Case: Immigration Services and Legal Advocacy v. Murrill

2:25-cv-02421 | U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana

Filed Date: Dec. 3, 2025

Closed Date: Dec. 5, 2025

Clearinghouse coding complete

Case Summary

On December 3, 2025, Plaintiff Immigration Services and Legal Advocacy (“ISLA”) sued the Attorney General of Louisiana for violations of its constitutional First and Fourteenth Amendment rights in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana. Plaintiffs allege that the State of Louisiana unlawfully attempted to use the threat of vague and overbroad felony charges to silence the residents of New Orleans, Louisiana, from speaking out about the rights of immigrants during the federal …

On December 3, 2025, Plaintiff Immigration Services and Legal Advocacy (“ISLA”) sued the Attorney General of Louisiana for violations of its constitutional First and Fourteenth Amendment rights in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana. Plaintiffs allege that the State of Louisiana unlawfully attempted to use the threat of vague and overbroad felony charges to silence the residents of New Orleans, Louisiana, from speaking out about the rights of immigrants during the federal operation dubbed “Catahoula Crunch” or “Operation Swamp Sweep” by enacting La. R.S. 130.1(A)(6). ISLA sued for declaratory and injunctive relief, seeking an interpretation of La. R.S. 130.1(A)(6) which would allow plaintiffs to continue distributing their "Know Your Rights" (KYR) presentations to protesters, which describe limitations on governmental (federal immigration officer) authority. Alternatively, plaintiffs sought to have the statute struck down as unconstitutionally vague and overbroad. This case was assigned to U.S. District Judge Nannette Jolivette Brown. 

Also on December 3, 2025, plaintiffs filed an emergency motion for a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO), seeking to enjoin defendants from implementing La. R.S. 130.1(A)(6). Judge Brown set a hearing on the TRO for December 4, 2025.

On December 5, 2025, plaintiffs voluntarily dismissed the case because defendants agreed that La. R.S. 130.1(A)(6) did not apply to plaintiffs' KYR presentations - it only applied to conduct that obstructed justice, not speech of the sort plaintiffs engaged in.

On December 5, 2025, Judge Brown dismissed the case without prejudice. 

This case is now closed.

Summary Authors

Nick Martire (2/1/2026)

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/71987260/parties/immigration-services-and-legal-advocacy-v-murrill/


Judge(s)

Brown, Nannette Jolivette (Louisiana)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Ahmed, Nora Sam (Louisiana)

Perry, Charles Andrew (Louisiana)

Attorney for Defendant

Faircloth, Zachary (Louisiana)

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Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document
1

2:25-cv-02421

Verified Complaint

Immigration Services and Legal Advocacy v. Murrill et al.

Dec. 3, 2025

Dec. 3, 2025

Complaint
11

2:25-cv-02421

Notice of Voluntary Dismissal

Immigration Services and Legal Advocacy v. Murrill et al.

Dec. 5, 2025

Dec. 5, 2025

Pleading / Motion / Brief

Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/71987260/immigration-services-and-legal-advocacy-v-murrill/

Last updated April 20, 2026, 3:26 a.m.

ECF Number Description Date Link Date / Link
1

COMPLAINT with jury demand against All Defendants (Filing fee $ 405 receipt number ALAEDC-11252825) filed by Immigration Services and Legal Advocacy. (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet, # 2 Summons Defendant Murrill, # 3 Summons Defendant Hodges, # 4 Summons Defendant Kirkpatrick, # 5 Summons Defendant Williams)Attorney Charles Andrew Perry added to party Immigration Services and Legal Advocacy(pty:pla).(Perry, Charles) (Entered: 12/03/2025)

1 Civil Cover Sheet

View on PACER

2 Summons Defendant Murrill

View on PACER

3 Summons Defendant Hodges

View on PACER

4 Summons Defendant Kirkpatrick

View on PACER

5 Summons Defendant Williams

View on PACER

Dec. 3, 2025

Dec. 3, 2025

Clearinghouse
2

Initial Case Assignment to Judge Nannette Jolivette Brown and Magistrate Judge Michael North. (cc) (Entered: 12/03/2025)

Dec. 3, 2025

Dec. 3, 2025

3

EXPARTE/CONSENT MOTION to Appear Pro Hac Vice for Nora Ahmed (Filing fee $ 100 receipt number ALAEDC-11253270) by Immigration Services and Legal Advocacy. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit A - Declaration, # 2 Exhibit B - Certificate of Good Standing, # 3 Exhibit C - Consent to Electronic FIling, # 4 Exhibit D - Proposed Order)(Perry, Charles) (Entered: 12/03/2025)

Dec. 3, 2025

Dec. 3, 2025

4

EXPARTE/CONSENT Emergency MOTION for Temporary Restraining Order by Immigration Services and Legal Advocacy. (Attachments: # 1 Memorandum in Support, # 2 Proposed Order, # 3 Exhibit A - Letter)(Perry, Charles) (Entered: 12/03/2025)

Dec. 3, 2025

Dec. 3, 2025

5

Summons Issued as to Robert Hodges, Anne Kirkpatrick, Elizabeth Murrill, Jason Williams. (Attachments: # 1 Summons, # 2 Summons, # 3 Summons)(mp) (Entered: 12/03/2025)

Dec. 3, 2025

Dec. 3, 2025

6

ORDER: IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that the 4 Motion for Temporary Restraining Order is set for hearing on December 4, 2025 at 9:00 AM CST at 500 Poydras St., Section G, Room C227, New Orleans, LA 70130. Each side will be allotted 20 minutes for oral argument. The parties should be prepared to address standing and ripeness. Signed by Judge Nannette Jolivette Brown on December 3, 2025.(mp) (Entered: 12/03/2025)

Dec. 3, 2025

Dec. 3, 2025

RECAP

Initial Case Assignment

Dec. 3, 2025

Dec. 3, 2025

7

RESPONSE/MEMORANDUM in Opposition filed by Robert Hodges, Elizabeth Murrill re 4 Emergency MOTION for Temporary Restraining Order . (Faircloth, Zachary) (Entered: 12/04/2025)

Dec. 4, 2025

Dec. 4, 2025

8

ORDER granting 3 Motion to Appear Pro Hac Vice as to Nora Sam Ahmed. Signed by Judge Nannette Jolivette Brown on December 3, 2025. (Attachments: # 1 Notice to Visiting Attorneys) (mp) (Entered: 12/04/2025)

Dec. 4, 2025

Dec. 4, 2025

9

Minute Entry for proceedings held before Judge Nannette Jolivette Brown: Motion Hearing held on 12/4/2025 re 4 Emergency MOTION for Temporary Restraining Order filed by Immigration Services and Legal Advocacy. Plaintiff's post hearing briefs due by Tuesday, December 9th. Defendants' responses due by Friday, December 12th. (Court Reporter Karen Ibos.) (mp) (Entered: 12/04/2025)

Dec. 4, 2025

Dec. 4, 2025

RECAP
10

ORDER: IT IS ORDERED that Plaintiff Immigration Services and Legal Advocacy ("Plaintiff") submit a brief by December 9, 2025, as to whether the Court has subject matter jurisdiction over this matter. Plaintiff must address standing and ripeness in its brief. FURTHER ORDERED that Defendants have until Friday December 12, 2025, to respond to Plaintiff's subject matter jurisdiction brief. Signed by Judge Nannette Jolivette Brown on December 4, 2025.(mp) (Entered: 12/04/2025)

Dec. 4, 2025

Dec. 4, 2025

11

NOTICE of Voluntary Dismissal Without Prejudice as to All Defendants by Immigration Services and Legal Advocacy. (Perry, Charles) (Entered: 12/05/2025)

Dec. 5, 2025

Dec. 5, 2025

Clearinghouse
12

Order Dismissing Case

Dec. 5, 2025

Dec. 5, 2025

Case Details

State / Territory:

Louisiana

Case Type(s):

Speech and Religious Freedom

Immigration and/or the Border

Special Collection(s):

Trump Administration 2.0: Litigation and Investigations Involving the Government

Key Dates

Filing Date: Dec. 3, 2025

Closing Date: Dec. 5, 2025

Case Ongoing: No

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

Plaintiffs are Immigration Services and Legal Advocacy (ISLA), which provides legal services to people in immigration detention centers in Louisiana.

Public Interest Lawyer: Yes

Filed Pro Se: No

Class Action Sought: No

Class Action Outcome: Not sought

Defendants

State

Louisiana Attorney General Elizabeth Murrill

Defendant Type(s):

Jurisdiction-wide

Case Details

Causes of Action:

42 U.S.C. § 1983

Constitutional Clause(s):

Freedom of speech/association

Other Dockets:

Eastern District of Louisiana 2:25-cv-02421

Available Documents:

Complaint (any)

Trial Court Docket

Outcome

Prevailing Party: None Yet / None

Relief Sought:

Attorneys fees

Declaratory judgment

Injunction

Relief Granted:

Injunction / Injunctive-like Settlement

Source of Relief:

Settlement

Form of Settlement:

Voluntary Dismissal

Issues

General/Misc.:

Access to lawyers or judicial system

Immigration/Border:

Constitutional rights

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