Reply: The ACLU is already on the warpath against Trump

La American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) informó que "continuará trabajando con sus afiliados para construir cortafuegos para anular las políticas de la administración Trump mediante el despliegue de nuestros millones de activistas y miembros portadores de tarjetas, junto con nuestros 2,200 empleados en todos los Estados, el Distrito de Columbia y Puerto Rico" y declaró abiertamente que "respondimos rápidamente y demandamos a la administración Trump por sus ocho órdenes ejecutivas que destruyeron los derechos y el asilo de los inmigrantes... También pedimos a un tribunal federal que celebre una audiencia sobre el cierre abrupto de la última vía que queda para que las personas en la frontera sur soliciten asilo". Señalan, además, que "presentamos una demanda impugnando las restricciones de la administración a la igualdad LGBTQ". Y terminan afirmando que "no hay organización mejor equipada para esta lucha. Estamos preparados para ganar la batalla contra esta segunda administración Trump".

Desde la segunda toma de posesión de Trump el 20 de enero, la ACLU ha presentado docenas de casos para bloquear órdenes ejecutivas. Durante el período de 2016 a 2020 esta organización presentó más de 400 casos contra las políticas del presidente Trump.

Anthony Romero, director ejecutivo de la ACLU, dice que habremos llegado a una crisis constitucional. "Estamos en el Rubicón", dice Romero. "Queda por ver si lo hemos cruzado". Romero ha ocupado el cargo desde 2001 —comenzó pocos días antes del 11 de septiembre de 2001—. Proclama que no es nada nuevo que los presidentes se irriten con los obstáculos judiciales para implementar sus agendas ... "si Trump decide desafiar flagrantemente una orden judicial, entonces creo que... Tendremos que salir a la calle de una manera diferente. Tendremos que cerrar este país".

Since the first day of the new administration, the ACLU has been on the warpath. We can see on their web pages how they are organizing themselves. Among other things, like this:

«The ACLU's "How to Organize" resource offers ideas to help you engage and organize your community. Whether it's starting a group, joining existing coalitions, leading a protest, or activating a PTA, there are many ways you can take the first step to fight back.

Before you hit the streets, read our guide and then test your civil liberties knowledge with the ACLU’s Know Your Rights quiz. If your rights have been violated, you can take action by finding your local ACLU affiliate and filling out their online form to report any civil liberties violations.»

In fact, the ACLU is already contesting Trump's plans for mass deportations and detentions on a number of legal grounds, including the claim that they infringe upon the right to be free from unjustified searches and seizures under the Constitution. The group is also moving to protect reproductive rights, including by going to court to stop the weaponization of the Comstock Act to ban abortion nationwide.

During Trump’s first term, the ACLU filed 434 legal challenges against his administration, successfully blocking some of Trump’s policies.

After Trump's election, «the ACLU’s legal and advocacy experts drafted a roadmap to combat his administration head-on.» They are anticipating legal fights before Trump's policies get into effect and their results could be evaluated.

The ACLU is ready to hinder Trump's government with the following strategy:

1. Defend against the Trump administration’s deportation plan through coordinated action at all levels of government;
2. Provide legal defense to whistleblowers and critics who dare to stand up to Trump’s policies;
3. Use the courts to affirm that LGBTQ people are protected from discrimination under federal law;
4. Challenge the Trump administration on reproductive freedom;
5. As soon as the 119th Congress is sworn in, urge members to use their constitutional powers to provide oversight, investigate wrongdoing, and reject the enforcement of restrictive policies.
6. At the state level, work with lawmakers to build a "firewall for freedom".

The ACLU concludes its report on this anti-Trump strategy with these words: «The Trump administration’s fundamentally un-American policies will be met with the full firepower of the ACLU and the might of our allies.»

They have no intention of debating, negotiating, and reaching civil agreements with the new administration, much less of collaborating on policies they may consider fair.