News & Commentary

ACLU of Hawaiʻi attorney Leilani Stacy has filed several winning habeas petitions. (Craig Fujii/Civil Beat/2026)

Locked Up Too Long? Legal Tactic Challenges Hawaiʻi ICE Detentions

Joaquin David Rico-Tapia had been held at Honolulu’s Federal Detention Center for six weeks when his attorney filed a special petition last September arguing he had been illegally detained as his deportation case went forward.

Latest Press Release

Oct 22, 2026

New ACLU Report Outlines 76 Ways Mass Deportation Destroys Democratic Institutions and Exacerbates Hawaii’s Affordability Crisis

ACLU Warns Sweeping Federal Immigration Mandates Will Cripple Hospitality and Agriculture Industries, Demands State and County Leaders Block Deployment of Local Police Resources

More from the Press

Stay informed on civil rights issues. Discover our latest actions and updates in the Press Release section.

Nov 10, 2026

KHON2 – Honolulu cart ban bill advances, jail time still on the table

Honolulu’s shopping cart ban bill advances, keeping up to 30 days of jail time on the table despite heavy opposition from ACLU of Hawaiʻi. For more details, visit ACLU of Hawaiʻi.

Nov 10, 2026

Hawaiʻi Public Radio – Honolulu shopping cart bill advances despite community concerns

The ACLU of Hawaiʻi defends civil liberties, advances racial justice, and protects constitutional rights for everyone across the islands.

Nov 09, 2026

Defending Civil Liberties Together: Intern and Volunteer Opportunities with the ACLU of Hawaiʻi

Join the ACLU of Hawaiʻi! Apply by Nov 30 for Spring 2027 internships or volunteer to protect civil liberties. Read the slides for details.

Nov 05, 2026

HNN – Bill cracking down on off-property shopping carts advances at City Council

Honolulu City Council advanced Bill 53, criminalizing off-property shopping carts. The ACLU of Hawaiʻi warns it punishes the houseless and kūpuna.

Nov 04, 2026

The Mānoa Mirror – Ahead of Election, Hawai’i Faith Leaders Discuss Christian Nationalism

Hawaiʻi faith leaders reject Christian nationalism, calling for inclusive democracy in the latest Mānoa Mirror.

Oct 29, 2026

ACLU of Hawaiʻi Board & Staff Retreat 2026

Our board & staff retreat offered space to step back, reconnect with our mission, and build stronger trust for the future we’re shaping.

Oct 29, 2026

Trump’s War on Dissent — and the Fight to Defy It

ACLU of Hawaii’s Sergio Alcubilla joins legal experts to discuss the rising threat to protest rights and how to defend the 1st Amendment.

Oct 28, 2026

Hawaiʻi Voting Guide 2026

Your ACLU of Hawaiʻi nonpartisan voter guide to the November ballot measures. Know what a YES or NO vote means for your rights.

Oct 27, 2026

Star Advertiser – Column: Isles must resist surveillance state

Mass surveillance threatens our privacy. The ACLU of Hawaiʻi urges lawmakers to pass permanent statutory protections to safeguard our rights.

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