Case: OCA-Asian Pacific American Advocates v. Rubio

1:25-cv-00287 | U.S. District Court for the District of District of Columbia

Filed Date: Jan. 30, 2025

Case Ongoing

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Case Summary

This case, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia on Jan. 30, 2025, is one of several challenging President Trump's effort to narrow birthright citizenship--the Fourteenth Amendment right to U.S. citizenship to individuals born on U.S. soil and "subject to the jurisdiction thereof." You can see all these cases here.  President Trump was sworn in to his second term as President on January 20, 2025, and immediately issued a number of Executive Orders--including Executive Or…

This case, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia on Jan. 30, 2025, is one of several challenging President Trump's effort to narrow birthright citizenship--the Fourteenth Amendment right to U.S. citizenship to individuals born on U.S. soil and "subject to the jurisdiction thereof." You can see all these cases here

President Trump was sworn in to his second term as President on January 20, 2025, and immediately issued a number of Executive Orders--including Executive Order 14160, which proclaimed that birthright citizenship under the Fourteenth Amendment does not apply to children born in the United States when: (1) their mother was unlawfully present in the country and their father was neither a U.S. citizen nor a permanent resident at the time of the child’s birth; or (2) when their mother was lawfully, but temporarily, present in the United States and their father was neither a U.S. citizen nor a permanent resident.

The Asian Pacific American Advocates ("OCA")-- a nonprofit, membership-based organization whose mission is to advance the social, political, and economic well-being of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders-- filed this lawsuit in the District of District of Columbia. Plaintiff alleged that the Executive Order violated the Citizenship Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment, statutory protection of birthright citizenship under 8 U.S.C. § 1401, and the Administrative Procedure Act under 5 U.S.C. § 706(2)(B) and § 706(2)(C). The lawsuit sought an injunction barring the defendants from enforcing the Executive Order, which was scheduled to go into effect on February 19, 2025, and a declaratory judgment that the Executive Order is unconstitutional and unlawful. Plaintiff was represented by lawyers from Arnold & Porter Kaye Scholer, Asian Americans Advancing Justice, and the Washington Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs.  The case was assigned to Judge Timothy Kelly.

This case is ongoing.

Summary Authors

Nicole Brigstock (2/11/2025)

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69595158/parties/oca-asian-pacific-american-advocates-v-rubio/


Judge(s)
Attorney for Plaintiff

Banner, Kaitlin Rose (District of Columbia)

Baron, Noah (District of Columbia)

Bessell, Sarah L. (District of Columbia)

Freedman, John Arak (District of Columbia)

Gates, Madeleine (District of Columbia)

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Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document
1

1:25-cv-00287

Complaint for Declaratory and Injunctive Relief

Jan. 30, 2025

Jan. 30, 2025

Complaint

Resources

Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69595158/oca-asian-pacific-american-advocates-v-rubio/

Last updated March 16, 2025, 5:17 p.m.

ECF Number Description Date Link Date / Link
1

COMPLAINT against MICHELLE KING, JAMES MCHENRY, KRISTI NOEM, MARCO RUBIO, DONALD J. TRUMP, U.S DEPARTMENT OF STATE, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, U.S. SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION ( Filing fee $ 405 receipt number ADCDC-11446023) filed by OCA - ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICAN ADVOCATES. (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet, # 2 Summons - MARCO RUBIO, # 3 Summons - U.S DEPARTMENT OF STATE, # 4 Summons - JAMES MCHENRY, # 5 Summons - U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, # 6 Summons - KRISTI NOEM, # 7 Summons - U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, # 8 Summons - MICHELLE KING, # 9 Summons - U.S. SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION, # 10 Summons - DONALD J. TRUMP)(Freedman, John) (Entered: 01/30/2025)

1 Civil Cover Sheet

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2 Summons - MARCO RUBIO

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3 Summons - U.S DEPARTMENT OF STATE

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4 Summons - JAMES MCHENRY

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5 Summons - U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

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6 Summons - KRISTI NOEM

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7 Summons - U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

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8 Summons - MICHELLE KING

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9 Summons - U.S. SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION

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10 Summons - DONALD J. TRUMP

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Jan. 30, 2025

Jan. 30, 2025

Clearinghouse
2

REQUEST FOR SUMMONS TO ISSUE Civil Process Clerk U.S. Attorney's Office for D.C. filed by OCA - ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICAN ADVOCATES.(Freedman, John) (Entered: 01/30/2025)

Jan. 30, 2025

Jan. 30, 2025

RECAP
3

NOTICE of Appearance by Noah Baron on behalf of All Plaintiffs (Baron, Noah) (Entered: 01/30/2025)

Jan. 30, 2025

Jan. 30, 2025

RECAP

NOTICE OF NEW CASE ERROR regarding 1 Complaint,,. The following error(s) need correction: Noncompliance with LCvR 5.1(c). Please file a Notice of Errata stating the error and attach the corrected initiating pleading to include the name & full residence address of each party and file using the event Errata. COMPLIANCE DEADLINE is by close of business today. This case will not proceed any further until all errors are satisfied. (zmtm)

Jan. 31, 2025

Jan. 31, 2025

PACER
4

ERRATA - NOTICE OF ERRATA RE: MISSING ADDRESSES IN COMPLAINT by OCA - ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICAN ADVOCATES re 1 Complaint,,. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit - Corrected Complaint)(Freedman, John) (Entered: 01/31/2025)

Jan. 31, 2025

Jan. 31, 2025

PACER

Case Assigned to Judge Timothy J. Kelly. (zmtm)

Jan. 31, 2025

Jan. 31, 2025

PACER
5

SUMMONS (10) Issued Electronically as to All Defendants, U.S. Attorney and U.S. Attorney General (Attachments: # 1 Notice and Consent)(zmtm) (Entered: 01/31/2025)

Jan. 31, 2025

Jan. 31, 2025

PACER
6

STANDING ORDER. See Order for details. Signed by Judge Timothy J. Kelly on 1/31/2025. (lctjk2) (Entered: 01/31/2025)

Jan. 31, 2025

Jan. 31, 2025

RECAP
7

NOTICE of Appearance by Sarah L. Bessell on behalf of All Plaintiffs (Bessell, Sarah) (Main Document 7 replaced on 2/7/2025) (znmw). (Entered: 02/07/2025)

Feb. 7, 2025

Feb. 7, 2025

PACER
8

NOTICE of Appearance by Madeleine Gates on behalf of All Plaintiffs (Gates, Madeleine) (Entered: 02/07/2025)

Feb. 7, 2025

Feb. 7, 2025

PACER
9

NOTICE of Appearance by Kaitlin Rose Banner on behalf of All Plaintiffs (Banner, Kaitlin) (Main Document 9 replaced on 2/7/2025) (znmw). (Entered: 02/07/2025)

Feb. 7, 2025

Feb. 7, 2025

PACER

NOTICE of Provisional/Government Not Certified Status re 9 NOTICE of Appearance by Kaitlin Rose Banner on behalf of All Plaintiffs (Banner, Kaitlin) (Main Document 9 replaced on 2/7/2025) (znmw)..Your attorney renewal/government certification has not been received. As a result, your membership with the U.S. District & Bankruptcy Courts for the District of Columbia is not in good standing, and you are not permitted to file. Pursuant to Local Civil Rule 83.9, you must immediately correct your membership status by following the appropriate instructions on this page of our website: https://www.dcd.uscourts.gov/attorney-renewal. Please be advised that the presiding judge in this case has been notified that you are currently not in good standing to file in this court. Renewal Due by 2/14/2025. (zhcn)

Feb. 7, 2025

Feb. 7, 2025

PACER

RESOLVED.....NOTICE of Provisional/Government Not Certified Status re 9 NOTICE of Appearance by Kaitlin Rose Banner on behalf of All Plaintiffs (Banner, Kaitlin) (Main Document 9 replaced on 2/7/2025) (znmw)..Your attorney renewal/government certification has not been received. As a result, your membership with the U.S. District & Bankruptcy Courts for the District of Columbia is not in good standing, and you are not permitted to file. Pursuant to Local Civil Rule 83.9, you must immediately correct your membership status by following the appropriate instructions on this page of our website: https://www.dcd.uscourts.gov/attorney-renewal. Please be advised that the presiding judge in this case has been notified that you are currently not in good standing to file in this court. Renewal Due by 2/14/2025. (zhcn) Modified on 2/12/2025 (zhcn).

Feb. 7, 2025

Feb. 7, 2025

PACER

Notice of Provisional/Government Not Certified Status

Feb. 10, 2025

Feb. 10, 2025

PACER
10

RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed as to the United States Attorney. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney on 2/4/2025. Answer due for ALL FEDERAL DEFENDANTS by 4/5/2025. (Freedman, John) (Entered: 02/11/2025)

Feb. 11, 2025

Feb. 11, 2025

RECAP
11

Notice of Appearance

March 3, 2025

March 3, 2025

PACER

Case Details

State / Territory: District of Columbia

Case Type(s):

Immigration and/or the Border

Presidential/Gubernatorial Authority

Special Collection(s):

Trump 1.0 & 2.0 Immigration Enforcement Order Challenges

Trump Administration 2.0: Challenges to the Government

Trump Administration 2.0: Challenges to the Government

Key Dates

Filing Date: Jan. 30, 2025

Case Ongoing: Yes

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

Asian Pacific American Advocates (“OCA”) is a nonprofit, membership-based organization that advocates behalf of all Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders. Its members include at least two pregnant women on lawful temporary visas whose children will be born after the Order’s effective date and will be denied birthright citizenship pursuant to the Order.

Plaintiff Type(s):

Non-profit NON-religious organization

Attorney Organizations:

Washington Lawyers' Committee

Asian Americans Advancing Justice | AAJC

Public Interest Lawyer: Yes

Filed Pro Se: No

Class Action Sought: No

Class Action Outcome: Not sought

Defendants

United States, Federal

Defendant Type(s):

Jurisdiction-wide

Case Details

Causes of Action:

Ex Parte Young (Federal) or Bivens

Administrative Procedure Act, 5 U.S.C. §§ 551 et seq.

Declaratory Judgment Act, 28 U.S.C. § 2201

Constitutional Clause(s):

Birthright Citizenship

Available Documents:

Trial Court Docket

Complaint (any)

Outcome

Prevailing Party: None Yet / None

Nature of Relief:

None yet

Source of Relief:

None yet

Issues

General/Misc.:

Access to lawyers or judicial system

Access to public accommodations - governmental

Immigration/Border:

U.S. citizenship - acquiring

U.S. citizenship - losing