Immigrants’ Rights

In recent years, government-sanctioned attacks on immigrants’ civil rights and liberties have increased in number and intensity. Immigrants face violence, discrimination, detention, and deportation, often without due process. When immigrants are denied equal protection under the law, the constitutional values upon which this country was founded are degraded.

protect immigrants

The ACLU of Kansas is dedicated to expanding and protecting the rights of immigrants in this state, regardless of their citizenship status. We use litigation, advocacy, public outreach, and education to work to lessen the hostility immigrants face on a daily basis on the state and local levels.

Our legal department has successfully petitioned jails in Kansas to stop illegally detaining people for unreasonable amounts of time at the request of federal immigration authorities. Most recently we helped to foil a bill that would have made it impossible for immigrant students raised in Kansas to receive in-state tuition to public universities in Kansas. Through the Know Your Rights project, we’re also working to educate immigrants in Kansas about their rights and supporting the community.

RESOURCES

The Latest

Publication
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Municipal ID Cards

Municipal ID cards are a form of photo identification issued by a city or county government, rather than by the state (as with a driver’s license) or the federal government (as with a passport).
Press Release
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Wichita City Council Rejects Community Call for Trust and Safety, Chooses to Stand With ICE

Over 150 residents packed the room in support of the Wichita Trust and Safety resolution Tuesday night
Issue Areas: Immigrants’ Rights
Press Release
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Over 30 local organizations, civic and faith leaders call on Wichita to oppose ICE

The Wichita Trust and Safety resolution is set to be placed on the agenda at the Nov. 10 City Meeting
Issue Areas: Immigrants’ Rights
Resource
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To: Mayor Wu and Members of the Wichita City Council RE Wichita Trust and Safety resolution

Cases, Campaigns & Legislation

Legislation
Nov 10, 2026

Public Comment in Support of the Wichita Trust & Safety Resolution

Position: Support
Legislation
Oct 19, 2026

Opposition to Prairie Village “HALO” City Code

The Kansas state legislature passed the HALO Act earlier this year during legislative session and it became state law, effective in July. On October 19, 2026 we submitted opposition testimony to Prairie Villages’s proposed the Uniform Public Offense Code New Section 3.5.1, which unnecessarily incorporates the problematic state law into the city’s code.
Position: Oppose
Campaign
Oct 2026

OPPORTUNITY FORWARD

In Kansas, we believe people should be judged by their character, actions and contributions—not by where they come from, what language they speak, or what they look like. Attacks on immigrants’ civil rights from the state and federal level have chipped away at our fundamental values that keep us safe and open the doors to opportunity for the people and families who believe in hard work and education.
Legislation
Aug 18, 2026

ACLU KS Public Comment in Opposition to OP HALO Act Ordinance

The Kansas state legislature passed the HALO Act earlier this year during legislative session and it became state law, effective in July. On August 17, 2026, we submitted opposition testimony to the proposed Overland Park city ordinance, POC-3529’s HALO provision, which unnecessarily incorporates the problematic state law into the city’s code.
Position: Oppose