Case: Chavarria v. U.S. Department of Homeland Security

1:25-cv-04289 | U.S. District Court for the District of District of Columbia

Filed Date: Dec. 10, 2025

Case Ongoing

Clearinghouse coding in progress

Case Summary

(This summary is temporary while we research the case.)

On December 10, 2025, Plaintiff - a school superintendent and naturalized U.S. citizen since 2018 - filed this lawsuit against the Department of Homeland Security to challenge an unlawful search and seizure at Bush Intercontinental Airport on his return from visiting family in Nicaragua. Plaintiff filed under 5 U.S.C. § 706(2), 8 U.S.C. § 2201 & 2202, and 28 U.S.C. § 2412 for attorney's fees as well as injunctive and declaratory relief finding DHS customs and border policy unconstitutional.

This case is ongoing.

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/72014766/parties/chavarria-v-us-department-of-homeland-security/


Judge(s)

Friedrich, Dabney Langhorne (District of Columbia)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Nixon, Molly (District of Columbia)

Peikoff, Amy (District of Columbia)

show all people

Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document
1

1:25-cv-04289

Complaint

Dec. 10, 2025

Dec. 10, 2025

Complaint

Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/72014766/chavarria-v-us-department-of-homeland-security/

Last updated Jan. 16, 2026, 12:29 a.m.

ECF Number Description Date Link Date / Link
1

COMPLAINT against All Defendants ( Filing fee $ 405 receipt number ADCDC-12126002) filed by WILMER CHAVARRIA. (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet, # 2 Summons - Attorney General, # 3 Summons - US Attorney, # 4 Summons - DHS, # 5 Summons - CBP, # 6 Summons - ICE, # 7 Summons - Noem, # 8 Summons - Scott, # 9 Summons - Lyons)(Peikoff, Amy) (Entered: 12/10/2025)

1 Civil Cover Sheet

View on PACER

2 Summons - Attorney General

View on PACER

3 Summons - US Attorney

View on PACER

4 Summons - DHS

View on PACER

5 Summons - CBP

View on PACER

6 Summons - ICE

View on PACER

7 Summons - Noem

View on PACER

8 Summons - Scott

View on PACER

9 Summons - Lyons

View on PACER

Dec. 10, 2025

Dec. 10, 2025

Clearinghouse
2

SEALED MOTION FOR LEAVE TO FILE COMPLAINT UNDER SEAL filed by WILMER CHAVARRIA. (Attachments: # 1 Sealed Complaint)(Peikoff, Amy) (Entered: 12/10/2025)

Dec. 10, 2025

Dec. 10, 2025

3

MOTION for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice :Attorney Name- Johanna B. Talcott, Filing fee $ 100, receipt number ADCDC-12127104. Fee Status: Fee Paid. by WILMER CHAVARRIA. (Attachments: # 1 Affidavit, # 2 Exhibit - Certificate of Good Standing)(Peikoff, Amy) (Entered: 12/10/2025)

Dec. 10, 2025

Dec. 10, 2025

4

NOTICE of Appearance by Molly Nixon on behalf of WILMER CHAVARRIA (Nixon, Molly) (Entered: 12/10/2025)

Dec. 10, 2025

Dec. 10, 2025

5

SUMMONS (8) Issued Electronically as to All Defendants, U.S. Attorney and U.S. Attorney General (Attachments: # 1 Notice and Consent)(zhcn) (Entered: 12/11/2025)

Dec. 11, 2025

Dec. 11, 2025

6

STANDARD ORDER for Civil Cases. See text for details. Signed by Judge Dabney L. Friedrich on December 11, 2025. (lcdlf3) (Entered: 12/11/2025)

Dec. 11, 2025

Dec. 11, 2025

8

SEALED DOCUMENT filed by WILMER CHAVARRIA. re 1 Complaint,. (This document is SEALED and only available to authorized persons.)(znmw) (Entered: 12/12/2025)

Dec. 11, 2025

Dec. 11, 2025

Case Assigned/Reassigned

Dec. 11, 2025

Dec. 11, 2025

Case Assigned to Judge Dabney L. Friedrich. (zhcn)

Dec. 11, 2025

Dec. 11, 2025

Order on Motion for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice

Dec. 11, 2025

Dec. 11, 2025

Order on Sealed Motion for Leave to File Document Under Seal

Dec. 11, 2025

Dec. 11, 2025

MINUTE ORDER granting the plaintiff's 3 Motion for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice. 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 by Judge Dabney L. Friedrich on December 11, 2025. (lcdlf3)

Dec. 11, 2025

Dec. 11, 2025

MINUTE ORDER granting the plaintiff's 2 Sealed Motion for Leave to File Sealed Complaint in accordance with Local Rule 5.1(c)(1). The Clerk of Court is directed to omit the plaintiff's address from the public docket and to file the plaintiff's [2-1] Complaint under seal. So Ordered by Judge Dabney L. Friedrich on December 11, 2025. (lcdlf3)

Dec. 11, 2025

Dec. 11, 2025

7

NOTICE of Appearance by Johanna B. Talcott on behalf of WILMER CHAVARRIA (Talcott, Johanna) (Entered: 12/12/2025)

Dec. 12, 2025

Dec. 12, 2025

9

Summons Returned Executed as to U.S. Attorney General

Jan. 6, 2026

Jan. 6, 2026

10

Summons Returned Executed as to US Attorney

Jan. 6, 2026

Jan. 6, 2026

11

Summons Returned Executed as to Federal Defendant

Jan. 6, 2026

Jan. 6, 2026

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

Key Dates

Filing Date: Dec. 10, 2025

Case Ongoing: Yes

Case Details

Other Dockets:

District of District of Columbia 1:25-cv-04289

Available Documents:

Complaint (any)

Trial Court Docket