Filed Date: July 9, 2025
Case Ongoing
Clearinghouse coding complete
This case challenged the actions of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and Social Security Administration (SSA) for allegedly unlawfully withholding records concerning agreements permitting the sharing of immigrant taxpayers’ information with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
In April 2025, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Department of Treasury entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) authorizing the IRS to share taxpayer information with ICE. Meanwhile, press reports revealed that the SSA had entered into similar agreements with ICE. In May 2025, the Community Economic Development Center of Southeastern Massachusetts (CEDC) submitted Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests seeking records related to the agreements facilitating the sharing of information between the IRS and SSA, on one side, and ICE, on the other.
On July 9, 2025, the CEDC – a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that assists immigrant residents of the New Bedford region with tax filings – filed this suit in Federal District Court for the District of Massachusetts against the IRS and SSA. The lawsuit was filed along with a Notice of Related Civil Case and a Request to Relate Case to Community Economic Development Center of Southeastern Massachusetts v. Scott Bessent, No. 1:25-cv-12822 (D. Mass). Plaintiff alleged that defendants failed to comply with FOIA requests regarding the agencies’ current approaches to sharing information with immigration enforcement agencies, in violation of FOIA under 5 U.S.C. § 552. Plaintiff sought declaratory and injunctive relief. This case was assigned to Judge Indira Talwani.
On October 6, 2025, defendants filed a motion requesting a stay of the briefing schedule due to a lapse in appropriations resulting from the ongoing Government shutdown.
This case is ongoing.
Summary Authors
Dahlia Gottlieb (11/12/2025)
For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/70740335/parties/community-economic-development-center-of-southeastern-massachusetts-v/
Talwani, Indira (Massachusetts)
Arevalo, Luz A. (Massachusetts)
Rosenthal, Joshua A. (Massachusetts)
Atras, Robert J (Massachusetts)
Gen, Social Security (Massachusetts)
See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/70740335/community-economic-development-center-of-southeastern-massachusetts-v/
Last updated Nov. 13, 2025, 9:27 a.m.
State / Territory:
Case Type(s):
Key Dates
Filing Date: July 9, 2025
Case Ongoing: Yes
Plaintiffs
Plaintiff Description:
The CEDC is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that assists immigrant residents of the New Bedford region with tax filings.
Plaintiff Type(s):
Non-profit religious organization
Public Interest Lawyer: Yes
Filed Pro Se: No
Class Action Sought: No
Class Action Outcome: Not sought
Defendants
Internal Revenue Service (District of Columbia), Federal
Social Security Administration (District of Columbia), Federal
Defendant Type(s):
Facility Type(s):
Case Details
Causes of Action:
FOIA (Freedom of Information Act), 5 U.S.C. § 552
Other Dockets:
District of Massachusetts 25-cv-11949
Available Documents:
Outcome
Prevailing Party: None Yet / None
Relief Sought:
Relief Granted:
Source of Relief:
Issues
General/Misc.:
Immigration/Border:
Presidential/Gubernatorial Authority: