Case: City of Chelsea v. Trump

1:25-cv-10442 | U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts

Filed Date: Feb. 23, 2025

Case Ongoing

Clearinghouse coding complete

Case Summary

On February 23, 2025, the Cities of Chelsea and Somerville, Massachusetts filed this lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts. The complaint named President Donald Trump, the United States, the U.S. Department of Justice, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the U.S. Department of Transportation, and their corresponding agency heads as Defendants. The Cities challenged the Trump Administration's attempt to defund the City's police forces and other public safety functions because of the Cities' sanctuary city policies. The Plaintiffs alleged that Defendants' "illegal intimidation campaign" violated the Separation of Powers, the Spending Clause, the Tenth Amendment, the Fifth Amendment, and the Administrative Procedure Act. The Plaintiffs are represented by Lawyers for Civil Rights and are seeking declaratory and injunctive relief as well as attorney fees. This case was assigned to Judge Nathaniel M. Gordon. 

Summary Authors

Alaa Mustafa (3/17/2025)

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69665101/parties/city-of-chelsea-v-trump/


Judge(s)

Gorton, Nathaniel M. (Massachusetts)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Albert, Mirian (Massachusetts)

Espinoza-Madrigal, Ivan (Massachusetts)

Sellstrom, Oren M. (Massachusetts)

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Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document
1

1:25-cv-10442

Complaint

Feb. 23, 2025

Feb. 23, 2025

Complaint

Resources

Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69665101/city-of-chelsea-v-trump/

Last updated April 22, 2025, 6:35 p.m.

ECF Number Description Date Link Date / Link
1

COMPLAINT against Pamela J. Bondi, Emil J. Bove, Sean P. Duffy, Kristi L. Noem, Donald J. Trump, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Department of Justice, U.S. Department of Transportation, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA Filing fee: $ 405, receipt number AMADC-10853795 (Fee Status: Filing Fee paid), filed by City of Chelsea, City of Somerville. (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet, # 2 Category Form, # 3 Exhibit A, # 4 Exhibit B, # 5 Exhibit C, # 6 Exhibit D, # 7 Exhibit E)(Albert, Mirian) (Entered: 02/24/2025)

1 Civil Cover Sheet

View on PACER

2 Category Form

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3 Exhibit A

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4 Exhibit B

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5 Exhibit C

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6 Exhibit D

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7 Exhibit E

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Feb. 23, 2025

Feb. 23, 2025

Clearinghouse
2

NOTICE of Appearance by Ivan Espinoza-Madrigal on behalf of City of Chelsea, City of Somerville (Espinoza-Madrigal, Ivan) (Entered: 02/24/2025)

Feb. 24, 2025

Feb. 24, 2025

RECAP

Notice of Case Assignment

Feb. 24, 2025

Feb. 24, 2025

PACER

Notice for Social Security and Immigration Cases

Feb. 24, 2025

Feb. 24, 2025

PACER
3

ELECTRONIC NOTICE of Case Assignment. Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton 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 Donald L. Cabell. (SEC) (Entered: 02/24/2025)

Feb. 24, 2025

Feb. 24, 2025

PACER
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. (JKK) (Entered: 02/24/2025)

Feb. 24, 2025

Feb. 24, 2025

RECAP
5

Online access to documents in this case is limited to counsel of record only. All documents are available for review in the Office of the Clerk. Counsel of record: please note that you will need to log into CM/ECF to access any documents in this case. (NVB) (Entered: 02/24/2025)

Feb. 24, 2025

Feb. 24, 2025

PACER
6

General Order 19-02, dated June 1, 2019 regarding Public Access to Immigration Cases Restricted by Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 5.2(c). (NVB) (Entered: 02/24/2025)

Feb. 24, 2025

Feb. 24, 2025

RECAP
7

NOTICE of Appearance by Oren M. Sellstrom on behalf of City of Chelsea, City of Somerville (Sellstrom, Oren) (Entered: 02/25/2025)

Feb. 25, 2025

Feb. 25, 2025

RECAP

Case Details

State / Territory: Massachusetts

Case Type(s):

Immigration and/or the Border

Special Collection(s):

Trump Administration 2.0: Challenges to the Government

Trump Administration 2.0: Challenges to the Government (Immigration Enforcement)

Key Dates

Filing Date: Feb. 23, 2025

Case Ongoing: Yes

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

Two cities in Massachusetts

Plaintiff Type(s):

City/County Plaintiff

Public Interest Lawyer: Yes

Filed Pro Se: No

Class Action Sought: No

Class Action Outcome: Not sought

Defendants

Department of Justice (Washington D.C., District of Columbia), Federal

President (Washington D.C., District of Columbia), Federal

Department of Homeland Security (Washington D.C., District of Columbia), Federal

Department of transportation (Washington D.C., District of Columbia), Federal

Defendant Type(s):

Jurisdiction-wide

Corrections

Case Details

Causes of Action:

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

Constitutional Clause(s):

Separation of Powers

Available Documents:

Trial Court Docket

Complaint (any)

Outcome

Prevailing Party: None Yet / None

Nature of Relief:

None yet

Source of Relief:

None yet

Issues

Immigration/Border:

Sanctuary city/state

Presidential/Gubernatorial Authority:

Commandeering