News & Commentary

The ACLU of South Dakota sent a letter to all South Dakota sheriffs and chiefs of police, outlining the dangers of complying with President Trump's immigration policy demands.

Child welfare officials in South Dakota unnecessarily subjected a small boy to pain and trauma. We want answers.

The ACLU of South Dakota joined the Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, and Wisconsin affiliates today in filing a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit today demanding government documents about the on-the-ground implementation of President Trump’s Muslim Ban.

The Department of Social Services in Pierre ordered a child to be catheterized in order to charge his parents with a crime. We wrote a letter telling them to stop.

ACLU of South Dakota policy director and lobbyist, Libby Skarin breaks down the good, the bad, and the next steps for us in her Legislative Recap.

South Dakota has become the first state in 2017 to pass anti-LGBT legislation.

South Dakota just passed a bill that would prioritize the agencies’ religious beliefs over the needs of these states’ most vulnerable children, allowing agencies to use religious criteria to screen out qualified prospective parents. Legislatures in other states are quickly following suit.

Today the South Dakota State House approved SB 149 on a 43-20 (7 excused) vote. The bill, which would allow taxpayer funded agencies to refuse to provide any service, including adoption or foster care services, on the basis on the agency’s religious or moral convictions, now moves to the Governor’s desk for consideration.

We have been blessed with two beautiful children through foster care and adoption. But SB 149 could make it difficult – or even impossible – to build strong, loving families like ours.