,000 immigrants call Nebraska home. This count is supposed to include Nebraskans without current immigration status or citizenship in the U.S., but census officials say they often have difficulty counting undocumented community members.
$168 million
According to the American Immigration Council, undocumented immigrants pay almost $168 million in state and local taxes every year.
11.5%
Census numbers show 11.5% of Nebraskans speak a language other than English at home.
Thousands of immigrants call Nebraska home, strengthening our economy and communities. Across political and business sectors, there is strong support for welcoming immigrants. Yet, instead of recognizing these contributions, state leaders push extremist policies that fuel division and discrimination.
Some lawmakers are trying to force state agencies to act as extensions of federal immigration enforcement agents, turning Nebraska into a surveillance state that pits neighbors against each other. These politicians falsely conflate immigrants with crime, spreading harmful rhetoric for personal and political gain while ignoring the real issues hurting Nebraskans.
Meanwhile, Nebraskans appearing before the Omaha Immigration court are routinely denied a fair hearing—rushing cases, ignoring language barriers, and stripping people of their legal rights with no due process. Moreover, Nebraskans who are in removal proceedings and seeking asylum from persecution in their country of origin face the highest denial rate in the United States.
Our goals:
- Engage, prepare, and activate communities. We'll keep working to ensure Nebraskans know their rights when interacting with immigration enforcement officers and work to prevent the resurgence of state and local law enforcement agencies collaborating with the federal government to enforce federal immigration laws.
- Shift the narrative. This involves working with our partners to share the truth about immigration in Nebraska.
- Bring basic fairness to Omaha Immigration Court. We can enhance due process and support positive case outcomes by securing universal legal representation for immigrants facing this court.
The Latest
ICE Targets Nebraska Workers
Gov Pillen's Anti-immigrant Executive Order to State Agencies and Law Enforcement, Explained | ACLU of Nebraska + CIRA
Cases, Campaigns & Legislation
ACLU and Unity In Action Announce Community Empowerment Campaign to Educate Dakota County Residents About 287(g) Agreement
Take Action
Today, years of hard-fought civil liberty protections are under threat.
To influence lawmakers, we need everyone to get involved. Here are 2 actions you can take today.
Stay Informed
Sign up to be the first to hear about how to take action.
By completing this form, I agree to receive occasional emails per the terms of the ACLU’s privacy statement.
By completing this form, I agree to receive occasional emails per the terms of the ACLU’s privacy statement.