For 35 years, the Institute for Justice has come to the aid of real people fighting outrageous government abuse.
Arlington, Virginia
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Constitutional rights should never depend on an individual's ability to pay.
That's why, at IJ, we never charge our clients a dime.
❤️ Join our fight for freedom and justice today at ij.org/support/give-now/?utm…
#GivingTuesday
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This week, the Senate Judiciary Committee held a hearing on AI surveillance cameras.
Watch IJ Legislative Counsel Alasdair Whitney's full testimony on automated license plate readers (#ALPRs):
piped.video/live/klE498xFjOY…
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Throughout the country, local governments are partnering with private companies—like Flock Safety, Motorola Solutions, PlateSmart, and others—to install automatic license plate reader cameras on their roadways.
Unlike red-light cameras or speed cameras, which are triggered by specific violations, ALPRs photograph vehicles as they drive by.
As the president of one of these ALPR companies explained in sworn testimony, these cameras can detect any license plate that comes into the camera's field, snap a photo, and upload the image within seconds along with precise geolocation data.
The server uses artificial intelligence to extract and store data about each car.
These technologies allow police to access these databases without a warrant, track vehicles, and share information with other departments nationwide.
And the capabilities of these technologies are only expanding with video integration, people look-up tools, and facial recognition.
Learn more about IJ's fight to safeguard your movements from mass surveillance at plateprivacy.com
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Honored to be on CLE panel today, "#Virginia: Ground Zero for #CivilRights Litigation —Then & Now" @ VA 250 @VALawFoundation conf @MountVernon by #ConstitutionalLaw Inst.
I'm speaking on current @IJ #litigation challenging (1) #forfeiture under #ExcessiveFines Clause & (2) mass #surveillance via ALPRs in Norfolk, VA under #FourthAmendment.
ALT @CarlyFiorna giving an opening keynote
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Institute for Justice retweeted
Two Louisiana police officers pulled over Mario Rosales for allegedly failing to signal. They gave him Miranda warnings, frisked him, searched his pockets, and interrogated him. In all, the stop lasted over 21 minutes.
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City to Ministry: "No Soup Kitchen for You!"
In this video, Lighthouse Christian Ministries Director Kolin Oliveira describes his experience when the city of Wenatchee, Washington shut their soup kitchen without warning.
Represented by IJ, we're fighting back in federal court.
Learn more here: ij.org/press-release/wenatch…
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Automated license plate readers (#ALPRs) were sold to American communities as a targeted tool for catching car thieves and finding missing people.
What they actually purchased has grown into something far broader and more frightening: an AI-powered network of cameras that photograph and log the movement of every driver who passes, whether or not they are suspected of any crime.
IJ has identified hundreds of incidents of ALPR abuse, including stalking, wrongful stops and detentions, non-law enforcement use, and other types of misconduct.
ij.org/the-ij-database-of-al…
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Institute for Justice retweeted
Thanks to @IJ and the hard work of my colleagues Jaba, @jaredmcclain and @windyjosh92, @DHS can't:
1. Enter a construction site without a warrant;
2. Detain people without suspicion; or
3. Continue detaining anyone who has evidence of citizenship or lawful presence like REAL ID.
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Institute for Justice retweeted
Right now. Senate Hearing on Flock. @IJ legislative counsel set to testify about our lawsuits and advocacy on automated license plate readers. piped.video/live/klE498xFjOY…
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Illinois law could not be clearer: residents have the right to grow food and plant native flowers and pollinator plants on their own land.
Danville doesn’t get to sidestep that guarantee by relabeling a garden as a weed problem.
ij.org/press-release/illinoi…
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More than 20 years ago, Melony Armstrong stood up for the freedom to earn an honest living—and won.
With IJ’s help, Melony challenged Mississippi’s burdensome licensing laws and her fight led to a landmark reform that has opened doors for more than 6,700 braiders across Mississippi and inspired the feature Freedom Hair Film.
Today, Melony needs our help.
The building that houses her salon, braiding academy, and youth training programs is in jeopardy. She is raising $25,000 to stabilize the situation while she pursues financing to purchase the property and make it the permanent home of Naturally Speaking.
Learn more about Melony's fight to preserve Naturally Speaking here: gofundme.com/f/help-melony-s…
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Institute for Justice retweeted
HUGE win for @IJ, Leo, and the Constitution!
A federal court has ordered immigration officers in Alabama to stop warrantless raids of private construction sites and to stop detaining workers without individualized suspicion.
The ruling comes after construction worker and U.S. citizen Leo Garcia Venegas was detained 3 times—even though he repeatedly presented a state-issued REAL ID.
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A federal court has ordered immigration officers in Alabama to stop warrantless raids of private construction sites and to stop detaining workers without individualized suspicion.
The ruling comes after construction worker and U.S. citizen Leo Garcia Venegas was detained 3 times—even though he repeatedly presented a state-issued REAL ID.
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During the most recent incident, officers followed Leo home, ripped him from his car, tackled him, handcuffed and shackled him, and locked him in the back of a vehicle.
Now, while Leo’s class-action lawsuit continues, the court has blocked DHS policies that allowed officers to:
👉 Enter private construction sites without a warrant or consent
👉 Detain workers without a reason to suspect a specific individual is undocumented
👉 Detain workers after they provide evidence of citizenship or lawful presence
ij.org/press-release/federal…
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“For the first time in a long time, I will be able to go to work without worrying that I will be arrested for no reason,” Leo said. “Americans cannot be stopped and held by law enforcement when they are doing nothing wrong.”
By setting aside those unconstitutional policies, the court has restored the rule of law—and it means construction workers like Leo can finally go to work in peace again.
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“This decision is a huge blow to DHS’s lawless enforcement practices,” said IJ Sr. Attorney Jared McClain (@jaredmcclain).
“The government stood up in court and argued that they don’t need warrants to enter private construction sites and round up all the workers, and that they can’t trust government-issued IDs. By setting aside those unconstitutional policies, the court has restored the rule of law. Construction workers like Leo can finally go to work in peace again.”
Read the decision here:
ij.org/wp-content/uploads/20…
BREAKING NEWS. Federal judge in Alabama orders ICE and CBP to stop warrantless raids of construction sites, to stop detaining people without individualized suspicion, and to stop detaining people who present valid ID.
More coming shortly.
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