Case: African Communities Together v. Noem

COMPLAINT against U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, United States of America, Kristi Noem Filing fee: $ 405, receipt number AMADC-11492166 (Fee Status: Filing Fee paid), filed by AFRICAN COMMUNITIES TOGETHER, Abal Doe, Samuel Doe, Stephen Doe. (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet, # 2 Category Form, # 3 Related Case Certification)(Chen, Joy) (Entered: 01/22/2026)

1 Civil Cover Sheet

View on PACER

2 Category Form

View on PACER

3 Related Case Certification

View on PACER

MOTION for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice for admission of Mark H. Lynch, Stephen Petkis, Paul Killebrew, Michael E. Cunniff, Ayana M. Lindsey, Sarah Leadem Filing fee: $ 750, receipt number AMADC-11493224 by African Communities Together, Abal Doe, Samuel Doe, Stephen Doe. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Chen, Joy) (Entered: 01/23/2026)

ELECTRONIC NOTICE of Case Assignment. District Judge Patti B. Saris assigned to case. If the trial Judge issues an Order of Reference of any matter in this case to a Magistrate Judge, the matter will be transmitted to Magistrate Judge M. Page Kelley. (JAM) (Entered: 01/23/2026)

MOTION For Leave to Proceed Under Pseudonyms by African Communities Together, Abal Doe, Samuel Doe, Stephen Doe.(Chen, Joy) (Entered: 01/23/2026)

MEMORANDUM in Support re 4 MOTION For Leave to Proceed Under Pseudonyms filed by African Communities Together, Abal Doe, Samuel Doe, Stephen Doe. (Attachments: # 1 Declaration in Support of Motion, # 2 Exhibit 1 - Declaration of Amaha Kassa, # 3 Exhibit 2 - Declaration of Abal Doe, # 4 Exhibit 3 - Declaration of Samuel Doe, # 5 Exhibit 4 - Declaration of Stephen Doe, # 6 Text of Proposed Order)(Chen, Joy) (Entered: 01/23/2026)

Summons Issued as to All Defendants. Counsel receiving this notice electronically should download this summons, complete one for each defendant and serve it in accordance with Fed.R.Civ.P. 4 and LR 4.1. Summons will be mailed to plaintiff(s) not receiving notice electronically for completion of service. (CGK) (Entered: 01/23/2026)

District Judge Patti B. Saris: ELECTRONIC ORDER entered. Pursuant to Local Rule 40.1(g)(8), I find that this case was erroneously designated as related to African Communities Together, et al. v. Noem, et al., No. 25-cv-13939, and direct the Clerk forthwith to randomly reassign this case to another District Judge. (CGK) (Entered: 01/23/2026)

ELECTRONIC NOTICE of Case Assignment. Judge Brian E. Murphy assigned to case. If the trial Judge issues an Order of Reference of any matter in this case to a Magistrate Judge, the matter will be transmitted to Magistrate Judge M. Page Kelley. (JAM) (Entered: 01/23/2026)

NOTICE of Appearance by Nargis Aslami on behalf of African Communities Together, Abal Doe, Samuel Doe, Stephen Doe (Aslami, Nargis) (Entered: 01/23/2026)

MOTION for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice for admission of Abbey Rutherford Filing fee: $ 125, receipt number AMADC-11495406 by African Communities Together, Abal Doe, Samuel Doe, Stephen Doe. (Attachments: # 1 Declaration in Support)(Aslami, Nargis) (Entered: 01/23/2026)

MOTION for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice for admission of Collin Poirot Filing fee: $ 125, receipt number AMADC-11495449 by African Communities Together, Abal Doe, Samuel Doe, Stephen Doe. (Attachments: # 1 Declaration in Support)(Aslami, Nargis) (Entered: 01/23/2026)

MOTION for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice for admission of Golnaz Fakhimi Filing fee: $ 125, receipt number AMADC-11495477 by African Communities Together, Abal Doe, Samuel Doe, Stephen Doe. (Attachments: # 1 Declaration in Support)(Aslami, Nargis) (Entered: 01/23/2026)

MOTION for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice for admission of Erik Crew Filing fee: $ 125, receipt number AMADC-11495487 by African Communities Together, Abal Doe, Samuel Doe, Stephen Doe. (Attachments: # 1 Declaration in Support)(Aslami, Nargis) (Entered: 01/23/2026)

Notice of Case Assignment

Order

Emergency MOTION for Administrative Stay, Production of the Certified Administrative Record, and Postponement by African Communities Together, Abal Doe, Samuel Doe, Stephen Doe.(Chen, Joy) (Entered: 01/25/2026)

MEMORANDUM in Support re 14 Emergency MOTION for Administrative Stay, Production of the Certified Administrative Record, and Postponement filed by African Communities Together, Abal Doe, Samuel Doe, Stephen Doe. (Attachments: # 1 Declaration in Support of Motion, # 2 Exhibit 1, # 3 Exhibit 2, # 4 Exhibit 3, # 5 Exhibit 4, # 6 Exhibit 5, # 7 Exhibit 6, # 8 Exhibit 7, # 9 Exhibit 8, # 10 Exhibit 9, # 11 Exhibit 10, # 12 Exhibit 11, # 13 Exhibit 12, # 14 Exhibit 13, # 15 Exhibit 14, # 16 Exhibit 15, # 17 Exhibit 16, # 18 Exhibit 17, # 19 Exhibit 18, # 20 Exhibit 19, # 21 Exhibit 20, # 22 Exhibit 21, # 23 Exhibit 22, # 24 Exhibit 23, # 25 Exhibit 24, # 26 Exhibit 25, # 27 Exhibit 26, # 28 Exhibit 27, # 29 Exhibit 28, # 30 Exhibit 29, # 31 Exhibit 30, # 32 Exhibit 31, # 33 Exhibit 32, # 34 Exhibit 33, # 35 Exhibit 34, # 36 Exhibit 35, # 37 Exhibit 36, # 38 Exhibit 37, # 39 Exhibit 38, # 40 Exhibit 39, # 41 Exhibit 40)(Chen, Joy) (Entered: 01/25/2026)

1 Declaration in Support of Motion

View on PACER

2 Exhibit 1

View on PACER

3 Exhibit 2

View on PACER

4 Exhibit 3

View on PACER

5 Exhibit 4

View on PACER

6 Exhibit 5

View on PACER

7 Exhibit 6

View on PACER

8 Exhibit 7

View on PACER

9 Exhibit 8

View on PACER

10 Exhibit 9

View on PACER

11 Exhibit 10

View on PACER

12 Exhibit 11

View on PACER

13 Exhibit 12

View on PACER

14 Exhibit 13

View on PACER

15 Exhibit 14

View on PACER

16 Exhibit 15

View on PACER

17 Exhibit 16

View on PACER

18 Exhibit 17

View on PACER

19 Exhibit 18

View on PACER

20 Exhibit 19

View on PACER

21 Exhibit 20

View on PACER

22 Exhibit 21

View on PACER

23 Exhibit 22

View on PACER

24 Exhibit 23

View on PACER

25 Exhibit 24

View on PACER

26 Exhibit 25

View on PACER

27 Exhibit 26

View on PACER

28 Exhibit 27

View on PACER

29 Exhibit 28

View on PACER

30 Exhibit 29

View on PACER

31 Exhibit 30

View on PACER

32 Exhibit 31

View on PACER

33 Exhibit 32

View on PACER

34 Exhibit 33

View on PACER

35 Exhibit 34

View on PACER

36 Exhibit 35

View on PACER

37 Exhibit 36

View on PACER

38 Exhibit 37

View on PACER

39 Exhibit 38

View on PACER

40 Exhibit 39

View on PACER

41 Exhibit 40

View on PACER

EXHIBIT re 15 Memorandum in Support of Motion,,,, Ex 41. by African Communities Together, Abal Doe, Samuel Doe, Stephen Doe. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit 42, # 2 Exhibit 43, # 3 Exhibit 44, # 4 Exhibit 45, # 5 Exhibit 46, # 6 Exhibit 47, # 7 Exhibit 48, # 8 Exhibit 49, # 9 Exhibit 50, # 10 Exhibit 51, # 11 Exhibit 52, # 12 Exhibit 53, # 13 Exhibit 54, # 14 Exhibit 55, # 15 Exhibit 56, # 16 Exhibit 57, # 17 Exhibit 58, # 18 Exhibit 59, # 19 Exhibit 60, # 20 Exhibit 61, # 21 Exhibit 62, # 22 Exhibit 63-1, # 23 Exhibit 63-2, # 24 Exhibit 64-1, # 25 Exhibit 64-2, # 26 Exhibit 64-3, # 27 Exhibit 64-4, # 28 Exhibit 65, # 29 Exhibit 66, # 30 Exhibit 67, # 31 Exhibit 68, # 32 Exhibit 69-1, # 33 Exhibit 69-2, # 34 Exhibit 70-1, # 35 Exhibit 70-2, # 36 Exhibit 71, # 37 Exhibit 72)(Chen, Joy) (Entered: 01/25/2026)

Judge Brian E. Murphy: ELECTRONIC ORDER entered granting 2 Motion for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice Added Mark H. Lynch, Stephen Petkis, Paul Killebrew, Michael E. Cunniff, Ayana M. Lindsey, and Sarah Leadem. Attorneys admitted Pro Hac Vice must have an individual upgraded PACER account, not a shared firm account, to electronically file in the District of Massachusetts. Counsel may need to link their CM/ECF account to their upgraded individual pacer account. Instructions on how to link CM/ECF accounts to upgraded pacer account can be found at https://www.mad.uscourts.gov/caseinfo/nextgen-current-pacer-accounts.htm#link-account. (CAM) (Entered: 01/26/2026)

Judge Brian E. Murphy: ELECTRONIC ORDER entered granting 10 Motion for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice Added Abbey Rutherford. Attorneys admitted Pro Hac Vice must have an individual upgraded PACER account, not a shared firm account, to electronically file in the District of Massachusetts. Counsel may need to link their CM/ECF account to their upgraded individual pacer account. Instructions on how to link CM/ECF accounts to upgraded pacer account can be found at https://www.mad.uscourts.gov/caseinfo/nextgen-current-pacer-accounts.htm#link-account. (CAM) (Entered: 01/26/2026)

Judge Brian E. Murphy: ELECTRONIC ORDER entered granting 11 Motion for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice Added Collin Poirot. Attorneys admitted Pro Hac Vice must have an individual upgraded PACER account, not a shared firm account, to electronically file in the District of Massachusetts. Counsel may need to link their CM/ECF account to their upgraded individual pacer account. Instructions on how to link CM/ECF accounts to upgraded pacer account can be found at https://www.mad.uscourts.gov/caseinfo/nextgen-current-pacer-accounts.htm#link-account. (CAM) (Entered: 01/26/2026)

Judge Brian E. Murphy: ELECTRONIC ORDER entered granting 12 Motion for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice Added Golnaz Fakhimi. Attorneys admitted Pro Hac Vice must have an individual upgraded PACER account, not a shared firm account, to electronically file in the District of Massachusetts. Counsel may need to link their CM/ECF account to their upgraded individual pacer account. Instructions on how to link CM/ECF accounts to upgraded pacer account can be found at https://www.mad.uscourts.gov/caseinfo/nextgen-current-pacer-accounts.htm#link-account. (CAM) (Entered: 01/26/2026)

Judge Brian E. Murphy: ELECTRONIC ORDER entered granting 13 Motion for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice Added Erik Crew. Attorneys admitted Pro Hac Vice must have an individual upgraded PACER account, not a shared firm account, to electronically file in the District of Massachusetts. Counsel may need to link their CM/ECF account to their upgraded individual pacer account. Instructions on how to link CM/ECF accounts to upgraded pacer account can be found at https://www.mad.uscourts.gov/caseinfo/nextgen-current-pacer-accounts.htm#link-account. (CAM) (Entered: 01/26/2026)

NOTICE by African Communities Together, Abal Doe, Samuel Doe, Stephen Doe re 14 Emergency MOTION for Administrative Stay, Production of the Certified Administrative Record, and Postponement Proposed Order Granting Motion (Chen, Joy) (Entered: 01/26/2026)

NOTICE of Appearance by Golnaz Fakhimi on behalf of African Communities Together, Abal Doe, Samuel Doe, Stephen Doe (Fakhimi, Golnaz) (Entered: 01/26/2026)

Judge Brian E. Murphy: SHORT ORDER OF NOTICE...In order for the Court to address the merits of this Emergency Motion 14, the Plaintiff is ORDERED to serve the Complaint, the Emergency Motion for Administrative Stay, Production of the Certified Administrative Record, and Postponement, all related filings and a copy of this Order upon the Defendants no later than 12:00 noon on Tuesday, January 27, 2026. It is further ORDERED that the Defendants shall file a response to the Emergency Motion for Administrative Stay, Production of the Certified Administrative Record, and Postponement no later than 2:00 p.m. on Friday, January 30, 2026.NOTICE OF HEARING:A hearing on the Emergency Motion for Administrative Stay, Production of the Certified Administrative Record, and Postponement is scheduled for Tuesday, February 3, 2026 at 11:00 a.m. in-person in Courtroom 12.(BIB) (Entered: 01/26/2026)

NOTICE of Appearance by Abbey Rose Koenning Rutherford on behalf of African Communities Together, Abal Doe, Samuel Doe, Stephen Doe (Rutherford, Abbey) (Entered: 01/26/2026)

Order on Motion for Leave to Appear

NOTICE of Appearance by Stephen Petkis on behalf of African Communities Together, Abal Doe, Samuel Doe, Stephen Doe (Petkis, Stephen) (Entered: 01/27/2026)

NOTICE of Appearance by Ayana M. Lindsey on behalf of African Communities Together, Abal Doe, Samuel Doe, Stephen Doe (Lindsey, Ayana) (Entered: 01/27/2026)

NOTICE of Appearance by Collin Poirot on behalf of African Communities Together, Abal Doe, Samuel Doe, Stephen Doe (Poirot, Collin) (Entered: 01/27/2026)

NOTICE of Appearance by Erik Matthew Crew on behalf of African Communities Together, Abal Doe, Samuel Doe, Stephen Doe (Crew, Erik) (Entered: 01/27/2026)

NOTICE of Appearance by Mark H. Lynch on behalf of African Communities Together, Abal Doe, Samuel Doe, Stephen Doe (Lynch, Mark) (Entered: 01/27/2026)

Judge Brian E. Murphy: ELECTRONIC ORDER entered granting 4 MOTION For Leave to Proceed Under Pseudonyms. (MBM) (Entered: 01/29/2026)

NOTICE of Appearance by Nicole M. O'Connor on behalf of Kristi Noem, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, United States of America (O'Connor, Nicole) (Entered: 01/29/2026)

JOINT STATEMENT of counsel Regarding Adjustment of Case Schedule. (Petkis, Stephen) (Entered: 01/29/2026)

Order on Motion for Miscellaneous Relief

NOTICE OF HEARING: Scheduling Conference re 33 Joint Position Statement Regarding Adjustment of Case Schedule is set for 1/30/2026 at 12:30 p.m. remotely by Zoom before Judge Brian E. Murphy. (BIB) (Entered: 01/30/2026)

CLERK'S NOTES for Scheduling Conference held remotely by Zoom held before Judge Brian E. Murphy: In light of 33 Joint Position Statement Regarding Adjustment of Case Schedule, and after discussing the issues with counsel, the Court GRANTS 14 Emergency Motion for Administrative Stay until further Order of this Court, to provide for the production of the certified administrative record. The parties are to file a Joint Proposed Schedule, no later than February 5, 2026, outlining the time frames for producing the administrative record, the filing of briefs and setting a hearing date. Hearing scheduled for 2/3/2026 is CANCELED and will be rescheduled at a later time. (Court Reporter: Rachel Lopez at raeufp@gmail.com.)(Attorneys present: Petkis, Rutherford, Poirot, Crew, Fakhimi, Cunniff, Aslami, Sud, O'Connor) (BIB) (Entered: 01/30/2026)

Judge Brian E. Murphy: ELECTRONIC ORDER entered. To preserve the status quo in advance of the Court’s full consideration of the merits of Plaintiffs’ motion (Dkt. 14 ), the effective date of the decision issued on December 15, 2025, and published at 90 Fed. Reg. 58028 to terminate the designation of Ethiopia for Temporary Protected Status (TPS), effective as of 11:59 P.M. on February 13, 2026, is hereby STAYED subject to further Order of this Court or higher courts. During the period of the STAY of the termination, the termination shall be null, void, and of no legal effect. Thus, the legal consequences of being in TPS status based on Ethiopia’s designation shall continue to apply, including being eligible for work authorization and having protection against deportation and detention based on TPS. The legal consequences of having a pending TPS application based on Ethiopia’s designation shall also continue to apply, including eligibility for work authorization and having protection against deportation based on a pending TPS application. The hearing scheduled for February 3, 2026 is CANCELED and will be rescheduled at a later time. The parties are ordered to confer and submit a Joint Proposed Schedule regarding production of the certified administrative record and a proposed briefing schedule no later than Thursday, February 5, 2026. (MBM) (Entered: 01/30/2026)

Notice of Hearing

Order on Motion for Miscellaneous Relief

1 - Terminate Hearings AND Scheduling Conference

JOINT STATEMENT of counsel with Proposed Schedule. (O'Connor, Nicole) (Entered: 02/04/2026)

Judge Brian E. Murphy: ELECTRONIC SCHEDULING ORDER entered upon the review of the 37 Joint Proposed Schedule, with few modifications.Defendants will produce the Certified Administrative Record by February 17, 2026.Plaintiffs will submit a supplemental opening brief of no more than 15 pages by February 24, 2026.Defendants' opposition to Plaintiffs' Motion for Postponement of no more than 30 pages due March 3, 2026.Plaintiffs' reply of no more than 20 pages due March 10, 2026. Reply shall not be redundant of earlier briefs filed and addresses only matters raised which were not reasonably foreseeable. NOTICE OF HEARING:Hearing on the Finalization of the Administrative Record is scheduled for 3/19/2026 at 10:00 a.m. in Courtroom 12 (In person only) before Judge Brian E. Murphy.(BIB) Modified on 2/5/2026 (BIB). (Entered: 02/05/2026)

SUMMONS Returned Executed by Stephen Doe, Samuel Doe, African Communities Together, Abal Doe. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit 1, # 2 Exhibit 2, # 3 Exhibit 3, # 4 Exhibit 4, # 5 Exhibit 5)(Petkis, Stephen) (Entered: 02/05/2026)

SUMMONS Returned Executed as to US Attorney by Stephen Doe, Samuel Doe, African Communities Together, Abal Doe. Kristi Noem served on 1/28/2026, answer due 3/30/2026; U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services served on 1/28/2026, answer due 3/30/2026; U.S. Department of Homeland Security served on 1/28/2026, answer due 3/30/2026; United States of America served on 1/28/2026, answer due 3/30/2026. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit 1, # 2 Exhibit 2, # 3 Exhibit 3, # 4 Exhibit 4, # 5 Exhibit 5)(Petkis, Stephen) (Entered: 02/05/2026)

Order AND ~Util - Set Hearings