Case: Asgari v. Trump

1:17-cv-10182 | U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts

Filed Date: Feb. 1, 2017

Closed Date: June 1, 2017

Clearinghouse coding complete

Case Summary

On February 1, 2017, a J-1 visa holder filed this lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts, after being prevented from boarding a flight from Frankfurt to Boston on both January 28 and 30, 2017. Represented by private counsel, the plaintiff was Iranian-born and a resident of Switzerland; she was traveling to Boston to begin working at Brigham & Women's hospital as a researcher and expert on state-of-the-art genetic sequencing technologies focusing on pediatric suscep…

On February 1, 2017, a J-1 visa holder filed this lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts, after being prevented from boarding a flight from Frankfurt to Boston on both January 28 and 30, 2017. Represented by private counsel, the plaintiff was Iranian-born and a resident of Switzerland; she was traveling to Boston to begin working at Brigham & Women's hospital as a researcher and expert on state-of-the-art genetic sequencing technologies focusing on pediatric susceptibility to infection.

The complaint alleged that on January 28, 2017, a gate operator at the Frankfurt airport, who introduced himself as a representative from the consulate of the United States, told the plaintiff that she was ineligible to board a flight to the United States pursuant to an executive order issued by President Donald Trump on January 27, 2017 (EO-1, suspending entry into the United States of nationals of Iraq, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen). The complaint further alleged that when the plaintiff returned to the Frankfurt airport on January 31, with a copy of the January 29 Temporary Restraining Order issued in Loughalam v. Trump,

providing immediate protection to "holders of valid immigrant and non-immigrant visas . . . who, absent the Executive Order, would be legally authorized to enter the United States," the plaintiff was once again prevented from boarding her flight to Boston, despite being subject to the TRO's protection as a valid J-1 visa holder.

The plaintiff claimed that her continued bar to entry based solely on EO-1, that was enforced against her contrary to nationwide federal court stays, stood in violation of the defendants' duties owed to her and to all persons similarly protected by the TRO. The plaintiff sought declaratory and injunctive relief. President Trump, the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, and the Acting Commissioner of the Customs and Border Patrol Division of DHS were named as defendants.

On February 2, 2017 the plaintiff filed an emergency motion seeking a Temporary Restraining Order against the defendants, but the next day, the plaintiff requested that the hearing on the TRO be cancelled, as she was able to travel to the United States and clear customs.

On March 6, 2017, prompted by developments in the Washington v. Trump litigation, in the Ninth Circuit, the President rescinded the January 27 Executive Order and replaced it with a narrower one, Executive Order 13780 (EO-2).

In light of the revised EO-2, on March 31, the parties requested that the court stay the proceedings and postpone the defendants' deadline to answer, for sixty days until June 5, 2017. This would allow the parties enough time to monitor ongoing litigation before deciding how to proceed. District Judge Burroughs granted this request for a stay the same day.

On May 31, the plaintiff filed a notice of voluntary dismissal without prejudice, citing the Fourth Circuit's injunction of EO-2 in IRAP v. Trump. The court closed the case on June 1, 2017.

Summary Authors

Julie Aust (2/6/2017)

Virginia Weeks (2/8/2017)

Ava Morgenstern (6/13/2017)

Esteban Woo Kee (10/23/2021)

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/4580022/parties/asgari-v-trump/


Judge(s)
Attorney for Plaintiff
Attorney for Defendant

Adams, Randall R (Massachusetts)

Attorney, OIL-DCS Trial (Massachusetts)

Bachi, Daniel M. (Massachusetts)

Balaban, Rachel G. (Massachusetts)

Balderrama, Monica (Massachusetts)

Judge(s)

Burroughs, Allison Dale (Massachusetts)

Gertner, Nancy (Massachusetts)

Gorton, Nathaniel M. (Massachusetts)

Harrington, Edward Francis (Massachusetts)

Lasker, Morris Edward (Massachusetts)

Lindsay, Reginald C. (Massachusetts)

O'Toole, George A. Jr. (Massachusetts)

Ponsor, Michael Adrian (Massachusetts)

Saris, Patti B. (Massachusetts)

Saylor, F. Dennis IV (Massachusetts)

Stearns, Richard Gaylore (Massachusetts)

Tauro, Joseph Louis (Massachusetts)

Wolf, Mark Lawrence (Massachusetts)

Woodlock, Douglas Preston (Massachusetts)

Young, William G. (Massachusetts)

Zobel, Rya Weickert (Massachusetts)

Attorney for Defendant

Adams, Randall R (Massachusetts)

Attorney, OIL-DCS Trial (Massachusetts)

Bachi, Daniel M. (Massachusetts)

Balaban, Rachel G. (Massachusetts)

Balderrama, Monica (Massachusetts)

Barghaan, Dennis Carl (Massachusetts)

Bell, Charles Herbert (Massachusetts)

Belsan, Timothy Michael (Massachusetts)

Beneli, Liana (Massachusetts)

Bennett, Michelle R. (Massachusetts)

Bensing, Daniel E (Massachusetts)

Berin, Alec Jacob (Massachusetts)

Berman, Steve W. (Massachusetts)

Borrello, Robert John (Massachusetts)

Bowen, Brigham J. (Massachusetts)

Braga, Victoria (Massachusetts)

Brinkman, Andrew C (Massachusetts)

Brody, Michael Timothy (Massachusetts)

Buchanan, Michael F. (Massachusetts)

Busen, Jesse (Massachusetts)

Carilli, Joseph F. (Massachusetts)

Cecchi, James E. (Massachusetts)

Chan, Priscilla To-Yin (Massachusetts)

Cheng, David L (Massachusetts)

Chicago, AUSA - (Massachusetts)

CV, U S (Massachusetts)

Darrow, Joseph A. (Massachusetts)

Davila, Yamileth G (Massachusetts)

Davis, Kathryn C (Massachusetts)

Dibble, Francis D. (Massachusetts)

Donohue, Anne (Massachusetts)

Dugan, Joseph C (Massachusetts)

Dunn, Scott (Massachusetts)

Evans, Walter Manning (Massachusetts)

Faulman, Sara Lyn (Massachusetts)

Ferber, Tom J (Massachusetts)

Fernandes, David Brian (Massachusetts)

Flentje, August (Massachusetts)

Flowers, Jodi Westbrook (Massachusetts)

Folinsky, Marni Beth (Massachusetts)

Foster, Jennifer M (Massachusetts)

Fuchs, Siegmund F. (Massachusetts)

Fuentes, Raymond J (Massachusetts)

Gannon, Catherine (Massachusetts)

Garg, Arjun (Massachusetts)

George, Scott Alan (Massachusetts)

Gerardi, Michael J (Massachusetts)

Go, Samuel P. (Massachusetts)

Goldsmith, Aaron S. (Massachusetts)

Gov, Drew D. (Massachusetts)

Gov, Rex M. (Massachusetts)

Gov, Douglas T. (Massachusetts)

Gov, Krissy C. (Massachusetts)

Grant, Nicole Patrice (Massachusetts)

Habeas, US Attorney (Massachusetts)

Haefele, Robert Turner (Massachusetts)

Halaska, Alexander James (Massachusetts)

Hansen, Daniel John (Massachusetts)

Hayes, Steven M. (Massachusetts)

Henson-DOJ, Angie L (Massachusetts)

Hodel, Matthew A (Massachusetts)

Hollis, Christopher W. (Massachusetts)

Hummel, Jordan Kelsey (Massachusetts)

Inkeles, John (Massachusetts)

Itri, Shauna (Massachusetts)

IV., John Baptist (Massachusetts)

Jafek, Timothy Bart (Massachusetts)

Jassy, Jean-Paul (Massachusetts)

Jentzer, Lyle D (Massachusetts)

Jr, John D (Massachusetts)

Julius, Derek C. (Massachusetts)

Kade, Elizabeth L (Massachusetts)

Kahramanian, Lala (Massachusetts)

Kanter, Ethan B (Massachusetts)

Kelly, Philip M (Massachusetts)

Kelly, John (Massachusetts)

Kelly, Genevieve M. (Massachusetts)

Kimball, Kimere J (Massachusetts)

Kipnis, Brian C (Massachusetts)

Konkoly, Antonia (Massachusetts)

Kopplin, Rebecca M. (Massachusetts)

Krahulik, Robert Emil (Massachusetts)

LA-CV, Assistant 2241-194 (Massachusetts)

Leathers, Daniel R. (Massachusetts)

LeBoff, Michael S. (Massachusetts)

Lichten, Stuart Lloyd (Massachusetts)

Lonegan, Bryan (Massachusetts)

Luh, James C. (Massachusetts)

Marenberg, Steven A (Massachusetts)

McAleenan, Kevin K. (Massachusetts)

McGillivary, Gregory Keith (Massachusetts)

Menkin, Jeffrey L (Massachusetts)

Moore, Brendan T (Massachusetts)

Murley, Nicole N. (Massachusetts)

Murphy, Lindsay M. (Massachusetts)

Nazarov, Ari (District of Columbia)

Nelson, Jeffrey E. (Massachusetts)

Nuez, Nelsy De (Massachusetts)

Oswald, Craig Arthur (Massachusetts)

Parker, Ryan Bradley (Massachusetts)

Peoples, Tashiba Monique (Massachusetts)

Petty, Aaron R (Massachusetts)

Pifko, Mark Philip (Massachusetts)

Platt, Steven (Massachusetts)

Poindexter, Jeffrey E. (Massachusetts)

Pratt, Sherease Rosalyn (Massachusetts)

Press, Joshua S. (Massachusetts)

Readler, Chad A. (Massachusetts)

Rivera, Carlos Francisco (Massachusetts)

Robertson, Katherine A. (Massachusetts)

Robins, Jeffrey S (Massachusetts)

Rollins, Thomas G. (Massachusetts)

Russomanno, Herman Joseph (Massachusetts)

Sady, Michael P. (Massachusetts)

Saeed, Sairah (Massachusetts)

Scarlett, Shana E. (Massachusetts)

Schmedlin, William Francis (Massachusetts)

Schuessler, Danielle K (Massachusetts)

Schulman, Brian J. (Massachusetts)

Schwei, Daniel Stephen (Massachusetts)

Secord, Erin M (Massachusetts)

Seeger, Christopher A. (Massachusetts)

Shah, James C. (Massachusetts)

Shinners, Katherine J. (Massachusetts)

Shwayri, Andrea (Massachusetts)

Singh, Rukhsanah L. (Massachusetts)

Slack, Michelle R (Massachusetts)

Smith, Shelley (Massachusetts)

Snell, Kevin (Massachusetts)

Steinsapir, Jonathan P (Massachusetts)

Sten, John A. (Massachusetts)

Taranto, Leon B (Massachusetts)

Taylor, Lindsey H. (Massachusetts)

Tellis, Roland K. (Massachusetts)

Toennies, Andrew G. (Massachusetts)

Trump, Donald (Massachusetts)

Walsh, E. Jeffrey (Massachusetts)

Ward, Brian Christopher (Massachusetts)

Weinstein, Fred David (Massachusetts)

Weiss, Stephen A. (Massachusetts)

Westwater, Gisela (Massachusetts)

Wetzler, Lauren A. (Massachusetts)

White, Edward S. (Massachusetts)

Whitman, Steven R. (Massachusetts)

Wyer, Kathryn L (Massachusetts)

Young, Stacey I (Massachusetts)

Younger, Stephen P. (Massachusetts)

Zack, Adrienne (Massachusetts)

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Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document

1:17-cv-10182

Docket [PACER]

May 31, 2017

May 31, 2017

Docket
1

1:17-cv-10182

Complaint

Feb. 1, 2017

Feb. 1, 2017

Complaint
5

1:17-cv-10182

Plaintiff's Emergency Motion Seeking a Temporary Restraining Order and Hearing Before the Court

Feb. 2, 2017

Feb. 2, 2017

Pleading / Motion / Brief
11

1:17-cv-10182

Plaintiff's Notice Regarding Cancellation of Emergency Hearing

Feb. 3, 2017

Feb. 3, 2017

Notice Letter
13

1:17-cv-10182

Joint Motion for Entry of a Stay and for Temporary Suspension of the Defendants' Deadline to Answer, Move, or Otherwise Respond to the Complaint

March 31, 2017

March 31, 2017

Pleading / Motion / Brief
15

1:17-cv-10182

Notice of Voluntary Dismissal Without Prejudice

May 31, 2017

May 31, 2017

Pleading / Motion / Brief

Resources

Title Description External URL Date / External URL

Presidential Executive Order (13815) on Resuming the United States Refugee Admissions Program with Enhanced Vetting Capabilities

United States

Presidential Executive Order on Resuming the United States Refugee Admissions Program with Enhanced Vetting Capabilities Oct. 24, 2017

Oct. 24, 2017

https://www.federalregister.gov/...

Presidential Proclamation Enhancing Vetting Capabilities and Processes for Detecting Attempted Entry Into the United States by Terrorists or Other Public-Safety Threats

President Donald Trump

Sept. 24, 2017

Sept. 24, 2017

https://www.federalregister.gov/...

Presidential Memorandum for the Secretary of State, the Attorney General, the Secretary of Homeland Security, and the Director of National Intelligence

Donald Trump

This memorandum provides guidance for the Secretary of State, the Attorney General, the Secretary of Homeland Security, and the Director of National Intelligence in light of two preliminary injunctio… June 14, 2017

June 14, 2017

https://trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov/...

Executive Order 13780: Protecting The Nation From Foreign Terrorist Entry Into The United States

President Donald Trump

In light of the Ninth Circuit's observation that the political branches are better suited to determine the appropriate scope of any suspensions than are the courts, and in order to avoid spending add… March 6, 2017

March 6, 2017

https://www.federalregister.gov/...

Executive Order 13769: Protecting the Nation from Foreign Terrorist Entry into the United States

President Donald Trump

This Executive Order restricted travel, immigration, and visas for people from Iraq, Syria, Iran, Sudan, Libya, Somalia, and Yemen, and put the U.S. refugee program on hold for 120 days. Jan. 27, 2017

Jan. 27, 2017

https://www.gpo.gov/...

Memorandum to the Acting Secretary of State, the Acting Attorney General, and the Secretary of Homeland Security

Donald F. McGahn II, Counsel to the President

This memo states that the Executive Order on refugees etc. does not apply to Legal Permanent Residents. Feb. 1, 2017

Feb. 1, 2017

http://www.politico.com/...

Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/4580022/asgari-v-trump/

Last updated Feb. 19, 2024, 3:09 a.m.

ECF Number Description Date Link Date / Link
1

COMPLAINT against All Defendants Filing fee: $ 400, receipt number 0101-6479440 (Fee Status: Filing Fee paid), filed by Samira Asgari. (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet, # 2 Category Form, # 3 Exhibit 1. Asgari Declaration, # 4 Exhibit 2. Jan. 29, 2017 Order, # 5 Exhibit 3. Kaufman Declaration)(Willett, Peter) (Attachment 1 replaced on 2/2/2017) (McDonagh, Christina). (Attachment 2 replaced on 2/2/2017) (McDonagh, Christina). (Additional attachment(s) added on 2/2/2017: # 6 Exhibit A) Restricted due to personal identifiers. (Pacho, Arnold). (Attachment 5 replaced on 2/2/2017) (Pacho, Arnold). Modified on 2/2/2017 (Pacho, Arnold). (Additional attachment(s) added on 2/2/2017: # 8 Exhibit A RE: Exhibit 1. Asgari Declaration) (adminn, ). (Attachment 3 replaced on 2/2/2017) (adminn, ). (Entered: 02/01/2017)

1 Civil Cover Sheet

View on PACER

2 Category Form

View on PACER

3 Exhibit 1. Asgari Declaration

View on RECAP

4 Exhibit 2. Jan. 29, 2017 Order

View on RECAP

5 Exhibit 3. Kaufman Declaration

View on RECAP

6 *Restricted*

View on PACER

8 *Restricted*

View on PACER

Feb. 1, 2017

Feb. 1, 2017

RECAP
2

ELECTRONIC NOTICE of Case Assignment. Judge Allison D. Burroughs assigned to case. If the trial Judge issues an Order of Reference of any matter in this case to a Magistrate Judge, the matter will be transmitted to Magistrate Judge Jennifer C. Boal. (Pacho, Arnold) (Entered: 02/02/2017)

Feb. 2, 2017

Feb. 2, 2017

PACER
3

General Order 09-1, dated January 6, 2009 regarding the E-Government Act and Personal Identifiers entered. (McDonagh, Christina) (Entered: 02/02/2017)

Feb. 2, 2017

Feb. 2, 2017

RECAP
4

Summons Issued as to All Defendants. Counsel receiving this notice electronically should download this summons, complete one for each defendant and serve it in accordance with Fed.R.Civ.P. 4 and LR 4.1. Summons will be mailed to plaintiff(s) not receiving notice electronically for completion of service. (McDonagh, Christina) (Entered: 02/02/2017)

Feb. 2, 2017

Feb. 2, 2017

RECAP
5

Emergency MOTION for Temporary Restraining Order by Samira Asgari.(Willett, Peter) (Entered: 02/02/2017)

Feb. 2, 2017

Feb. 2, 2017

RECAP
6

ELECTRONIC NOTICE Setting Hearing on Motion 5 Emergency MOTION for Temporary Restraining Order : Motion Hearing set for 2/6/2017 10:00 AM in Courtroom 17 before Judge Allison D. Burroughs. Counsel for plaintiff shall inform defendants of the scheduled hearing. (Folan, Karen) (Entered: 02/02/2017)

Feb. 2, 2017

Feb. 2, 2017

PACER
7

NOTICE of Appearance by Nathaniel P. Bruhn on behalf of Samira Asgari (Bruhn, Nathaniel) (Entered: 02/03/2017)

Feb. 3, 2017

Feb. 3, 2017

PACER
8

NOTICE of Appearance by Noah J. Kaufman on behalf of Samira Asgari (Kaufman, Noah) (Entered: 02/03/2017)

Feb. 3, 2017

Feb. 3, 2017

PACER
9

NOTICE of Appearance by Ari Nazarov on behalf of John Kelly, Kevin K. McAleenan, William Mohalley, Donald Trump (Folan, Karen) (Entered: 02/03/2017)

Feb. 3, 2017

Feb. 3, 2017

PACER
10

ELECTRONIC NOTICE Canceling Hearing: The Motion hearing on 5 Emergency MOTION for Temporary Restraining Order, currently scheduled for 2/6/2017 at 10:00 AM has been cancelled. (Montes, Mariliz) (Entered: 02/03/2017)

Feb. 3, 2017

Feb. 3, 2017

PACER
11

NOTICE by Samira Asgari Regarding Cancellation of Emergency Hearing (Kaufman, Noah) (Entered: 02/03/2017)

Feb. 3, 2017

Feb. 3, 2017

RECAP
12

Judge Allison D. Burroughs: ELECTRONIC ORDER entered finding as moot 5 Motion for TRO. (Folan, Karen) (Entered: 02/08/2017)

Feb. 8, 2017

Feb. 8, 2017

PACER
13

Joint MOTION to Stay by Samira Asgari.(Kaufman, Noah) (Entered: 03/31/2017)

March 31, 2017

March 31, 2017

PACER
14

Judge Allison D. Burroughs: ELECTRONIC ORDER entered granting 13 Motion to Stay (Folan, Karen) (Entered: 03/31/2017)

March 31, 2017

March 31, 2017

PACER
15

NOTICE of Voluntary Dismissal by Samira Asgari (Kaufman, Noah) (Entered: 05/31/2017)

May 31, 2017

May 31, 2017

RECAP

Case Details

State / Territory: Massachusetts

Case Type(s):

Immigration and/or the Border

Special Collection(s):

Trump Travel Ban Challenges

Multi-LexSum (in sample)

Key Dates

Filing Date: Feb. 1, 2017

Closing Date: June 1, 2017

Case Ongoing: No

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

An Iranian-born and Switzerland-based scientist, granted a J-1 visa, but denied entry following the January 27, 2017 Executive Order. The successfully plaintiff entered the US on February 3, 2017, and cancelled a scheduled emergency hearing for mandamus but proceeded with a civil suit.

Plaintiff Type(s):

Private Plaintiff

Public Interest Lawyer: No

Filed Pro Se: No

Class Action Sought: No

Class Action Outcome: Not sought

Defendants

Office of the President of the United States (Washington D.C.), Federal

U.S. Department of Homeland Security (Washington D.C. ), Federal

U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (Washington D.C.), Federal

Case Details

Causes of Action:

Mandamus, 28 U.S.C. § 1361

Constitutional Clause(s):

Due Process

Available Documents:

Trial Court Docket

Complaint (any)

Outcome

Prevailing Party: None Yet / None

Nature of Relief:

None

Source of Relief:

None yet

Issues

General:

Terrorism/Post 9-11 issues

Discrimination-basis:

National origin discrimination

Immigration/Border:

Admission - criteria

Admission - procedure

Visas - criteria

Visas - procedures

National Origin/Ethnicity:

Arab/Afgani/Middle Eastern