Case: Immigrant Advocates Response Collaborative v. U.S. Department of Justice

1:25-cv-02279 | U.S. District Court for the District of District of Columbia

Filed Date: July 16, 2025

Case Ongoing

Clearinghouse coding complete

Case Summary

This case challenges a coordinated set of federal immigration enforcement policies—referred to as a “campaign” of courthouse arrests—that authorize arrests in immigration courts, the abrupt dismissal of removal proceedings, and the placement of noncitizens into expedited removal. These policies are allegedly intended to deprive noncitizens of their rights by subjecting them to immediate arrest and removal while attending or appearing in court. On July 16, 2025, Immigrant Advocates Response Coll…

This case challenges a coordinated set of federal immigration enforcement policies—referred to as a “campaign” of courthouse arrests—that authorize arrests in immigration courts, the abrupt dismissal of removal proceedings, and the placement of noncitizens into expedited removal. These policies are allegedly intended to deprive noncitizens of their rights by subjecting them to immediate arrest and removal while attending or appearing in court.

On July 16, 2025, Immigrant Advocates Response Collaborative (I-ARC), American Gateways, and several individual noncitizen plaintiffs filed this class action lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia against the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ); the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR), its Acting Director, and its Acting Regional Deputy Chief Immigration Judges; the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and its Secretary; U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and its Acting Director; and the U.S. Attorney General. Plaintiffs brought claims under the Administrative Procedure Act, the Immigration and Nationality Act, and the Due Process Clause of the Fifth Amendment. The case was assigned to Judge Trevor N. McFadden.

The organizational plaintiffs alleged that the government’s policies disrupted their courthouse-based programs, which assist unrepresented individuals and provide legal representation in removal proceedings. The sudden implementation of courthouse arrests and case dismissals forced them to redirect resources toward emergency representation, administrative appeals, and credible fear interview preparation. These disruptions impaired their ability to serve clients, reduced the number they could assist, and weakened the effectiveness of their legal services. Plaintiffs argued that these harms resulted from unlawful government action violating the Administrative Procedure Act, as the policies were arbitrary, lacked reasoned explanation, and were implemented without required notice-and-comment procedures.

The individual plaintiffs alleged they were arrested in or near immigration court after DHS dismissed their pending removal proceedings without notice, despite having filed applications for asylum or other relief and appearing for hearings in good faith. After the dismissals, DHS arrested them and placed them in expedited removal proceedings while their original cases were still pending or on appeal. Plaintiffs were detained, sometimes far from family, subjected to an abbreviated credible fear process, and faced significant barriers to legal counsel. Some were deported without meaningful review of their asylum claims. They contended that the policies violated the Immigration and Nationality Act by bypassing safeguards in full removal proceedings and unlawfully expanding expedited removal beyond the two-year statutory limit. They also alleged violations of the Fifth Amendment’s Due Process Clause, arguing the policies denied fair notice, opportunity to be heard, and meaningful access to legal representation.


Represented by private counsel, plaintiffs sought class certification on behalf of similarly situated noncitizens who were placed in full removal proceedings, appeared for their hearings as required, and were then arrested and subjected to expedited removal under the challenged policies. Additionally, plaintiffs sought injunctive relief to halt implementation of the challenged policies, as well as declaratory relief, including an order requiring the government to reinstate prior guidance limiting courthouse arrests, ensure that DHS and EOIR follow proper procedures for dismissing removal proceedings, prohibit the initiation of expedited removal while full proceedings are pending, and prevent DHS from applying expedited removal to individuals who have been in the United States for more than two years.

This case is ongoing. 

Summary Authors

Victoria Tan (7/25/2025)

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/70813833/parties/immigrant-advocates-response-collaborative-v-us-department-of-justice/


Judge(s)
Attorney for Plaintiff

Brewer, Simon Christopher (District of Columbia)

Caldarone, Richard P. (District of Columbia)

Cowgill, Colleen Mary (District of Columbia)

Feldman, Mark (District of Columbia)

Fleming, Mark (District of Columbia)

Attorney for Defendant

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Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document
1

1:25-cv-02279

Class Action Complaint

Immigrant Advocates Response Collaborative v. United States Department of Justice

July 16, 2025

July 16, 2025

Complaint

Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/70813833/immigrant-advocates-response-collaborative-v-us-department-of-justice/

Last updated Aug. 21, 2025, 12:11 p.m.

ECF Number Description Date Link Date / Link
1

COMPLAINT against All Defendants (Fee Status:Filing Fee Waived) filed by M.K., E.C., AMERICAN GATEWAYS, IMMIGRANT ADVOCATES RESPONSE COLLABORATIVE, R.A., D.C., L.H., K.M., M.D., J.L., P.D., M.S., E.M., E.P.. (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet, # 2 Summons DOJ, # 3 Summons DHS, # 4 Summons EOIR, # 5 Summons ICE, # 6 Summons Bondi, # 7 Summons Lyons, # 8 Summons Noem, # 9 Summons Owen, # 10 Summons Riley, # 11 Summons Taylor, # 12 Summons USAO-DC)(Zwick, Keren) (Attachment 1 replaced on 7/18/2025) (znmw). (Entered: 07/16/2025)

July 16, 2025

July 16, 2025

Clearinghouse
2

SEALED MOTION to Proceed Under Pseudonym filed by AMERICAN GATEWAYS, D.C., E.C., E.M., E.P., IMMIGRANT ADVOCATES RESPONSE COLLABORATIVE, J.L., K.M., L.H., M.D., M.K., M.S., P.D., R.A. (Attachments: # 1 Declaration L.H., # 2 Declaration M.S., # 3 Declaration E.P., # 4 Declaration D.C., # 5 Declaration E.C., # 6 Declaration P.D., # 7 Declaration K.M., # 8 Declaration E.M., # 9 Declaration M.K., # 10 Declaration M.D., # 11 Declaration R.A., # 12 Declaration J.L., # 13 Text of Proposed Order Proposed Order)(Zwick, Keren) (Entered: 07/16/2025)

July 16, 2025

July 16, 2025

PACER

Payment of Fee - Complaint/Petition

July 17, 2025

July 17, 2025

PACER

Payment for 1 Complaint,,. ($405; Receipt number ADCDC-11825258). (Zwick, Keren)

July 17, 2025

July 17, 2025

PACER
3

SUMMONS (11) Issued Electronically as to All Defendants, U.S. Attorney and U.S. Attorney General (Attachments: # 1 Notice and Consent)(znmw) (Entered: 07/18/2025)

July 18, 2025

July 18, 2025

PACER

MINUTE ORDER: The Court has reviewed Plaintiffs' 2 Motion to Proceed Under Pseudonym and to File Supporting Exhibits Under Seal. Given the imminent nature of this matter, it determines that a full Opinion is not practical at this time. Believing that Plaintiffs have made the required showing on the relevant factors, the Court ORDERS that: 1) The 2 Motion is GRANTED IN PART and DENIED IN PART, subject to any further consideration by the United States District Judge to whom this case is randomly assigned; 2) All parties shall use the pseudonyms listed in the Complaint in all documents filed in this action; 3) All documents containing personally identifying information shall be filed under seal, with a redacted public filing made simultaneously or promptly thereafter. Such redactions should only cover personally identifying information in supporting exhibits and other filings, rather than entire exhibits and filings; and 4) Within fourteen days of this Order, Plaintiffs shall file: i) A pseudonymous version of their 2 Motion and attachments as a Notice to the Court on the public docket; and ii) A sealed declaration containing all Plaintiffs' real names and residential addresses. So ORDERED by Chief Judge James E. Boasberg on July 18, 2025. (lcjeb4)

July 18, 2025

July 18, 2025

PACER

Case Assigned/Reassigned

July 18, 2025

July 18, 2025

PACER

Order on Sealed Motion to Proceed Under Pseudonym AND Set/Reset Deadlines

July 18, 2025

July 18, 2025

PACER

Case Assigned to Judge Trevor N. McFadden. (znmw)

July 18, 2025

July 18, 2025

PACER
4

STANDING ORDER Establishing Procedures for Cases Before Judge Trevor N. McFadden. The parties are hereby ORDERED to read and comply with the directives in the attached standing order. Signed by Judge Trevor N. McFadden on 7/21/2025. (lctnm3). (Entered: 07/21/2025)

July 21, 2025

July 21, 2025

RECAP
5

NOTICE of Appearance by Richard P. Caldarone on behalf of All Plaintiffs (Caldarone, Richard) (Entered: 07/21/2025)

July 21, 2025

July 21, 2025

PACER
6

NOTICE of Appearance by Elena Goldstein on behalf of AMERICAN GATEWAYS, D.C., E.C., E.M., E.P., IMMIGRANT ADVOCATES RESPONSE COLLABORATIVE, J.L., K.M., L.H., M.D., M.K., M.S., P.D., R.A. (Goldstein, Elena) (Entered: 07/23/2025)

July 23, 2025

July 23, 2025

PACER
7

MOTION for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice :Attorney Name- Joshua M. Salzman, Filing fee $ 100, receipt number ADCDC-11839110. Fee Status: Fee Paid. by AMERICAN GATEWAYS, D.C., E.C., E.M., E.P., IMMIGRANT ADVOCATES RESPONSE COLLABORATIVE, J.L., K.M., L.H., M.D., M.K., M.S., P.D., R.A.. (Attachments: # 1 Declaration, # 2 Certificate of Good Standing)(Goldstein, Elena) (Entered: 07/23/2025)

July 23, 2025

July 23, 2025

PACER
8

MOTION to Expedite Production of the Administrative Record by AMERICAN GATEWAYS, D.C., E.C., E.M., E.P., J.L., K.M., L.H., M.D., M.K., M.S., P.D., R.A.. (Attachments: # 1 Memorandum in Support, # 2 Exhibit Ex. A, Memorandum from Caleb Vitello, Acting Director of ICE on Interim Guidance: Civil Immigration Enforcement Actions in or near Courthouses to All ICE Employees, # 3 Exhibit Ex. B, Memorandum from Sirce E. Owen, Acting Director of EOIR on the Cancellation of Operating Policies and Procedures to All of EOIR And on May 27, 2025, ICE finalized the ICE Interim Guidance., # 4 Exhibit Ex. C, Memorandum from Todd M. Lyons, Acting Director of ICE on Civil Immigration Enforcement Actions In or Near Courthouses to All ICE Employees, # 5 Text of Proposed Order)(Goldstein, Elena) (Entered: 07/24/2025)

July 24, 2025

July 24, 2025

PACER

Order on Motion for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice

July 25, 2025

July 25, 2025

PACER

MINUTE ORDER granting 7 Motion for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice as to Joshua M. Salzman. Counsel should register for e-filing via PACER and file a notice of appearance pursuant to LCvR 83.6(a). Click for instructions. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge Trevor N. McFadden on 7/25/2025. (lctnm1)

July 25, 2025

July 25, 2025

PACER
9

NOTICE of Appearance by Joshua M. Salzman on behalf of AMERICAN GATEWAYS, D.C., E.C., E.M., E.P., IMMIGRANT ADVOCATES RESPONSE COLLABORATIVE, J.L., K.M., L.H., M.D., M.K., M.S., P.D., R.A. (Salzman, Joshua) (Entered: 07/28/2025)

July 28, 2025

July 28, 2025

PACER
10

RESPONSE TO ORDER OF THE COURT re Order on Sealed Motion to Proceed Under Pseudonym,,,,,, Set/Reset Deadlines,,,,, filed by AMERICAN GATEWAYS, D.C., E.C., E.M., E.P., IMMIGRANT ADVOCATES RESPONSE COLLABORATIVE, J.L., K.M., L.H., M.D., M.K., M.S., P.D., R.A.. (Attachments: # 1 Declaration L.H., # 2 Declaration M.S., # 3 Declaration E.P., # 4 Declaration D.C., # 5 Declaration E.C., # 6 Declaration P.D., # 7 Declaration K.M., # 8 Declaration E.M., # 9 Declaration M.K., # 10 Declaration M.D., # 11 Declaration R.A., # 12 Declaration J.L.)(Zwick, Keren) (Entered: 07/30/2025)

July 30, 2025

July 30, 2025

PACER
11

SEALED DOCUMENT filed by AMERICAN GATEWAYS, D.C., E.C., E.M., E.P., IMMIGRANT ADVOCATES RESPONSE COLLABORATIVE, J.L., K.M., L.H., M.D., M.K., M.S., P.D., R.A. re 10 Response to Order of the Court,, Order on Sealed Motion to Proceed Under Pseudonym,,,,,, Set/Reset Deadlines,,,,, (This document is SEALED and only available to authorized persons.)(Zwick, Keren) (Entered: 07/30/2025)

July 30, 2025

July 30, 2025

PACER
12

NOTICE of Appearance- Pro Bono by Mary Georgevich on behalf of All Plaintiffs (Georgevich, Mary) (Entered: 08/01/2025)

Aug. 1, 2025

Aug. 1, 2025

PACER
13

NOTICE of Appearance by Simon Christopher Brewer on behalf of AMERICAN GATEWAYS, D.C., E.C., E.M., E.P., IMMIGRANT ADVOCATES RESPONSE COLLABORATIVE, J.L., K.M., L.H., M.D., M.K., M.S., P.D., R.A. (Brewer, Simon) (Entered: 08/05/2025)

Aug. 5, 2025

Aug. 5, 2025

PACER
14

NOTICE of Appearance by Brian P. Hudak on behalf of All Defendants (Hudak, Brian) (Entered: 08/07/2025)

Aug. 7, 2025

Aug. 7, 2025

PACER
15

Memorandum in opposition to re 8 MOTION to Expedite Production of the Administrative Record filed by PAMELA J. BONDI, DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, EXECUTIVE OFFICE FOR IMMIGRATION REVIEW, TODD M. LYONS, KRISTI NOEM, SIRCE E. OWEN, KEVIN RILEY, PHILIP P. TAYLOR, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, U.S. IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOM ENFORCEMENT. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Hudak, Brian) (Entered: 08/07/2025)

Aug. 7, 2025

Aug. 7, 2025

PACER
16

MOTION to Stay Obligation to File a Certified Index of the Administrative Record by PAMELA J. BONDI, DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, EXECUTIVE OFFICE FOR IMMIGRATION REVIEW, TODD M. LYONS, KRISTI NOEM, SIRCE E. OWEN, KEVIN RILEY, PHILIP P. TAYLOR, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, U.S. IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOM ENFORCEMENT. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Hudak, Brian) (Entered: 08/07/2025)

Aug. 7, 2025

Aug. 7, 2025

PACER
17

NOTICE of Appearance by Mark Feldman on behalf of All Plaintiffs (Feldman, Mark) (Main Document 17 replaced on 8/11/2025) (mg). (Entered: 08/08/2025)

Aug. 8, 2025

Aug. 8, 2025

PACER
18

NOTICE of Appearance- Pro Bono by Mark Fleming on behalf of All Plaintiffs (Fleming, Mark) (Entered: 08/13/2025)

Aug. 13, 2025

Aug. 13, 2025

PACER
19

NOTICE of Appearance- Pro Bono by Colleen Mary Cowgill on behalf of All Plaintiffs (Cowgill, Colleen) (Entered: 08/13/2025)

Aug. 13, 2025

Aug. 13, 2025

PACER
20

Reply to opposition to motion

Aug. 14, 2025

Aug. 14, 2025

PACER
21

Memorandum in opposition to motion

Aug. 14, 2025

Aug. 14, 2025

PACER

Case Details

State / Territory: District of Columbia

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: July 16, 2025

Case Ongoing: Yes

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

Immigrant Advocates Response Collaborative (IARC) and American Gateways, both organirzations dedicated to providing legal services to immigrants, along with individual plaintiffs

Plaintiff Type(s):

Private Plaintiff

Non-profit NON-religious organization

Attorney Organizations:

ACLU Affiliates (any)

ACLU Immigrants' Rights Project

National Immigrant Justice Center

Public Interest Lawyer: Yes

Filed Pro Se: No

Class Action Sought: Yes

Class Action Outcome: Pending

Defendants

U.S. Department of Justice (- United States (national) -), Federal

Executive Office for Immigration Review (- United States (national) -), Federal

U.S. Department of Homeland Security (- United States (national) -), Federal

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (- United States (national) -), Federal

Case Details

Causes of Action:

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

Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), 8 U.S.C. §§ 1101 et seq.

Constitutional Clause(s):

Due Process

Due Process: Procedural Due Process

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:

Asylum - procedure

Constitutional rights

Deportation - judicial review

Deportation - procedure

Detention - criteria

Detention - procedures

Enforcement location

Immigration lawyers

Undocumented immigrants - rights and duties