ACLU of Massachusetts Staff Counsel Laura Rótolo contributed the following:

The initial Congressional plan to reform our broken immigration system is a good start, but can be improved to ensure we don't lose fundamental rights along the way. The plan includes some positive provisions, such as a path to citizenship for the 11 million immigrants living in the shadows. It also includes proposals that can affect civil liberties and add to the runaway spending on border security.

Kade Crockford, director of the ACLU of Massachusetts Technology for Liberty project, co-wrote this blog.

Losing Internet and social justice activist Aaron Swartz feels like a punch to the solar plexus for those of us who care about freedom. The world has lost a young man of rare genius, compassion, courage and an unwavering commitment to social justice.

His death by suicide last week was "the product of a criminal justice system rife with intimidation and prosecutorial overreach," said a statement released by his family.