Press Releases

Freedom of the press, protected by the First Amendment, is part of the fabric of our democracy. It serves as a vital check on government power and ensures the public’s right to make informed decisions. The ACLU of Puerto Rico supports the work of journalists, defends access to public information, and upholds the public’s right to know — because a free and independent press is essential to justice and accountability.

Media Requests:
David Cordero Mercado
Communications Director
dcordero@aclu.org
acluofpr@aclu.org

Aug 4, 2026

Federal Appeals Court Unanimously Strikes Down Puerto Rico’s COVID-Era Censorship Law

The law chilled journalists’ reporting on the COVID-19 pandemic and threatened press freedom during declared emergencies
Issue Areas: Free Speech
Court Cases: Sandra Rodríguez-Cotto v. Pedro R. Pierluisi-Urrutia
Jul 29, 2026

The ACLU of Puerto Rico and legal organizations urge the U.S. Court of Appeals to maintain the block on President Trump’s unconstitutional attacks against Harvard

Last year, the Court blocked the Trump administration’s attempts to seize ideological control over Harvard University
Issue Areas: Free Speech
Jul 21, 2026

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.
Jul 17, 2026

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.
Jul 15, 2026

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.
Jul 15, 2026

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.
Jul 9, 2026

ACLU of Puerto Rico warns about ICE stalking communities and streets across the archipelago

The organization denounced the ongoing interventions by masked ICE agents in communities and even in the middle of streets and vehicular traffic routes, targeting immigrant people and endangering public safety.
Issue Areas: Derechos de Inmigrantes, Immigrant Rights
Court Cases: Ignacio Cambero Maldonado v. Rebecca González et al., Ernesto José Cruz Tejada v. Rebecca González et al., Diógene Fermín Fernández v. Rebecca González et al., Joan Alberto Zorrilla Lora v. Rebecca González et al., Leon Isauro Calderon Santana v. Rebecca González et al., Perfecto Paula v. Rebecca González et al., Teófilo Ávila v. Rebecca González et al., Albeto Pierre v. Rebecca González et al., Martín Medina de la Cruz v. Rebecca González et al.
Jun 17, 2026

First Circuit blocks Fiscal Board’s attempt to shield officials sued for civil rights violations

In an ACLU of Puerto Rico case, the Fiscal Oversight Board had appealed an order by Judge Laura Taylor Swain clarifying that PROMESA does not protect current and former officials sued in their personal capacity.
Issue Areas: Free Speech
Jun 15, 2026

Supreme Court Again Denies DTOP’s Attempt to Keep Subpoena on Immigrants Hidden

For the second time, the Supreme Court’s determination in the ACLU of Puerto Rico case reaffirms the fundamental right of access to information and the people’s right to know how the exchange between the state agency and ICE took place
Issue Areas: Free Speech, Immigrant Rights
Court Cases: ACLU of PR v. DTOP