Protect the Civil Rights of the Unhoused and Mentally Ill

On July 24th, Trump signed an executive order titled “Ending Crime and Disorder on America’s Streets” that instructs state and local governments to forcibly institutionalize unhoused people and those with substance abuse and mental illness. State and local laws already have established processes for “involuntary civil commitment", but this EO directs federal agencies to reverse legal precedent and consent decrees to loosen limitations on involuntary commitments, defund harm reduction and housing-first programs, and prioritize funding for states and cities that “maximize” criminal enforcement.

This directive will incentivize local governments to criminalize homelessness, potentially without due process, and will instead exacerbate the existing crisis with punishment rather than address underlying causes like affordable housing. Its vague definitions of mental illness and substance use will likely also lead to the detainment of a much larger number of people than necessary, and may violate medical privacy rights. Local leaders have decried the use of involuntary commitment as an “overused, misused, and harmful” process that overwhelms already poorly-funded mental health systems.

State leaders must refuse to implement the directives of this executive order to criminalize mental illness and homelessness and violate the civil rights of vulnerable Americans. Demand your Governor focus on data-driven and humane programs, not unjust punishment.