Noncitizen

Vermont Court Upholds Noncitizen Voting Rights in Burlington School Elections, Dismissing Conservative-Led Lawsuit

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Burlington, Vermont — A Vermont Superior Court judge has dismissed a lawsuit aimed at preventing noncitizens from voting in local elections within Burlington. Judge Samuel Hoar, Jr. of the Chittenden County Superior Court rendered the decision on February 6, ruling against a case put forth by the nonprofit Restoring Integrity and Trust in Elections, which represented Burlington residents Karen Rowell and Michele Morin. In the lawsuit filed on June 18, plaintiffs argued that noncitizen voting in school board and educational budget elections is unconstitutional under the Vermont Constitution’s Section 42. This section traditionally interprets citizenship … Read more

New GOP Voter Laws Targeting Infrequent Noncitizen Ballots May Impact Legitimate Voters

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In a growing trend across the United States, Republican lawmakers are implementing stringent measures ostensibly designed to prevent noncitizens from voting. These legal changes, while targeting a phenomenon that is statistically rare, have raised concerns about their broader impact on the rights of eligible voters. Experts point out that the incidence of noncitizen voting in U.S. elections is minimal. According to studies, such cases are not only infrequent but also isolated. Despite this, legislative efforts aimed at stricter voter registration and identification processes are intensifying in several states, with proponents arguing that these laws are … Read more

President Trump to Enact Laken Riley Act, Authorizing Pre-Conviction Detention and Deportation for Non-Citizen Criminal Suspects

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WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump is set to enact the Laken Riley Act, marking his administration’s inaugural legislative venture. This new law, slated for signature later today, mandates the detention and potential deportation of undocumented individuals accused of theft and violent crimes prior to any court conviction. The law, named after Laken Riley, a 22-year-old nursing student from Georgia who was tragically killed in February 2024, swiftly moved through a Republican-majority Congress with some bipartisan support. Jose Antonio Ibarra, a Venezuelan national residing illegally in the U.S., was convicted of her murder and sentenced to … Read more

Judge Approves Settlement in ACLU Lawsuit to Protect Noncitizen Spouses During Citizenship Process

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Boston, MA — A Massachusetts judge has recently given the green light to a significant legal settlement related to a high-profile immigration lawsuit initiated by the American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts. This decision marks a pivotal moment for many noncitizen spouses embroiled in the U.S. immigration system. At the heart of the lawsuit was Lilian Calderon, a Rhode Island woman originally from Guatemala, brought to the U.S. at the tender age of three. Her case gained national attention when, in 2018, she was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) during a marriage interview—a … Read more