Kelsi Brown Corkran

Personal freedoms The personal freedoms accorded throughout the Constitution and its many amendments are an essential protection against government tyranny and reflect the inherent rights of every person in the United States. These include, -Freedom of expression. Democracy depends on freedom of speech and the press. The government has no right to intimidate or punish anyone simply on the basis of their views and ideas.  -Criminal justice. Those suspected and accused of crimes are protected by many provisions of the Bill of Rights, including those limiting police searches and arrests, ensuring the privilege against self-incrimination, and providing for fair trials.  These rights are imperative to protect individual freedom and prevent abuses by the government. -Personal autonomy. Our society respects fundamental aspects of autonomy, including the liberty to make important decisions about one’s life. the Constitution, and its chief safeguard of our liberty, is avoiding the concentration of power by separating and placing limits upon the legislative, executive, and judicial powers of government among three branches that check, balance, and respect each other’s power.   -Responsibility of each branch of government: Congress alone possesses the legislative power, which is limited to that authority enumerated in the Constitution. The President is not a King; his power must come from the Constitution or a statute passed by Congress and may not be applied to violate the constitutional rights of others. And it is “emphatically the province and duty of the judicial department to say what the law is.” -National defense: The federal government must provide for the common defense, which today means protecting the United States, supporting our allies overseas, and preventing foreign interference from disrupting our political system. But whether the federal government is protecting national security or fulfilling its domestic responsibilities, it must adhere to the limits of i…

Our full-page color ad running today in the New York Times, the San Francisco Chronicle, the Cleveland Plain Dealer, the Arizona Republic, and the Dallas Morning News. These are the truth which unite us, and these are the truths which every American needs to know. weholdtruths.org #sharethetruths

A large new initiative worth supporting, which my wife has been spearheading with Erwin Chemerinsky, @judgeluttig.bsky.social @democracyforward.org and many other leaders from across the spectrum in support of the fundamental American principles.

Join them, boost them, and much more is coming.

#WeHoldTheseTruths is a national movement to restore faith in the rule of law, with resources you can trust. Visit www.weholdtruths.org to learn more.

Exclusive: Trump admin faces lawsuit over ending more migrant protections The lawsuit is challenging DHS on its reported move to end Temporary Protected Status for Afghans and Cameroonians.

On behalf of @casaforall.bsky.social, we're suing the Department of Homeland Security to protect the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) of thousands of Afghans and Cameroonians after DHS purported to end their legal status without the notice the law requires. Read more here: tinyurl.com/3m4ut27c

We're proud to file on behalf of ethics professors in support of Jenner & Block and WilmerHale. Firms that settle with the government to avoid EOs blacklisting them severely imperil their lawyers' ability to comply with their ethical obligations. Read the briefs at the links in the post below.

Wondering about the administration's targeting of law firms?

Check out this conversation between ICAP's Mary McCord and @nowhari.bsky.social on Amanpour & Co.

ICYMI – Yesterday, the Sixth Circuit affirmed that our clients' constitutional right to marry was violated by a former county clerk in Kentucky who refused to grant them a marriage license based on her religious views.

Read more on the case here: tinyurl.com/musafz4t and tinyurl.com/y2vc7r7a

Why a bishop and a rabbi are taking Homeland Security to court (RNS) — The Christian and Jewish faiths demand we welcome the stranger. DHS is not allowing us to do that, so we sued.

religionnews.com/2025/02/14/w...

religious groups sue challenging DHS raids on places of worship in violation of RFRA and 1 Amendment
"The rescission of the sensitive locations policy is already substantially burdening the religious exercise of Plaintiffs’ congregations and members. "

Religious groups sue administration to protect worship sites from immigration arrests More than two-dozen Christian and Jewish groups representing millions of Americans have filed a federal court lawsuit challenging a Trump administration move giving immigration agents more leeway to m...

abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory...

“Plaintiffs represent millions of Americans across dozens of denominations rooted in the Jewish and Christian faiths,” said Kelsi Corkran. “They file this suit together because their scripture, teaching, and traditions offer irrefutable unanimity on their religious obligation” to welcome immigrants.

Just in! In our lawsuit challenging the President's Executive Order to end birthright citizenship for certain children, ICAP, alongside @casaforall.bsky.social & @asylumadvocacy.bsky.social, has obtained a nationwide preliminary injunction barring the government from implementing the order.

As Ballou writes, ICAP will continue to work "with state officials on legislation to shut down paramilitary activity that, among other things, interferes with government proceedings or people's constitutional rights."

Read the full article at the link below.

Today, alongside CASA, Inc. & @asylumadvocacy.bsky.social, and on behalf of 5 pregnant moms, ICAP challenged Trump's Executive Order to end birthright citizenship for certain immigrants. We are proud to work to protect the 14th Amendment rights of US-born children.

More here: tinyurl.com/2ykp842z

The Nomination of the Honorable Pamela Jo Bondi to be Attorney General of the United States: Day 2 | United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary

This morning at 10 am, ICAP Executive Director Mary McCord testifies before the Senate Judiciary Committee on the importance of maintaining the independence of the Attorney General, and the Department of Justice, when making investigative and prosecutorial decisions. Watch live: tinyurl.com/yedtxfe8

Senate Testimony on Confirmation of Attorney General: Preserving the Independence of the Department of Justice Mary McCord's testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee's confirmation hearing for Donald Trump's Attorney General nominee, Pam Bondi.

Senate Testimony on Confirmation of Attorney General: Preserving the Independence of the Department of Justice

By Mary McCord, Executive Director of @icapgeorgetown.bsky.social and Just Security Editorial Board Member

www.justsecurity.org/106451/testi...

A Sweeping January 6 Pardon Is an Attack on the Judiciary The federal judges who stewarded these cases deserve more respect than that.

In today's @theatlantic.com, ICAP Executive Director Mary McCord highlights the consequences of President-Elect Trump’s promise to consider pardons for the January 6 attackers.

Read the full article here: www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archiv...

What a year it’s been for ICAP! We are proud of the work we’ve been able to do over the course of the last year to protect our democracy and advocate for constitutional rights.

Read more about our work over the past year in our December newsletter: tinyurl.com/4p2n92x2

7 people gathered around a rectangular-framed award.

Yesterday, the ICAP team had the pleasure of accepting the 2024 Stewart B. McKinney Award at the National Homelessness Law Center’s annual Human Right to Housing Awards.

We would like to thank our partners & we look forward to finding more ways to contribute to the movement to end homelessness!

YouTube video by Lawfare Lawfare Live: President-elect Trump's National Security Appointments

Last week, ICAP Executive Director Mary McCord joined @lawfare.bsky.social to further discuss President-elect Donald Trump’s Cabinet and administration picks.

Listen to the full podcast here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Zt1....

At ICAP, we use strategic litigation tools, policy development, and public education to defend individuals’ constitutional rights and protect our democratic processes. We use the rights & protections of the Constitution to help communities stay safe & navigate the critical challenges of our time.

ICAP is excited to join the Bluesky community. Click below to follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram and Threads!

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