Filed Date: March 30, 2025
Case Ongoing
Clearinghouse coding complete
This case is about the detention and threatened removal of a lawful permanent resident at Washington-Dulles International Airport. The plaintiff, Mohammad Rahim Wahidi, is a citizen and national of Afghanistan and a lawful permanent resident of the United States. He is married to a U.S. citizen and the father of two U.S. citizen children. On March 29, 2025, he was detained at the airport with no criminal charges filed against him and was questioned primarily in connection with his brother-in-law, who had been charged in the Southern District of New York with participating in a plot to assassinate an Iranian journalist.
On March 30, 2025, Wahidi filed a habeas petition in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia against President Trump, the Director of Port of Washington-Dulles International Airport, the Acting Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the Secretary of State, the U.S. Attorney General, and the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), all in their official capacities. The case was assigned to Judge Leonie M. Brinkema.
Wahidi brought claims under the Administrative Procedure Act, the Due Process Clause of the Fifth Amendment, and the Sixth Amendment, alleging that his detention without charges and the threat of removal violated his rights to due process and access to counsel, exceeded the government’s statutory authority, and unlawfully restricted his ability to pursue immigration relief and challenge his detention through habeas corpus. Represented by private counsel, he sought declaratory and injunctive relief to prevent his removal and to protect his statutory and constitutional rights.
That same day, the court denied Wahidi’s request for immediate release due to the short notice and late hour. However, it scheduled a show cause hearing for March 31, 2025, ordered the government to explain why he should not be released, and prohibited Wahidi’s removal from the Eastern District of Virginia pending the hearing. Additionally, the court’s temporary restraining order required compliance with CBP detention standards under 6 U.S.C. § 211(m) and ensured continued access to legal counsel.
On March 31, 2025, the court denied Wahidi’s habeas petition without prejudice, stating its reasons in open court. It also ordered that the government not remove Wahidi from the Eastern District of Virginia without prior court approval and reiterated the requirement that CBP comply with short-term detention standards and not restrict Wahidi’s access to counsel.
This case is ongoing.
Summary Authors
Alaa Mustafa (5/8/2025)
Victoria Tan (7/14/2025)
For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69820631/parties/wahidi-v-trump/
Brinkema, Leonie M. (Virginia)
Ahmad, Hassan Minhaj (Virginia)
See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69820631/wahidi-v-trump/
Last updated Aug. 19, 2025, 6:39 p.m.
State / Territory: Virginia
Case Type(s):
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 (Immigration Enforcement)
Key Dates
Filing Date: March 30, 2025
Case Ongoing: Yes
Plaintiffs
Plaintiff Description:
A legal permanent resident of Afghan descent.
Plaintiff Type(s):
Public Interest Lawyer: Unknown
Filed Pro Se: Unknown
Class Action Sought: No
Class Action Outcome: Not sought
Defendants
Port of Washington-Dulles International Airport (- United States (national) -), Federal
United States (- United States (national) -), Federal
U.S. Customs & Border Protection (- United States (national) -), Federal
U.S. Department of Homeland Security (- United States (national) -), Federal
Secretary of State (- United States (national) -), Federal
Attorney General (- United States (national) -), Federal
Federal Bureau of Investigation (- United States (national) -), Federal
Defendant Type(s):
Facility Type(s):
Case Details
Causes of Action:
Habeas Corpus, 28 U.S.C. §§ 2241-2253; 2254; 2255
Constitutional Clause(s):
Due Process: Procedural Due Process
Special Case Type(s):
Available Documents:
Injunctive (or Injunctive-like) Relief
Outcome
Prevailing Party: None Yet / None
Nature of Relief:
Preliminary injunction / Temp. restraining order
Source of Relief:
Content of Injunction:
Order Duration: 2025 - None
Issues
Immigration/Border: