Case: Council on American-Islamic Relations - Connecticut v. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services

3:17-cv-01061 | U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut

Filed Date: June 27, 2017

Closed Date: Sept. 7, 2023

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Case Summary

This Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) complaint, filed June 27, 2017, sought to enhance knowledge about discriminatory immigration policy regarding Muslims, Latinos, and other members of groups allegedly disfavored by the Department of State (DOS) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The complaint was filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut. The plaintiffs were two non-profit organizations: Council on American-Islamic Relations - Connecticut (CAIR-CT) and Mak…

The plaintiffs were two non-profit organizations: Council on American-Islamic Relations - Connecticut (CAIR-CT) and Make the Road New York (MRNY). In the complaint, they cited various examples of anti-immigrant and anti-refugee rhetoric from President Trump, as well as the Trump administration's Executive Orders banning entry into the United States of individuals from certain majority-Muslim countries. The plaintiffs argued that these incidents directly impacted their work of enhancing public understanding of Islam and empowering immigrant and working-class communities.

The plaintiffs submitted three FOIA requests in furtherance of their work to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and DOS. According to the complaint, the FOIA requests sought greater understanding of the administration's immigration enforcement policies out of a concern that the defendants have targeted individuals on the basis of actual or perceived religion, ethnicity, race, or national origin in enforcing their immigration policies. Specifically, the plaintiffs sought "disclosure of agency policies, communications, and statistics related to visa processing and visa issuances for individuals applying abroad; to adjudication of entry document applications; and to screening and searching of individuals arriving at U.S. ports of entry." After the defendants did not produce any responsive records, the plaintiffs sought declaratory and injunctive relief, and "to compel the disclosure and release of urgently needed records."

The case was assigned to Judge Alfred V. Covello and the parties entered into settlement negotiations.

On January 26, 2018, the parties filed a status report indicating the defendants had completed their search for potentially responsive documents. The government agreed to produce the first set of documents by February 23, 2018, with further productions made on a rolling basis every six weeks. On April 9, 2018, this agreement was reinforced by a court order for production of documents.

The parties filed a joint motion to transfer the case to a Magistrate Judge on August 5, 2019. The Court granted this motion; the case was transferred to Magistrate Judge Robert M. Spector on August 15, 2019.

Over the course of the next two years, “the parties resolved almost all of their disputes regarding the scope of the plaintiffs’ FOIA requests and the appropriate rate of document production by the defendants.” Council on Am.-Islamic Rels. - Connecticut v. U.S. Citizenship & Immigr. Servs., 669 F. Supp. 3d 64 (D. Conn. 2023). The defendants produced thousands of documents.

Ultimately the parties narrowed their dispute to the defendants’ withholding of four documents. The first was a final copy of a 60-day progress report (“EO Report”) concerning the implementation of Executive Order 13780, which had placed a 90-day entry restriction on nationals of six Middle Eastern countries and which had been revoked and replaced by Executive Order 13769, commonly known as the “Muslim ban.” The defendants sought to withhold the entirety of this document under the presidential communications privilege, the FOIA Exemption 5 deliberative process privilege, FOIA Exemption 7(E) as law enforcement techniques and guidelines, FOIA Exemption 1 as material that had been properly classified, and FOIA Exemption 3 as materials statutorily exempt from disclosure. The plaintiffs informed the Court they intended to challenge this withholding on December 13, 2022, and the EO Report was submitted to the Court for review in camera. On December 16, 2022, the plaintiffs represented to the Court that they intended to challenge the withholding of three additional documents. Two of the documents, the “State Cable” and the “Operational Q&A,” had been withheld under FOIA Exemption 7(E). The last document was a draft (the “PRA Supporting Statement”) related to 82 Fed. Reg. 20956, a DOS regulation creating more stringent questions for visa applicants for “populations warranting increased scrutiny,” which had been withheld under deliberative process and attorney-client privileges.

On January 25, 2023, the defendants moved for summary judgment regarding the four challenged documents. On February 13, 2023, the plaintiffs cross-moved for summary judgment. On April 17, 2023, the Court granted in part and denied in part the defendants’ motion, and denied the plaintiffs’ cross-motion. The Court held that there was a genuine issue of material fact as to whether the presidential communications privilege applied to the EO Report in full, as the Court lacked information to determine whether the document had been distributed so widely within the executive branch that the privilege no longer applied. The Court did grant summary judgment to the defendant on the portions of the EO Report which were withheld under the deliberative process privilege, Exemption 7(E), Exemption 1, and Exemption 3. The Court also granted summary judgment to the defendant on the three other documents, holding that Exemption 7(E) applied to the State Cable and the Operational Q&A, and that both deliberative process and attorney-client privileges applied to the PRA Supporting Statement. Therefore the only live issue after this ruling was whether the DHS properly withheld the EO Report in full pursuant to the presidential communications privilege.

On September 6, 2023, the parties announced in their joint status report that they had reached a final settlement on the matter. According to a Law360 article, the government agreed to reveal portions of the EO Report which had been previously redacted under the presidential communications privilege and to pay $245,000 in plaintiffs’ attorneys fees (https://www.law360.com/articles/1719559). On September 7, the Court closed the case.

Summary Authors

Virginia Weeks (11/28/2018)

Ellen Aldin (6/10/2020)

Audrey Li (12/1/2024)

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/6081287/parties/council-on-american-islamic-relations-connecticut-v-us-citizenship-and/

Judge(s)

Covello, Alfred V. (Connecticut)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Ahmad, Muneer I. (Connecticut)

Bates, Adam Taylor (New York)

Cox, Justin Bryan (Georgia)

Attorney for Defendant

Drezner, Michael Leon (District of Columbia)

Judge(s)

Covello, Alfred V. (Connecticut)

Spector, Robert M (Connecticut)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Ahmad, Muneer I. (Connecticut)

Bates, Adam Taylor (New York)

Cox, Justin Bryan (Georgia)

Espiritu, Nicholas David (California)

Evarts, Linda (New York)

Heller, Rebecca (New York)

Hirose, Mariko (New York)

Keaney, Melissa S. (California)

Loyo, Ruben (Connecticut)

Parikh, Reena (Connecticut)

Poellot, Stephen (New York)

Stehlik, Joshua T. (California)

Sung, Esther (California)

Tumlin, Karen C. (California)

Wishnie, Michael J. (Connecticut)

Attorney for Defendant

Drezner, Michael Leon (District of Columbia)

Hunt, Joseph H. (District of Columbia)

Shapiro, Elizabeth J. (District of Columbia)

Attorney Contact Information via CourtListener

Documents in the Clearinghouse

Documents in this case

3:17-cv-01061	Docket [PACER] Council on Islamic - American Relations - Connecticut v. US Citizenship and Immigration Services	May 28, 2020	May 28, 2020 Docket
1 3:17-cv-01061	Complaint Council on Islamic-American Relations v. USCIS	June 27, 2017	June 27, 2017 Complaint
101 (& 101-1) 3:17-cv-01061	Defendants' Consent Motion to Modify Production Order Council on American-Islamic Relations v. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services	May 21, 2020	May 21, 2020 Pleading / Motion / Brief
229 3:17-cv-01061	**Ruling on the Defendants’ MotionSummary Judgment and the Plaintiffs’ Cross-Motion for Summary Judgment	April 17, 2023	April 17, 2023 Order/Opinion 669 F.Supp.3d 64

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Resources

Resources related to this case
Title	Description		External URL Date / External URL
WIRAC Sues Administration for Withholding Records in “Backdoor Muslim Ban” Yale Law School	On June 27, 2017, the Council on American-Islamic Relations – Connecticut (CAIR-CT) and Make the Road New York (MRNY) sued the Trump administration for withholding critical information concerning its…	June 27, 2017	June 27, 2017

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Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/6081287/council-on-american-islamic-relations-connecticut-v-us-citizenship-and/

Last updated July 20, 2026, 5 a.m.

Docket for: Council on American-Islamic Relations - Connecticut v. US Citizenship and Immigration Services

ECF Number	Date	Description	Link
1	June 27, 2017	COMPLAINT against All Defendants ( Filing fee $400 receipt number 0205-4448842.), filed by Council on American-Islamic Relations - Connecticut, Make the Road New York.(Ahmad, Muneer) Modified on 6/27/2017 (Walker, A). (Entered: 06/27/2017)	RECAP
2	June 27, 2017	ELECTRONIC FILING ORDER - PLEASE ENSURE COMPLIANCE WITH COURTESY COPY REQUIREMENTS IN THIS ORDER Signed by Judge Alfred V. Covello on 6/27/2017.(Hushin, Z.) (Entered: 06/28/2017)	RECAP
	June 27, 2017	Add and Terminate Judges
	June 27, 2017	Judge Alfred V. Covello added. (Anastasio, F.)
3	June 28, 2017	NOTICE TO COUNSEL/PRO SE PARTIES : Counsel or pro se parties initiating or removing this action are responsible for serving all parties with attached documents and copies of 2 Electronic Filing Order, 1 Complaint filed by Council on American-Islamic Relations - Connecticut, Make the Road New York Signed by Clerk on 6/28/2017.(Hushin, Z.) (Entered: 06/28/2017)	RECAP
4	June 29, 2017	EXHIBIT A-I by Council on American-Islamic Relations - Connecticut, Make the Road New York re 1 Complaint. (Ahmad, Muneer) (Entered: 06/29/2017)	RECAP
	July 12, 2017	Request for Clerk to issue summons as to All Defendants. (Ahmad, Muneer)
	July 12, 2017	Request to Issue Summons
5	July 13, 2017	ELECTRONIC SUMMONS ISSUED in accordance with Fed. R. Civ. P. 4 and LR 4 as to U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Department of State, US Citizenship and Immigration Services with answer to complaint due within 30 days. Attorney Muneer I. Ahmad Jerome N. Frank Legal Services - Wall St - Yale Law School 127 Wall Street New Haven, CT 06511. (Hushin, Z.) (Entered: 07/13/2017)	RECAP
6	July 14, 2017	NOTICE of Appearance by Michael J. Wishnie on behalf of Council on American-Islamic Relations - Connecticut, Make the Road New York (Wishnie, Michael) (Entered: 07/14/2017)	RECAP
7	July 14, 2017	SUMMONS Returned Executed by Council on American-Islamic Relations - Connecticut, Make the Road New York. U.S. Customs and Border Protection served on 7/14/2017, answer due 8/13/2017; U.S. Department of State served on 7/14/2017, answer due 8/13/2017; US Citizenship and Immigration Services served on 7/14/2017, answer due 8/13/2017. (Ahmad, Muneer) (Entered: 07/14/2017)	RECAP
8	Aug. 8, 2017	NOTICE of Appearance by Michael L. Drezner on behalf of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Department of State, US Citizenship and Immigration Services (Drezner, Michael) (Entered: 08/08/2017)	RECAP
9	Aug. 8, 2017	Consent MOTION for Extension of Time until September 13, 2017to Respond to Plaintiffs' Complaint by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Department of State, US Citizenship and Immigration Services. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Drezner, Michael) (Entered: 08/08/2017) 1 Text of Proposed Order View on RECAP	RECAP
10	Aug. 10, 2017	ORDER granting 9 motion for extension of time. The time for the defendants to respond to the plaintiffs' complaint is extended to and including September 13, 2017. Signed by Judge Alfred V. Covello on August 10, 2017. (Modzelewski, C.) (Entered: 08/10/2017)	RECAP
	Aug. 10, 2017	Order on Motion for Extension of Time
11	Sept. 8, 2017	Consent MOTION for Extension of Time until October 13, 2017to Respond to Plaintiffs' Complaint by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Department of State, US Citizenship and Immigration Services. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Drezner, Michael) (Entered: 09/08/2017) 1 Text of Proposed Order View on PACER	RECAP
12	Sept. 12, 2017	ORDER granting 11 motion for extension of time. The time for the defendants to respond to the plaintiffs' complaint is extended to and including October 13, 2017. Signed by Judge Alfred V. Covello on September 12, 2017. (Modzelewski, C.) (Entered: 09/12/2017)	RECAP
	Sept. 12, 2017	Order on Motion for Extension of Time
13	Sept. 18, 2017	MOTION for Attorney(s) Justin B. Cox to be Admitted Pro Hac Vice (paid $75 PHV fee; receipt number 0205-4536777) by Council on American-Islamic Relations - Connecticut, Make the Road New York. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order, # 2 Exhibit Certificate of Good Standing, # 3 Affidavit)(Ahmad, Muneer) (Entered: 09/18/2017) 1 Text of Proposed Order View on PACER 2 Exhibit Certificate of Good Standing View on PACER 3 Affidavit View on PACER	RECAP
14	Sept. 18, 2017	MOTION for Attorney(s) Mariko Hirose to be Admitted Pro Hac Vice (paid $75 PHV fee; receipt number 0205-4536831) by Council on American-Islamic Relations - Connecticut, Make the Road New York. (Attachments: # 1 Affidavit, # 2 Text of Proposed Order, # 3 Exhibit Certificate of Good Standing)(Ahmad, Muneer) (Entered: 09/18/2017) 1 Affidavit View on PACER 2 Text of Proposed Order View on PACER 3 Exhibit Certificate of Good Standing View on PACER	RECAP
15	Sept. 18, 2017	MOTION for Attorney(s) Stephen Poellot to be Admitted Pro Hac Vice (paid $75 PHV fee; receipt number 0205-4536844) by Council on American-Islamic Relations - Connecticut, Make the Road New York. (Attachments: # 1 Affidavit, # 2 Text of Proposed Order, # 3 Exhibit Certificate of Good Standing)(Ahmad, Muneer) (Entered: 09/18/2017) 1 Affidavit View on PACER 2 Text of Proposed Order View on PACER 3 Exhibit Certificate of Good Standing View on PACER	RECAP
16	Sept. 19, 2017	MOTION for Attorney(s) 1 to be Admitted Pro Hac Vice (paid $75 PHV fee; receipt number 0205-4538798) by Council on American-Islamic Relations - Connecticut, Make the Road New York. (Attachments: # 1 Affidavit, # 2 Exhibit Certificate of standing, # 3 Text of Proposed Order)(Ahmad, Muneer) (Entered: 09/19/2017) 1 Affidavit View on PACER 2 Exhibit Certificate of standing View on PACER 3 Text of Proposed Order View on RECAP	RECAP
17	Sept. 19, 2017	MOTION for Attorney(s) Esther Sung to be Admitted Pro Hac Vice (paid $75 PHV fee; receipt number 0205-4538799) by Council on American-Islamic Relations - Connecticut, Make the Road New York. (Attachments: # 1 Affidavit, # 2 Exhibit Certificate of standing, # 3 Text of Proposed Order)(Ahmad, Muneer) (Entered: 09/19/2017) 1 Affidavit View on PACER 2 Exhibit Certificate of standing View on PACER 3 Text of Proposed Order View on PACER	RECAP
18	Sept. 19, 2017	MOTION for Attorney(s) Melissa Keaney to be Admitted Pro Hac Vice (paid $75 PHV fee; receipt number 0205-4538800) by Council on American-Islamic Relations - Connecticut, Make the Road New York. (Attachments: # 1 Affidavit, # 2 Exhibit Certificate of standing, # 3 Text of Proposed Order)(Ahmad, Muneer) (Entered: 09/19/2017) 1 Affidavit View on PACER 2 Exhibit Certificate of standing View on PACER 3 Text of Proposed Order View on PACER	RECAP
19	Sept. 19, 2017	MOTION for Attorney(s) Nicholas Espiritu to be Admitted Pro Hac Vice (paid $75 PHV fee; receipt number 0205-4538801) by Council on American-Islamic Relations - Connecticut, Make the Road New York. (Attachments: # 1 Affidavit, # 2 Exhibit Certificate of standing, # 3 Text of Proposed Order)(Ahmad, Muneer) (Entered: 09/19/2017) 1 Affidavit View on PACER 2 Exhibit Certificate of standing View on PACER 3 Text of Proposed Order View on PACER	RECAP
20	Sept. 28, 2017	ORDER granting 13 motion to appear; granting 14 motion to appear; granting 15 motion to appear; granting 16 motion to appear; granting 17 motion to appear; granting 18 motion to appear; granting 19 motion to appear Certificate of Good Standing due by 11/27/2017. Signed by Judge Alfred V. Covello on 09/28/17. (Covello, Alfred) (Entered: 09/28/2017)	RECAP
	Sept. 28, 2017	Order on Motion for Admission Pro Hac Vice AND Order on Motion for Admission Pro Hac Vice AND Order on Motion for Admission Pro Hac Vice AND Order on Motion for Admission Pro Hac Vice AND Order on Motion for Admission Pro Hac Vice AND Order on Motion for Admission Pro Hac Vice AND Order on Motion for Admission Pro Hac Vice
21	Oct. 2, 2017	NOTICE of Appearance by Mariko Hirose on behalf of Council on American-Islamic Relations - Connecticut, Make the Road New York (Hirose, Mariko) (Entered: 10/02/2017)	RECAP
22	Oct. 4, 2017	NOTICE of Appearance by Stephen Poellot on behalf of Council on American-Islamic Relations - Connecticut, Make the Road New York (Poellot, Stephen) (Entered: 10/04/2017)	RECAP
23	Oct. 10, 2017	MOTION for Extension of Time and Entry of Briefing Schedule by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Department of State, US Citizenship and Immigration Services. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Drezner, Michael) (Entered: 10/10/2017) 1 Text of Proposed Order View on PACER	RECAP
24	Oct. 11, 2017	ORDER granting in part and denying in part 23 motion for extension of time. The time for the defendants to respond to the plaintiffs' complaint is hereby extended to and including November 17, 2017. The defendants' motion is denied in all other respects. The response and reply, if any, shall be filed in accordance with the federal and local rules of civil procedure. Signed by Judge Alfred V. Covello on October 11, 2017. (Kontyko, K.) (Entered: 10/11/2017)	RECAP
	Oct. 11, 2017	Order on Motion for Extension of Time
	Nov. 4, 2017	Answer deadline updated for All Defendants. The time for the defendants to respond to the plaintiffs' complaint is hereby extended to and including November 17, 2017 (Alexander, R.)
	Nov. 4, 2017	Update Answer Deadline
25	Nov. 9, 2017	Joint MOTION to Stay Briefing Schedule by Council on American-Islamic Relations - Connecticut, Make the Road New York.Responses due by 11/30/2017 (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Ahmad, Muneer) (Entered: 11/09/2017) 1 Text of Proposed Order View on PACER	RECAP
26	Nov. 13, 2017	ORDER granting in part and denying in part 25 motion to stay. The briefing schedule is hereby stayed to and including December 28, 2017. Any future motions for an extension of the stay shall include a specific articulation of the basis of the need for additional time. Signed by Judge Alfred V. Covello on November 13, 2017. (Kontyko, K.) (Entered: 11/13/2017)	RECAP
	Nov. 13, 2017	Order on Motion to Stay
27	Dec. 1, 2017	Joint STATUS REPORT by Council on American-Islamic Relations - Connecticut, Make the Road New York. (Ahmad, Muneer) (Entered: 12/01/2017)	RECAP
28	Dec. 28, 2017	ANSWER to 1 Complaint with Affirmative Defenses by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Department of State, US Citizenship and Immigration Services.(Drezner, Michael) (Entered: 12/28/2017)	RECAP
29	Dec. 28, 2017	Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Department of State, US Citizenship and Immigration Services. (Drezner, Michael) (Entered: 12/28/2017)	RECAP
30	Jan. 26, 2018	Joint STATUS REPORT by Council on American-Islamic Relations - Connecticut, Make the Road New York. (Ahmad, Muneer) (Entered: 01/26/2018)	RECAP
31	Feb. 2, 2018	MOTION for Attorney(s) Joshua T. Stehlik to be Admitted Pro Hac Vice (paid $75 PHV fee; receipt number ACTDC-4705454) by Council on American-Islamic Relations - Connecticut, Make the Road New York. (Attachments: # 1 Affidavit, # 2 Text of Proposed Order)(Ahmad, Muneer) (Entered: 02/02/2018) 1 Affidavit View on PACER 2 Text of Proposed Order View on PACER	RECAP
32	Feb. 2, 2018	MOTION for Attorney(s) Linda B. Evarts to be Admitted Pro Hac Vice (paid $75 PHV fee; receipt number ACTDC-4705519) by Council on American-Islamic Relations - Connecticut, Make the Road New York. (Attachments: # 1 Affidavit, # 2 Text of Proposed Order, # 3 Appendix Certificate of Good Standing)(Ahmad, Muneer) (Entered: 02/02/2018) 1 Affidavit View on PACER 2 Text of Proposed Order View on PACER 3 Appendix Certificate of Good Standing View on PACER	RECAP
33	Feb. 6, 2018	ORDER granting 31 Motion for Attorney Joshua T. Stehlik to be Admitted Pro Hac Vice. Certificate of Good Standing due by 4/7/2018. Signed by Clerk on 2/6/2018. (Bozek, M.) (Entered: 02/06/2018)	RECAP
34	Feb. 6, 2018	ORDER granting 32 Motion for Attorney Linda B. Evarts to be Admitted Pro Hac Vice. Signed by Clerk on 2/6/2018. (Bozek, M.) (Entered: 02/06/2018)	RECAP
	Feb. 6, 2018	Order on Motion for Admission Pro Hac Vice
	Feb. 6, 2018	Order on Motion for Admission Pro Hac Vice
35	Feb. 28, 2018	NOTICE of Appearance by Joshua T. Stehlik on behalf of Council on American-Islamic Relations - Connecticut, Make the Road New York (Stehlik, Joshua) (Entered: 02/28/2018)	RECAP
36	Feb. 28, 2018	NOTICE of Appearance by Linda B. Evarts on behalf of Council on American-Islamic Relations - Connecticut, Make the Road New York (Evarts, Linda) (Entered: 02/28/2018)	RECAP
37	March 5, 2018	CERTIFICATE OF GOOD STANDING re 31 MOTION for Attorney(s) Joshua T. Stehlik to be Admitted Pro Hac Vice (paid $75 PHV fee; receipt number ACTDC-4705454) by Council on American-Islamic Relations - Connecticut, Make the Road New York. (Stehlik, Joshua) (Entered: 03/05/2018)	RECAP
38	March 27, 2018	Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Department of State, US Citizenship and Immigration Services. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Drezner, Michael) (Entered: 03/27/2018) 1 Text of Proposed Order View on RECAP	RECAP
39	April 9, 2018	ORDER for production of documents. Signed by Judge Alfred V. Covello on April 9, 2018. (Kontyko, K.) (Entered: 04/09/2018)	RECAP
40	May 25, 2018	Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Department of State, US Citizenship and Immigration Services. (Drezner, Michael) (Entered: 05/25/2018)	RECAP
41	June 25, 2018	Joint STATUS REPORT (Amended) by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Department of State, US Citizenship and Immigration Services. (Drezner, Michael) (Entered: 06/25/2018)	RECAP
42	July 24, 2018	Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Department of State, US Citizenship and Immigration Services. (Drezner, Michael) (Entered: 07/24/2018)	RECAP
43	Sept. 24, 2018	Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Department of State, US Citizenship and Immigration Services. (Drezner, Michael) (Entered: 09/24/2018)	RECAP
44	Sept. 25, 2018	STATUS REPORT (Corrected Signature Line) by Council on American-Islamic Relations - Connecticut, Make the Road New York. (Ahmad, Muneer) (Entered: 09/25/2018)	RECAP
45	Nov. 26, 2018	Joint STATUS REPORT by Council on American-Islamic Relations - Connecticut, Make the Road New York. (Ahmad, Muneer) (Entered: 11/26/2018)	RECAP
46	Jan. 9, 2019	MOTION to Stay Production Schedule by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Department of State, US Citizenship and Immigration Services.Responses due by 1/30/2019 (Drezner, Michael) (Entered: 01/09/2019)	RECAP
47	Jan. 23, 2019	ORDER granting 46 motion to stay. Counsel shall notify the court within 10 days after congress has restored appropriations to the department of justice. The court will address the issue of appropriate deadlines and extensions after it is notified by counsel that appropriations have been restored. Signed by Judge Alfred V. Covello on 1/23/19. (Hall, Gregory) (Entered: 01/23/2019)	RECAP
	Jan. 23, 2019	Case Stayed
	Jan. 23, 2019	Case Stayed per 47 Order. (Bozek, M.)
48	Feb. 1, 2019	NOTICE by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Department of State, US Citizenship and Immigration Services (Drezner, Michael) (Entered: 02/01/2019)	RECAP
49	Feb. 6, 2019	Consent MOTION to Modify Production Schedule by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Department of State, US Citizenship and Immigration Services.Responses due by 2/27/2019 (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Drezner, Michael) (Entered: 02/06/2019) 1 Text of Proposed Order View on RECAP	RECAP
50	Feb. 19, 2019	ORDER granting 49 motion to modify production schedule. It is hereby ordered that defendants U.S. Department of State and U.S. Customs and Border Protection will make their next production of those non-exempt, fully processed documents which require the use of electronic search terms, on 3/8/19. Thereafter, the U.S. Department of State and U.S. Customs and Border Protection will continue to make such productions on a rolling basis every 8 weeks. The parties will submit the next joint status report on 2/22/19, and every 60 days thereafter. The stay shall be lifted. Signed by Judge Alfred V. Covello on 2/19/19. (Hall, Gregory) (Entered: 02/19/2019)	RECAP
	Feb. 19, 2019	Set Deadlines/Hearings
	Feb. 19, 2019	Set Deadline: Status Report due by 2/22/2019 per 50 Order. (Bozek, M.)
51	Feb. 22, 2019	Joint STATUS REPORT by Council on American-Islamic Relations - Connecticut, Make the Road New York. (Ahmad, Muneer) (Entered: 02/22/2019)	RECAP
52	March 20, 2019	NOTICE of Appearance by Reena Parikh on behalf of Council on American-Islamic Relations - Connecticut, Make the Road New York (Parikh, Reena) (Entered: 03/20/2019)	RECAP
53	April 23, 2019	Joint STATUS REPORT by Council on American-Islamic Relations - Connecticut, Make the Road New York. (Parikh, Reena) (Entered: 04/23/2019)	RECAP
54	May 16, 2019	NOTICE by Council on American-Islamic Relations - Connecticut, Make the Road New York OF WITHDRAWAL OF COUNSEL BY MELISSA S. KEANEY (Keaney, Melissa) (Entered: 05/16/2019)	RECAP
55	May 29, 2019	MOTION for Melissa S. Keaney to Withdraw as Attorney by Council on American-Islamic Relations - Connecticut, Make the Road New York. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Keaney, Melissa) (Entered: 05/29/2019) 1 Text of Proposed Order View on PACER	RECAP
56	May 30, 2019	ORDER granting 55 motion to withdraw as attorney for the plaintiffs. Attorney Melissa Keaney terminated. Signed by Judge Alfred V. Covello on 5/30/19. (Hall, Gregory) (Entered: 05/30/2019)	RECAP
	May 30, 2019	Order on Motion to Withdraw as Attorney
57	June 24, 2019	Joint STATUS REPORT by Council on American-Islamic Relations - Connecticut, Make the Road New York. (Parikh, Reena) (Entered: 06/24/2019)	RECAP
58	July 1, 2019	MOTION for Leave to File Law Student Appearance of Alexandra Vaughn by Council on American-Islamic Relations - Connecticut, Make the Road New York. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit A - law student and supervising attorney authorization, # 2 Exhibit B - Plaintiffs' authorization, # 3 Certificate of Service)(Parikh, Reena) (Entered: 07/01/2019) 1 Exhibit A - law student and supervising attorney authorization View on PACER 2 Exhibit B - Plaintiffs' authorization View on PACER 3 Certificate of Service View on PACER	RECAP
59	July 16, 2019	MOTION to Modify Scheduling Order or Refer to Magistrate Judge for Mediation by Council on American-Islamic Relations - Connecticut, Make the Road New York.Responses due by 8/6/2019 (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Parikh, Reena) (Entered: 07/16/2019) 1 Text of Proposed Order View on RECAP	RECAP
60	July 17, 2019	ORDER granting 58 motion for leave to file; granting in part and denying in part 59 motion. The scheduling order is hereby amended as follows: discovery due by 8/14/19; dispositive motions due by 9/11/19; trial brief due by 10/9/19; trial ready date 11/6/19. Signed by Judge Alfred V. Covello on 7/17/19. (Hall, Gregory) (Entered: 07/17/2019)	RECAP
	July 17, 2019	Order on Motion for Miscellaneous Relief
	July 17, 2019	Order on Motion for Leave to File
	July 17, 2019	Set Deadlines/Hearings: Discovery due by 8/14/2019. Dispositive Motions due by 9/11/2019. Trial Brief due by 10/9/2019. Trial Ready Date 11/6/2019. (Murphy, Tatihana) Modified on 7/22/2019 to correct discovery deadline (Bozek, M.).
	July 17, 2019	Set Deadline per 60 Order : Discovery due by 8/14/2019. (Bozek, M.)
	July 18, 2019	Set Deadlines/Hearings
	July 22, 2019	Set Deadlines/Hearings
61	Aug. 5, 2019	Joint MOTION to Stay Schedule and for Referral to Magistrate Judge for All Matters by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Department of State, US Citizenship and Immigration Services.Responses due by 8/26/2019 (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Drezner, Michael). Added MOTION to Transfer Judge on 8/9/2019 (Bozek, M.). (Entered: 08/05/2019) 1 Text of Proposed Order View on RECAP	RECAP
62	Aug. 9, 2019	ORDER granting 61 joint motion to transfer the case "in its entirety, to a Magistrate Judge for final resolution." Signed by Judge Alfred V. Covello on 8/9/2019. (Sondergeld, C.) (Entered: 08/09/2019)	RECAP
	Aug. 9, 2019	Order on Motion to Transfer / Disqualify / Recuse Judge
63	Aug. 15, 2019	CONSENT to Jurisdiction by US Magistrate Judge. Case reassigned to Magistrate Judge Robert M. Spector. This matter has been transferred to a magistrate judge. All non-efiled submissions should be filed at the seat of court where the magistrate judge presides. The case number will remain the same, but must be followed by the magistrate judge's initials. Signed by Judge Alfred V. Covello on 8/15/2019.(Bozek, M.) (Entered: 08/15/2019)	RECAP
	Aug. 15, 2019	Consent to Jurisdiction by US Magistrate Judge
64	Aug. 16, 2019	NOTICE OF E-FILED CALENDAR: THIS IS THE ONLY NOTICE COUNSEL/THE PARTIES WILL RECEIVE.ALL PERSONS ENTERING THE COURTHOUSE MUST PRESENT PHOTO IDENTIFICATION. A TELEPHONIC Status and Scheduling Conference is set for 8/29/2019 at 12:00 PM before Judge Robert M. Spector. Please use the following dial in for this call: (877) 873-8017, access code: 7040261. (Watson, M.) (Entered: 08/16/2019)	RECAP
65	Aug. 16, 2019	Joint STIPULATION and [Proposed] Scheduling Order by Council on American-Islamic Relations - Connecticut, Make the Road New York. (Parikh, Reena) (Entered: 08/16/2019)	RECAP
	Aug. 16, 2019	Calendar Entry
66	Aug. 20, 2019	ORDER: The 65 Joint Stipulation and Proposed Scheduling Order filed by Council on American-Islamic Relations - Connecticut, Make the Road New York is SO ORDERED. The scheduling of a settlement conference will be discussed during the call with the Court, scheduled for 12:00pm on August 29, 2019. Signed by Judge Robert M. Spector on 8/20/2019.(Watson, M.) (Entered: 08/20/2019)	RECAP
67	Aug. 20, 2019	ORDER finding as moot 61 Motion to Stay in light of Doc. Nos. 62-63, 65-66. Signed by Judge Robert M. Spector on 8/20/2019. (Watson, M.) (Entered: 08/20/2019)	RECAP
	Aug. 20, 2019	Order on Motion to Stay
	Aug. 20, 2019	Order
68	Aug. 22, 2019	Consent MOTION to Reschedule Status Conference by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Department of State, US Citizenship and Immigration Services.Responses due by 9/12/2019 (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Drezner, Michael) (Entered: 08/22/2019) 1 Text of Proposed Order View on PACER	RECAP
69	Aug. 23, 2019	ORDER granting 68 Consent Motion to Reschedule Status Conference. The telephonic conference is rescheduled to August 30, 2019 at noon. Signed by Judge Robert M. Spector on 8/23/2019. (Watson, M.) (Entered: 08/23/2019)	RECAP
70	Aug. 23, 2019	NOTICE OF E-FILED CALENDAR: THIS IS THE ONLY NOTICE COUNSEL/THE PARTIES WILL RECEIVE.ALL PERSONS ENTERING THE COURTHOUSE MUST PRESENT PHOTO IDENTIFICATION. RESET FROM 8/29/2019 at Noon At the request of counsel: Rescheduled Telephonic Status Conference is set for 8/30/2019 at 12:00 PM before Judge Robert M. Spector. Please use the following dial in for this call: (877) 873-8017, access code 7040261. (Watson, M.) (Entered: 08/23/2019)	RECAP
	Aug. 23, 2019	Calendar Entry

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Case Details

State / Territory:

Connecticut

Case Type(s):

National Security

Special Collection(s):

Multi-LexSum (in sample)

Trump Administration 1.0 & 2.0 FOIA cases

Trump Administration 1.0: Challenges to the Government

Key Dates

Filing Date: June 27, 2017

Closing Date: Sept. 7, 2023

Case Ongoing: No

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

nonprofit organizations the Council on American-Islamic Relations –Connecticut and Make the Road New York

Plaintiff Type(s):

Non-profit NON-religious organization

Attorney Organizations:

Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR)

Jerome N. Frank Legal Services Organization (Yale)

National Immigration Law Center

Public Interest Lawyer: Yes

Filed Pro Se: No

Class Action Sought: No

Class Action Outcome: Not sought

Defendants

Federal

Department of Homeland Security

Defendant Type(s):

Law-enforcement

Facility Type(s):

Government-run

Case Details

Causes of Action:

FOIA (Freedom of Information Act), 5 U.S.C. § 552

Other Dockets:

District of Connecticut 3:17-cv-01061

Available Documents:

Any published opinion

Complaint (any)

Trial Court Docket

Outcome

Prevailing Party: Plaintiff OR Mixed

Relief Granted:

Document/information produced

Source of Relief:

Litigation

Settlement

Form of Settlement:

Private Settlement Agreement

Amount Defendant Pays: $245,000

Issues

General/Misc.:

Records Disclosure

Religious programs / policies

Recommended Citation

Case Summary of Council on American-Islamic Relations - Connecticut v. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Civil Rights Litig. Clearinghouse, https://clearinghouse.net/case/15936/ (last updated 12/1/2024).