The Trump administration has conceded defeat in its effort to force public school districts to abandon civil rights protections and diversity, equity and inclusion programs that benefit students. The victory came Jan. 21 when the U.S. Department of Education filed…
Members of Congress sue for access to detention facilities
A dozen members of Congress are back in court because the White House quietly reinstated a rule barring unannounced inspections of immigration detention centers. The legislators filed an urgent motion in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia Jan….
Prosecutors and civil liberties groups speak out on ICE raids in houses of worship
Faith organizations suing to prevent immigration raids on or near houses of worship have gained support from a diverse array of prosecutors, civil liberty and religious groups in a case against the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Fair and Just…
VA implements near-total ban on abortions
The Trump administration has implemented a near-total ban on abortion and abortion counseling at Department of Veterans Affairs facilities across the nation. The policy move not only affects veterans but also the families of eligible veterans covered by the VA’s…
Trump administration can’t block Congress from ICE inspections
A federal court ruling temporarily blocks the Trump administration from preventing members of Congress from conducting unannounced inspections of immigration detention facilities. U.S. District Court Judge Jia Cobb in Washington D.C. ruled Dec. 17 that an Immigration and Customs Enforcement…
Trump’s HUD reverses cuts to housing aid after lawsuit threat
The Trump administration suddenly reversed course Dec. 10 on a planned shift in housing policy that would have sent hundreds of thousands of children and adults into homelessness during the winter months, according to advocacy groups. The move came just…
Religious groups seek to prevent holiday immigration raids
A coalition of religious groups has asked a federal court to prevent federal immigration agents from raiding houses of worship during the holiday season. The plaintiffs in New England Synod, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, et al., v. Department of…
‘It’s time for America and Congress to wake up’
It’s time for America to wake up and for Congress to wake up to the devastation being wrought by the Trump administration, Skye Perryman told the Texas Tribune Festival Nov 14. Perryman, president of Democracy Forward, was among four panelists…
Faith-based groups sue Texas over limitations on investment advice
Business and faith-based investment groups are suing Texas to stop enforcement of a new law that limits expert advice available to investors. “The plaintiffs are faith-based and nonprofit organizations that, as part of their missions, partner with institutional investors to…
As Trump balks on SNAP, advocates return to court
A coalition of small businesses, faith-based nonprofits and small governments returned to court Nov. 4 after the Trump administration gave mixed signals about its compliance with a judge’s order to resume food stamp payments during the government shutdown. The group…
Another lawsuit seeks to continue food stamp benefits
A coalition of faith-based nonprofits, small businesses and local governments filed suit Oct. 30 to challenge President Donald Trump’s refusal to continue food stamp funding during the government shutdown. The action filed in the U.S. District Court for the District…
‘Never before have we seen this,’ Pritzker and Perryman agree
The politicization of democracy is one of the most disturbing precedents of Donald Trump’s second presidency, Democracy Forward President Skye Perryman said during a livestreamed conversation with Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker. American democracy and constitutional freedoms never have endured the…