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Saira Hussain

Saira Hussain

Staff Attorney

Saira Hussain is a Staff Attorney on EFF's civil liberties team, focusing on racial justice and surveillance. Previously, Saira was a Staff Attorney in the Criminal Justice Reform Program at Advancing Justice - Asian Law Caucus (ALC), where she focused on disentangling federal immigration enforcement from local law enforcement through policy advocacy, litigation, and coalition-building. She started at ALC as a Berkeley Law Public Interest Fellow in the Immigrant Rights' Program, representing immigrants in deportation proceedings. In addition, Saira organizes with Survived and Punished CA to end the criminalization of survivors of gender-based and sexual violence. She received her J.D. from UC Berkeley School of Law and her B.A. from UC Berkeley. Saira speaks Spanish and Urdu, and is an avid baker and yoga enthusiast.

Email Address:

Phone:

(415) 436-9333 x204

Twitter handle:

@sairahussain87

Deeplinks Posts by Saira

Deeplinks Blog by Saira Hussain, Will Greenberg | September 23, 2022

Study of Electronic Monitoring Smartphone Apps Confirms Advocates’ Concerns of Privacy Harms
- English
Researchers at the University of Washington and Harvard Law School recently published a groundbreaking study analyzing the technical capabilities of 16 electronic monitoring (EM) smartphone apps used as “alternatives” to criminal and civil detention. The study, billed as the “first systematic analysis of the electronic monitoring apps ecosystem,” confirmed...
- Read more about Study of Electronic Monitoring Smartphone Apps Confirms Advocates’ Concerns of Privacy Harms
Deeplinks Blog by Saira Hussain, Adam Schwartz | October 19, 2021

EFF Files New Lawsuit Against California Sheriff for Sharing ALPR Data with ICE and CBP
- English
The Marin County Sheriff illegally shares the sensitive location information of millions of drivers with out-of-state and federal agencies, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP). The Sheriff uses automated license plate readers (ALPRs)—high-speed cameras mounted on street poles or squad cars—to scan license...
- Read more about EFF Files New Lawsuit Against California Sheriff for Sharing ALPR Data with ICE and CBP
Deeplinks Blog by Saira Hussain | September 27, 2021

EFF to Court: Stop SFPD from Spying on Protesters for Black Lives
- English
EFF and the ACLU of Northern California recently filed a brief asking the San Francisco Superior Court to rule that the San Francisco Police Department (SFPD) violated the law when it obtained and used a remote, live link to a business district’s surveillance camera network to monitor protests in...
- Read more about EFF to Court: Stop SFPD from Spying on Protesters for Black Lives
Deeplinks Blog by Will Greenberg, Saira Hussain | August 5, 2021

We Have Questions for DEF CON's Puzzling Keynote Speaker, DHS Secretary Mayorkas
- English
The Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas will be giving a DEF CON keynote address this year. Those attending this weekend’s hybrid event will have a unique opportunity to “engage” with the man who heads the department responsible for surveillance of immigrants, Muslims, Black activists, and other marginalized...
- Read more about We Have Questions for DEF CON's Puzzling Keynote Speaker, DHS Secretary Mayorkas
Deeplinks Blog by Saira Hussain, Hannah Zhao | July 2, 2021

Victory! Fourth Circuit Rules Baltimore’s Warrantless Aerial Surveillance Program Unconstitutional
- English
This blog post was cowritten by EFF intern Lauren Yu.The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit ruled last week that Baltimore’s use of aerial surveillance that could track the movements of the entire city violated the Fourth Amendment.The case, Leaders of a Beautiful Struggle v. Baltimore...
- Read more about Victory! Fourth Circuit Rules Baltimore’s Warrantless Aerial Surveillance Program Unconstitutional
Deeplinks Blog by Saira Hussain | June 30, 2021

Victory! Biden Administration Rescinds Dangerous DHS Proposed Rule to Expand Biometrics Collection
- English
Marking a big win for the privacy and civil liberties of immigrant communities, the Biden Administration recently rescinded a Trump-era proposed rule that would have massively expanded the collection of biometrics from people applying for an immigration benefit. Introduced in September 2020, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS)...
- Read more about Victory! Biden Administration Rescinds Dangerous DHS Proposed Rule to Expand Biometrics Collection
Deeplinks Blog by Nathan Sheard, Matthew Guariglia, Saira Hussain, Lindsay Oliver, Kurt Opsahl, Adam Schwartz | June 8, 2021

A Year of Action in Support of the Black-Led Movement Against Police Violence and Racism
- English
- Español
“Black lives matter on the streets. Black lives matter on the internet.” A year ago, EFF’s Executive Director, Cindy Cohn, shared these words in EFF's statement about the police killings of Breonna Taylor and George Floyd. Cindy spoke for all of us in committing EFF to redouble its efforts...
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Deeplinks Blog by Saira Hussain, Jennifer Lynch, Nathaniel Sobel | October 22, 2020

EFF Files Comment Opposing the Department of Homeland Security's Massive Expansion of Biometric Surveillance
- English
EFF, joined by several leading civil liberties and immigrant rights organizations, recently filed a comment calling on the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to withdraw a proposed rule that would exponentially expand biometrics collection from both U.S. citizens and noncitizens who apply for immigration benefits and would allow...
- Read more about EFF Files Comment Opposing the Department of Homeland Security's Massive Expansion of Biometric Surveillance
Deeplinks Blog by Saira Hussain, Adam Schwartz, Sophia Cope | August 18, 2020

Civil Rights and First Amendment Defenders Urge First Circuit to Require a Warrant for Border Device Searches
- English
Last month, EFF, along with co-counsel ACLU and ACLU of Massachusetts, filed a brief in Alasaad v. Wolf urging the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit to require a warrant for searches of electronic devices at the border. In fiscal year 2019, border officers searched ...
- Read more about Civil Rights and First Amendment Defenders Urge First Circuit to Require a Warrant for Border Device Searches
Deeplinks Blog by Saira Hussain, Cara Gagliano, Adam Schwartz | August 11, 2020

Victory! Court Orders CA Prisons to Release Race of Parole Candidates
- English
In a win for transparency, a state court judge ordered the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) to disclose records regarding the race and ethnicity of parole candidates. This is also a win for innovation, because the plaintiffs will use this data to build new technology in service...
- Read more about Victory! Court Orders CA Prisons to Release Race of Parole Candidates

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