Immigrant Rights

Immigrant communities are an integral part of Puerto Rico’s social, cultural, and economic life. Yet thousands of migrants on the island face discrimination, detention, and barriers to basic services. The ACLU of Puerto Rico fights to ensure that every person — regardless of immigration status — is treated with dignity, fairness, and respect.

Derechos de Inmigrantes

What you need to know

85,000+

Migrant workers and their families live in Puerto Rico, contributing to the archipelago's economy and community life.

6,000

Nearly 6,000 immigrants without defined immigration status obtained driver’s licenses in Puerto Rico, but the government put that protection at risk by sharing their data with federal immigration authorities.

78 Municipalities, 2 Protections

Only two of Puerto Rico's 78 municipalities have adopted local ordinances limiting police cooperation with federal immigration enforcement.

We advocate for policies that protect immigrant families and prohibit local law enforcement from acting as federal immigration agents. The ACLU of Puerto Rico supports House Bill 331, which seeks to safeguard access to schools, hospitals, and churches for all — regardless of status.

Help Protect Immigrant Families in Puerto Rico

The ACLU of Puerto Rico is fighting to stop racial profiling, protect access to essential services, and ensure that no one lives in fear because of their immigration status. You can help by taking action on House Bill 331, sharing our campaign, or supporting our advocacy to make Puerto Rico a place where everyone belongs.

Key Issues

The ACLU of Puerto Rico challenges discriminatory practices and advocates for policies that promote inclusion, fairness, and accountability. Protecting immigrants’ rights strengthens entire communities and upholds Puerto Rico’s commitment to human rights.
Our work on immigrant rights combines litigation, policy reform, and public education to ensure that every person — regardless of where they were born — can live safely, work freely, and seek justice in Puerto Rico.

Police Collaboration: Local law enforcement often cooperates with federal immigration agencies, creating fear and mistrust in immigrant communities.

Access to Services: Many immigrants avoid schools, hospitals, and shelters out of fear of detention or deportation.

Labor Exploitation: Migrant workers, especially in agriculture and construction, face unsafe conditions and wage theft.

Family Separation: Detentions and deportations tear families apart and violate basic human rights.

ACLU of Puerto Rico

The Latest

Press Release
Inocencia Rodríguez, a su salida de la Corte de Inmigración en Guaynabo.

Inocencia Rodríguez will remain at liberty following a victory in federal court

The ACLU of Puerto Rico welcomes that she remains with her family, but denounces the excessive $5,000 bail imposed by Immigration Judge Elvin Talavera Peraza
Issue Areas: Immigrant Rights
Court Cases: Inocencia Rodríguez v. Rebecca González, et al.
Press Release
Inocencia Rodriguez, inmigrante dominicana detenida ilegalmente por ICE.

Federal judge orders immediate release of Dominican immigrant illegally detained by ICE

Judge María Antongiorgi Jordán likewise ordered that a bail hearing be held on or before July 21 after an immigration judge refused to corroborate the evidence available in the Government’s file
Issue Areas: Immigrant Rights
Court Cases: Inocencia Rodríguez v. Rebecca González, et al.
Press Release
Más de 200 personas formaron la frase "Migrar es un derecho" en el Balneario de Carolina, Puerto Rico, en defensa de las personas inmigrantes que viven en el archipiélago.

Immigration judge refuses to confirm the illegality of a Dominican immigrant’s detention

The immigration court ignored the warnings of Judge María Antongiorgi Jordán, who issued an order blocking the transfer of the woman after the ACLU of Puerto Rico filed an urgent legal motion
Issue Areas: Immigrant Rights
Court Cases: Inocencia Rodríguez v. Rebecca González, et al.
Press Release
Más de 200 personas formaron la frase "Migrar es un derecho" en el Balneario de Carolina, Puerto Rico, en defensa de las personas inmigrantes que viven en el archipiélago.

Federal judge halts transfer of immigrant detained by ICE during an aggressive vehicle intervention

Judge María Antongiorgi Jordán advised the federal agency that the detention would be illegal, as the ACLU chapter of Puerto Rico warned in their tenth immigration-related case.
Issue Areas: Immigrant Rights
Court Cases: Inocencia Rodríguez v. Rebecca González, et al., Albeto Pierre v. Rebecca González et al., Diógene Fermín Fernández v. Rebecca González et al., Ernesto José Cruz Tejada v. Rebecca González et al., Ignacio Cambero Maldonado v. Rebecca González et al., Joan Alberto Zorrilla Lora v. Rebecca González et al., Leon Isauro Calderon Santana v. Rebecca González et al., Martín Medina de la Cruz v. Rebecca González et al., Perfecto Paula v. Rebecca González et al., Teófilo Ávila v. Rebecca González et al.
Legislation
Oct 24, 2025

Senate Bill 125

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Puerto Rico, a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing civil and human rights, supports Senate Bill 125, which seeks to amend the Puerto Rico Electoral Code of 2020 to extend voting rights to foreign nationals domiciled in Puerto Rico.
Status: Engavetado
Legislation
Oct 24, 2025

Senate Bill 124

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Puerto Rico, a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing civil and human rights, supports Senate Bill 124, which seeks to establish the “Bill of Rights of Migrant Persons.”
Status: Engavetado
Legislation
Jan 26, 2026

House Bill 139

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Puerto Rico, a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing civil and human rights, warns that House Bill 139, as written, allows for an expansion of the powers of municipal police forces without clear safeguards and adequate coordination of oversight mechanisms. One of the dangers is that it would broaden the delegation of duties that properly belong to federal authorities, including the enforcement of current immigration policies.
Status: Activo