Case: African Communities Together v. Noem

1:26-cv-11201 | U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts

Filed Date: March 9, 2026

Case Ongoing

Clearinghouse coding in progress

Case Summary

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

On March 9, 2026, Plaintiffs - two nonprofit advocacy organizations for African immigrants and refugees, along with four anonymous individuals - filed this lawsuit in U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts against the United States, Department of Homeland Security, and others. Plaintiffs sought to challenge the elimination of TPS status for Somalis in Minnesota prior to the effective termination of said status on March 17. Filing under eight counts including the Administrative Procedure Act and the Fifth Amendment, Plaintiffs requested that the court stay and/or postpone the termination of TPS for Somalia from taking effect.

This case is ongoing.

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/72383804/parties/african-communities-together-v-noem/


Judge(s)

Burroughs, Allison Dale (Massachusetts)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Aslami, Nargis (Massachusetts)

Crew, Erik Matthew (Massachusetts)

Fakhimi, Golnaz (Massachusetts)

Hasan, Sadaf (Massachusetts)

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Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document
1

1:26-cv-11201

Complaint

March 9, 2026

March 9, 2026

Complaint
33

1:26-cv-11201

Memorandum and Order

March 13, 2026

March 13, 2026

Order/Opinion

2026 WL 710666

Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/72383804/african-communities-together-v-noem/

Last updated March 26, 2026, 3:09 a.m.

ECF Number Description Date Link Date / Link
1

COMPLAINT against Kristi L. Noem, U.S. CITIZENSHIP AND IMMIGRATION SERVICES, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA Filing fee: $ 405, receipt number AMADC-11598713 (Fee Status: Filing Fee paid), filed by AFRICAN COMMUNITIES TOGETHER, ALEXANDER DOE, MOHAMED DOE, NINA DOE, TYSON DOE, PARTNERSHIP FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF NEW AMERICANS. (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet, # 2 Category Form)(Aslami, Nargis) (Entered: 03/09/2026)

1 Civil Cover Sheet

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2 Category Form

View on RECAP

March 9, 2026

March 9, 2026

Clearinghouse
2

MOTION for Individual Plaintiffs to Proceed Pseudonymously ( Responses due by 3/23/2026) by AFRICAN COMMUNITIES TOGETHER, ALEXANDER DOE, MOHAMED DOE, NINA DOE, TYSON DOE, PARTNERSHIP FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF NEW AMERICANS. (Attachments: # 1 Affidavit of Nargis Aslami, # 2 Exhibit 1 (Decl of Alexander Doe), # 3 Exhibit 2 (Decl of Mohamed Doe), # 4 Exhibit 3 (Decl of Tyson Doe), # 5 Exhibit 4 (Decl of Nina Doe), # 6 Supp. Mem. of Law, # 7 Text of Proposed Order, # 8 Certificate of Conferral)(Aslami, Nargis) Modified on 3/10/2026 to file supporting memorandum as own entry in accordance with local procedure. See 11 (SEC). (Entered: 03/09/2026)

March 9, 2026

March 9, 2026

3

Emergency MOTION to Stay Agency Action Effective 11:59pm on March 17, 2026, by AFRICAN COMMUNITIES TOGETHER, ALEXANDER DOE, MOHAMED DOE, NINA DOE, TYSON DOE, PARTNERSHIP FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF NEW AMERICANS. (Attachments: # 1 Supporting Mem. of Law, # 2 Proposed Order, # 3 Certificate of Conferral)(Aslami, Nargis) Modified on 3/10/2026 to separate supporting memorandum in accordance with local procedure. See 12 (SEC). (Entered: 03/09/2026)

March 9, 2026

March 9, 2026

4

AFFIDAVIT in Support re 3 Emergency MOTION to Stay Agency Action Effective 11:59pm on March 17, 2026, . (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit 1, # 2 Exhibit 2, # 3 Exhibit 3, # 4 Exhibit 4, # 5 Exhibit 5, # 6 Exhibit 6, # 7 Exhibit 7)(Aslami, Nargis) (Entered: 03/09/2026)

March 9, 2026

March 9, 2026

5

EXHIBIT re 4 Affidavit in Support, by AFRICAN COMMUNITIES TOGETHER, ALEXANDER DOE, MOHAMED DOE, NINA DOE, TYSON DOE, PARTNERSHIP FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF NEW AMERICANS. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit 8 (pt 1), # 2 Exhibit 8 (pt 2), # 3 Exhibit 8 (pt 3), # 4 Exhibit 9, # 5 Exhibit 10, # 6 Exhibit 11, # 7 Exhibit 12, # 8 Exhibit 13, # 9 Exhibit 14, # 10 Exhibit 15, # 11 Exhibit 16, # 12 Exhibit 17, # 13 Exhibit 18, # 14 Exhibit 19, # 15 Exhibit 20, # 16 Exhibit 21, # 17 Exhibit 22, # 18 Exhibit 23, # 19 Exhibit 24, # 20 Exhibit 25, # 21 Exhibit 26, # 22 Exhibit 27, # 23 Exhibit 28, # 24 Exhibit 29, # 25 Exhibit 30, # 26 Exhibit 31, # 27 Exhibit 32, # 28 Exhibit 33, # 29 Exhibit 34, # 30 Exhibit 35, # 31 Errata 36, # 32 Exhibit 37, # 33 Exhibit 38, # 34 Exhibit 39, # 35 Exhibit 40, # 36 Exhibit 41, # 37 Exhibit 42, # 38 Exhibit 43, # 39 Exhibit 44, # 40 Exhibit 45, # 41 Exhibit 46, # 42 Exhibit 47, # 43 Exhibit 48, # 44 Exhibit 49, # 45 Exhibit 50, # 46 Exhibit 51, # 47 Exhibit 52, # 48 Exhibit 53, # 49 Exhibit 54, # 50 Exhibit 55, # 51 Exhibit 56, # 52 Exhibit 57, # 53 Exhibit 58, # 54 Exhibit 59, # 55 Exhibit 60, # 56 Exhibit 61, # 57 Exhibit 62, # 58 Exhibit 63, # 59 Exhibit 64, # 60 Exhibit 65, # 61 Exhibit 66, # 62 Exhibit 67, # 63 Exhibit 68, # 64 Exhibit 69, # 65 Exhibit 70, # 66 Exhibit 71, # 67 Exhibit 72, # 68 Exhibit 73, # 69 Exhibit 74, # 70 Exhibit 75, # 71 Exhibit 76, # 72 Exhibit 77, # 73 Exhibit 78, # 74 Exhibit 79, # 75 Exhibit 80)(Aslami, Nargis) (Entered: 03/10/2026)

March 9, 2026

March 9, 2026

11

MEMORANDUM in Support re 2 MOTION for Individual Plaintiffs to Proceed Pseudonymously filed by African Communities Together, Alexander Doe, Mohamed Doe, Nina Doe, Tyson Doe, Partnership for the Advancement of New Americans. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit 1, # 2 Exhibit 2, # 3 Exhibit 3, # 4 Exhibit 4)(SEC) (Entered: 03/10/2026)

March 9, 2026

March 9, 2026

12

MEMORANDUM in Support re 3 Emergency MOTION to Stay Agency Action Effective 11:59pm on March 17, 2026, filed by African Communities Together, Alexander Doe, Mohamed Doe, Nina Doe, Tyson Doe, Partnership for the Advancement of New Americans. (SEC) (Entered: 03/10/2026)

March 9, 2026

March 9, 2026

6

EXHIBIT by AFRICAN COMMUNITIES TOGETHER, ALEXANDER DOE, MOHAMED DOE, NINA DOE, TYSON DOE, PARTNERSHIP FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF NEW AMERICANS. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit 81, # 2 Exhibit 82, # 3 Exhibit 83, # 4 Exhibit 84, # 5 Exhibit 85, # 6 Exhibit 86, # 7 Exhibit 87, # 8 Exhibit 88, # 9 Exhibit 89, # 10 Exhibit 90, # 11 Exhibit 91, # 12 Exhibit 92, # 13 Exhibit 93, # 14 Exhibit 94, # 15 Exhibit 95, # 16 Exhibit 96, # 17 Exhibit 97, # 18 Exhibit 98, # 19 Exhibit 99, # 20 Exhibit 100, # 21 Exhibit 101, # 22 Exhibit 102, # 23 Exhibit 103, # 24 Exhibit 104, # 25 Exhibit 105, # 26 Exhibit 106, # 27 Exhibit 107, # 28 Exhibit 108, # 29 Exhibit 109, # 30 Exhibit 110, # 31 Exhibit 111, # 32 Exhibit 112, # 33 Exhibit 113, # 34 Exhibit 114, # 35 Exhibit 115, # 36 Exhibit 116, # 37 Exhibit 117, # 38 Exhibit 118, # 39 Exhibit 119, # 40 Exhibit 120, # 41 Exhibit 121, # 42 Exhibit 122, # 43 Exhibit 123, # 44 Exhibit 124)(Aslami, Nargis) (Entered: 03/10/2026)

March 10, 2026

March 10, 2026

7

EXHIBIT by AFRICAN COMMUNITIES TOGETHER, ALEXANDER DOE, MOHAMED DOE, NINA DOE, TYSON DOE, PARTNERSHIP FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF NEW AMERICANS. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit 125, # 2 Exhibit 126, # 3 Exhibit 127)(Aslami, Nargis) (Entered: 03/10/2026)

March 10, 2026

March 10, 2026

8

EXHIBIT by AFRICAN COMMUNITIES TOGETHER, ALEXANDER DOE, MOHAMED DOE, NINA DOE, TYSON DOE, PARTNERSHIP FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF NEW AMERICANS. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit 128, # 2 Exhibit 129, # 3 Exhibit 130, # 4 Exhibit 131)(Aslami, Nargis) (Entered: 03/10/2026)

March 10, 2026

March 10, 2026

9

EXHIBIT by AFRICAN COMMUNITIES TOGETHER, ALEXANDER DOE, MOHAMED DOE, NINA DOE, TYSON DOE, PARTNERSHIP FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF NEW AMERICANS. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit 132, # 2 Exhibit 133, # 3 Exhibit 134, # 4 Exhibit 135)(Aslami, Nargis) (Entered: 03/10/2026)

March 10, 2026

March 10, 2026

10

NOTICE of Appearance by Nargis Aslami on behalf of AFRICAN COMMUNITIES TOGETHER, ALEXANDER DOE, MOHAMED DOE, NINA DOE, TYSON DOE, PARTNERSHIP FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF NEW AMERICANS (Aslami, Nargis) (Entered: 03/10/2026)

March 10, 2026

March 10, 2026

13

ELECTRONIC NOTICE of Case Assignment. Judge Allison D. Burroughs 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 Donald L. Cabell. (LBO) (Entered: 03/10/2026)

March 10, 2026

March 10, 2026

14

Summons Issued as to Kristi L. Noem, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, United States of America. 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. (CAM) (Entered: 03/10/2026)

March 10, 2026

March 10, 2026

15

MOTION for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice for admission of Abbey Rutherford Filing fee: $ 125, receipt number AMADC-11599930 by African Communities Together, Alexander Doe, Mohamed Doe, Nina Doe, Tyson Doe, Partnership for the Advancement of New Americans. (Attachments: # 1 Declaration in Support)(Aslami, Nargis) (Entered: 03/10/2026)

March 10, 2026

March 10, 2026

16

MOTION for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice for admission of Ayomide Odunsi Filing fee: $ 125, receipt number AMADC-11599959 by African Communities Together, Alexander Doe, Mohamed Doe, Nina Doe, Tyson Doe, Partnership for the Advancement of New Americans. (Attachments: # 1 Declaration in Support)(Aslami, Nargis) (Entered: 03/10/2026)

March 10, 2026

March 10, 2026

17

MOTION for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice for admission of Collin Poirot Filing fee: $ 125, receipt number AMADC-11599965 by African Communities Together, Alexander Doe, Mohamed Doe, Nina Doe, Tyson Doe, Partnership for the Advancement of New Americans. (Attachments: # 1 Declaration in Support)(Aslami, Nargis) (Entered: 03/10/2026)

March 10, 2026

March 10, 2026

18

MOTION for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice for admission of Erik Crew Filing fee: $ 125, receipt number AMADC-11599972 by African Communities Together, Alexander Doe, Mohamed Doe, Nina Doe, Tyson Doe, Partnership for the Advancement of New Americans. (Attachments: # 1 Declaration in Support)(Aslami, Nargis) (Entered: 03/10/2026)

March 10, 2026

March 10, 2026

19

MOTION for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice for admission of Golnaz Fakhimi Filing fee: $ 125, receipt number AMADC-11599978 by African Communities Together, Alexander Doe, Mohamed Doe, Nina Doe, Tyson Doe, Partnership for the Advancement of New Americans. (Attachments: # 1 Declaration in Support)(Aslami, Nargis) (Entered: 03/10/2026)

March 10, 2026

March 10, 2026

20

MOTION for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice for admission of Kacey-Ann Mordecai Filing fee: $ 125, receipt number AMADC-11599989 by African Communities Together, Alexander Doe, Mohamed Doe, Nina Doe, Tyson Doe, Partnership for the Advancement of New Americans. (Attachments: # 1 Declaration in Support)(Aslami, Nargis) (Entered: 03/10/2026)

March 10, 2026

March 10, 2026

21

MOTION for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice for admission of Lauren Carbajal Filing fee: $ 125, receipt number AMADC-11600000 by African Communities Together, Alexander Doe, Mohamed Doe, Nina Doe, Tyson Doe, Partnership for the Advancement of New Americans. (Attachments: # 1 Declaration in Support)(Aslami, Nargis) (Entered: 03/10/2026)

March 10, 2026

March 10, 2026

22

MOTION for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice for admission of Morenike Fajana Filing fee: $ 125, receipt number AMADC-11600008 by African Communities Together, Alexander Doe, Mohamed Doe, Nina Doe, Tyson Doe, Partnership for the Advancement of New Americans. (Attachments: # 1 Declaration in Support)(Aslami, Nargis) (Entered: 03/10/2026)

March 10, 2026

March 10, 2026

23

MOTION for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice for admission of Sadaf Hasan Filing fee: $ 125, receipt number AMADC-11600014 by African Communities Together, Alexander Doe, Mohamed Doe, Nina Doe, Tyson Doe, Partnership for the Advancement of New Americans. (Attachments: # 1 Declaration in Support)(Aslami, Nargis) (Entered: 03/10/2026)

March 10, 2026

March 10, 2026

24

Judge Allison D. Burroughs: ELECTRONIC ORDER entered granting 15, 17, 18, 19 and 23 Motions for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice. Attorneys Abbey Rutherford, Collin Poirot, Erik Crew, Golnaz Fakhimi and Sadaf Hasan added. 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. Pursuant to Local Rule 83.5.3, local counsel shall also file an appearance in this matter. Further, local counsel shall review all filings and shall personally appear in Court for any hearings or conferences, unless expressly excused by the Court for good cause.(CAM) (Entered: 03/10/2026)

March 10, 2026

March 10, 2026

25

Judge Allison D. Burroughs: ELECTRONIC ORDER entered granting 16, 20, 21 and 22 MOTIONs for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice for admission of Ayomide Odunsi, Kacey-Ann Mordecai, Lauren Carbajal and Morenike Fajana. Attorneys admitted Pro Hac Vice must have an individual PACER account, not a shared firm account, to electronically file in the District of Massachusetts. To register for a PACER account, go the Pacer website at https://pacer.uscourts.gov/register-account. You must put the docket number under ADDITIONAL FILER INFORMATION on your form when registering or it will be rejected.Pro Hac Vice Admission Request Instructions https://www.mad.uscourts.gov/caseinfo/nextgen-pro-hac-vice.htm.A Notice of Appearance must be entered on the docket by the newly admitted attorney. Pursuant to Local Rule 83.5.3, local counsel shall also file an appearance in this matter. Further, local counsel shall review all filings and shall personally appear in Court for any hearings or conferences, unless expressly excused by the Court for good cause.(CAM) (Entered: 03/10/2026)

March 10, 2026

March 10, 2026

26

NOTICE of Appearance by Golnaz Fakhimi on behalf of African Communities Together, Alexander Doe, Mohamed Doe, Nina Doe, Tyson Doe, Partnership for the Advancement of New Americans (Fakhimi, Golnaz) (Entered: 03/10/2026)

March 10, 2026

March 10, 2026

Notice of Case Assignment

March 10, 2026

March 10, 2026

Order AND ~Util - Terminate Motions

March 10, 2026

March 10, 2026

Order AND ~Util - Add and Terminate Attorneys AND ~Util - Terminate Motions

March 10, 2026

March 10, 2026

27

NOTICE of Appearance by Abbey Rose Koenning Rutherford on behalf of African Communities Together, Alexander Doe, Mohamed Doe, Nina Doe, Tyson Doe, Partnership for the Advancement of New Americans (Rutherford, Abbey) (Entered: 03/11/2026)

March 11, 2026

March 11, 2026

28

NOTICE of Appearance by Erik Matthew Crew on behalf of African Communities Together, Alexander Doe, Mohamed Doe, Nina Doe, Tyson Doe, Partnership for the Advancement of New Americans (Crew, Erik) (Entered: 03/12/2026)

March 12, 2026

March 12, 2026

29

NOTICE of Appearance by Kacey Ann Mordecai on behalf of African Communities Together, Alexander Doe, Mohamed Doe, Nina Doe, Tyson Doe, Partnership for the Advancement of New Americans (Mordecai, Kacey Ann) (Entered: 03/12/2026)

March 12, 2026

March 12, 2026

30

NOTICE of Appearance by Ayomide Odunsi on behalf of African Communities Together, Alexander Doe, Mohamed Doe, Nina Doe, Tyson Doe, Partnership for the Advancement of New Americans (Odunsi, Ayomide) (Entered: 03/12/2026)

March 12, 2026

March 12, 2026

31

NOTICE of Appearance by Collin Poirot on behalf of African Communities Together, Alexander Doe, Mohamed Doe, Nina Doe, Tyson Doe, Partnership for the Advancement of New Americans (Poirot, Collin) (Entered: 03/12/2026)

March 12, 2026

March 12, 2026

32

NOTICE of Appearance by Sadaf Hasan on behalf of African Communities Together, Alexander Doe, Mohamed Doe, Nina Doe, Tyson Doe, Partnership for the Advancement of New Americans (Hasan, Sadaf) (Entered: 03/12/2026)

March 12, 2026

March 12, 2026

33

Judge Allison D. Burroughs: MEMORANDUM AND ORDER entered. For the foregoing reasons, Plaintiff's emergency motion, [ECF No. 3 ], is GRANTED IN PART. The Court will implement an administrative stay and defer ruling on postponement until the administrative record has been produced and the parties have fully briefed the issues presented. The March 17, 2026, effective date of the termination of Somalia's TPS designation, published at 91 Fed. Reg. 1547, is hereby STAYED subject to further order of the Court. While the stay is in effect, the termination shall be null, void, and of no legal effect. Individuals with TPS status based on Somalia's designation shall retain all rights and protections afforded by TPS status, including eligibility for work authorization and protection against deportation and detention based on TPS status, and individuals with pending TPS applications based on Somalia's designation shall retain all rights and protections afforded to persons with pending TPS applications, including eligibility for work authorization and protection against deportation based on a pending TPS application.Plaintiffs are ORDERED to serve a copy of this Order, along with the summons and complaint, on Defendants by 5:00 p.m. EDT on March 16, 2026, if they have not already done so. The parties are instructed to confer to establish a schedule for briefing and production of the administrative record and file such schedule with the Court by no later than 5:00 p.m. EDT on March 18, 2026.SO ORDERED.(CAM) Modified punctuation on 3/13/2026 (CAM). (Entered: 03/13/2026)

March 13, 2026

March 13, 2026

Clearinghouse
34

Declaration

1 Affidavit re Noem

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2 Affidavit re USCIS

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3 Affidavit re DHS

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4 Affidavit re USA

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5 Affidavit re US AG

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6 Affidavit re MA USAO

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March 16, 2026

March 16, 2026

RECAP
35

Recommendations for Scheduling Order

March 18, 2026

March 18, 2026

36

Notice of Appearance

March 19, 2026

March 19, 2026

37

Notice of Appearance

March 19, 2026

March 19, 2026

38

Notice of Appearance

March 19, 2026

March 19, 2026

39

Notice of Appearance

March 19, 2026

March 19, 2026

Order AND ~Util - Set Motion and R&R Deadlines/Hearings

March 19, 2026

March 19, 2026

Case Details

State / Territory:

Massachusetts

Case Type(s):

Immigration and/or the Border

Special Collection(s):

Trump Administration 2.0: Challenges to the Government

Key Dates

Filing Date: March 9, 2026

Case Ongoing: Yes

Case Details

Other Dockets:

District of Massachusetts 1:26-cv-11201

Available Documents:

Complaint (any)

Trial Court Docket

Recommended Citation