Case: Service Employees International Union v. Scott

1:26-cv-11251 | U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts

Filed Date: March 13, 2026

Case Ongoing

Clearinghouse coding complete

Case Summary

On March 13, 2026, plaintiffs filed this complaint against ten defendants, including U.S. Customs and Border Protection and its secretary, Rodney Scott, in U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts. Plaintiffs, a union with a membership of over two million public sector workers, sought declaratory and injunctive relief as well as attorneys' fees after Defendants altered their interpretation of long-standing employment eligibility standards. In 2025, Defendants summarily revoked Indi…

On March 13, 2026, plaintiffs filed this complaint against ten defendants, including U.S. Customs and Border Protection and its secretary, Rodney Scott, in U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts. Plaintiffs, a union with a membership of over two million public sector workers, sought declaratory and injunctive relief as well as attorneys' fees after Defendants altered their interpretation of long-standing employment eligibility standards. In 2025, Defendants summarily revoked Individual Plaintiffs’ Customs seals based on Defendants’ novel, arbitrary, and unlawful interpretation of the requirement that seal holders have “authorized residency,” a term nowhere defined in the Immigration and Nationality Act. Plaintiffs alleged this was done in furtherance of President Trump's anti-immigrant agenda, as it effectively stripped immigrant union members of their jobs. The complaint asserted claims under the Administrative Procedure Act and the Due Process Clause of the Fifth Amendment.

The case was assigned to District Judge Patti B. Saris.

This case is ongoing.

Summary Authors

Claire Pollard (4/13/2026)

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/72487599/parties/service-employees-international-union-v-scott/


Judge(s)

Saris, Patti B. (Massachusetts)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Ahmad, Muneer I. (Massachusetts)

Wishnie, Michael J. (Massachusetts)

Attorney for Defendant

Canzoneri, Julian N. (Massachusetts)

Farquhar, Rayford A. (Massachusetts)

show all people

Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document
1

1:26-cv-11251

Complaint

March 13, 2026

March 13, 2026

Complaint

Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/72487599/service-employees-international-union-v-scott/

Last updated April 14, 2026, 3:12 a.m.

ECF Number Description Date Link Date / Link
1

COMPLAINT against All Defendants Filing fee: $ 405, receipt number AMADC-11608115 (Fee Status: Filing Fee paid), filed by Ana Lemus, Raquel Molina, Saint Paul Paul, Daysi Rocha-Cruz, Service Employees International Union. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit 1, # 2 Exhibit 2, # 3 Category Form, # 4 Civil Cover Sheet)(Wishnie, Michael) (Entered: 03/13/2026)

1 Exhibit 1

View on RECAP

2 Exhibit 2

View on RECAP

3 Category Form

View on RECAP

4 Civil Cover Sheet

View on RECAP

March 13, 2026

March 13, 2026

Clearinghouse
2

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 Jessica D. Hedges. (SP) (Entered: 03/13/2026)

March 13, 2026

March 13, 2026

3

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: 03/13/2026)

March 13, 2026

March 13, 2026

Notice of Case Assignment

March 13, 2026

March 13, 2026

4

First MOTION to Expedite Production of the Administrative Record by Raquel Molina, Saint Paul Paul, Daysi Rocha-Cruz, Service Employees International Union. (Attachments: # 1 Memorandum of Law)(Wishnie, Michael) (Entered: 03/18/2026)

March 18, 2026

March 18, 2026

5

District Judge Patti B. Saris: ELECTRONIC ORDER entered. "Defendants shall respond to Plaintiffs' motion to compel expedited production of the administrative record (Dkt. 4 ) by Thursday, March 26." (CGK) (Entered: 03/19/2026)

March 19, 2026

March 19, 2026

6

Notice of Service of Process filed by Ana Lemus, Raquel Molina, Saint Paul Paul, Daysi Rocha-Cruz, Service Employees International Union. Individual(s)/Entities served: Rodney S. Scott, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Kristi L. Noem, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Julio Caravia, Jason Adams, Roderick W. Hudson, Melissa Armijo, Salvatore Ingrassia. (Wishnie, Michael) (Entered: 03/19/2026)

March 19, 2026

March 19, 2026

7

MOTION for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice for admission of Muneer I. Ahmad Filing fee: $ 125, receipt number AMADC-11622966 by Ana Lemus, Raquel Molina, Saint Paul Paul, Daysi Rocha-Cruz, Service Employees International Union. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit Declaration)(Wishnie, Michael) (Entered: 03/19/2026)

March 19, 2026

March 19, 2026

Order

March 19, 2026

March 19, 2026

8

District Judge Patti B. Saris: ELECTRONIC ORDER entered granting 7 Motion for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice Added Muneer I. Ahmad. 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. (CGK) (Entered: 03/23/2026)

March 23, 2026

March 23, 2026

9

NOTICE of Appearance by Muneer I. Ahmad on behalf of Ana Lemus, Raquel Molina, Saint Paul Paul, Daysi Rocha-Cruz, Service Employees International Union (Ahmad, Muneer) (Entered: 03/23/2026)

March 23, 2026

March 23, 2026

Order on Motion for Leave to Appear

March 23, 2026

March 23, 2026

10

Assented to MOTION for Extension of Time to 3/30/2026 to File Response/Reply as to 4 First MOTION to Expedite Production of the Administrative Record by Jason Adams, Melissa Armijo, Julio Caravia, Roderick W. Hudson, Salvatore Ingrassia, Kristi L. Noem, Rodney S. Scott, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Department of Homeland Security.(Farquhar, Rayford) (Entered: 03/26/2026)

March 26, 2026

March 26, 2026

11

District Judge Patti B. Saris: ELECTRONIC ORDER entered granting re 10 Assented to MOTION for Extension of Time to 3/30/2026 to File Response/Reply as to 4 First MOTION to Expedite Production of the Administrative Record.(CGK) (Entered: 03/26/2026)

March 26, 2026

March 26, 2026

Order on Motion for Extension of Time to File Response/Reply

March 26, 2026

March 26, 2026

12

First MOTION Leave to Appear as Supervised Law Student by Ana Lemus, Raquel Molina, Saint Paul Paul, Daysi Rocha-Cruz, Service Employees International Union. (Attachments: # 1 Memorandum of Law, # 2 Declaration, # 3 Certification)(Wishnie, Michael) (Entered: 03/30/2026)

March 30, 2026

March 30, 2026

13

First MOTION To Waive Certain Requirements for Supervised Law Students and Grant Leave to Appear by Ana Lemus, Raquel Molina, Saint Paul Paul, Daysi Rocha-Cruz, Service Employees International Union. (Attachments: # 1 Declaration, # 2 Declaration, # 3 Declaration, # 4 Declaration, # 5 Declaration, # 6 Declaration, # 7 Certification, # 8 Certification, # 9 Certification, # 10 Certification, # 11 Certification)(Wishnie, Michael) (Entered: 03/30/2026)

March 30, 2026

March 30, 2026

14

NOTICE of Appearance by Julian N. Canzoneri on behalf of Jason Adams, Melissa Armijo, Julio Caravia, Roderick W. Hudson, Salvatore Ingrassia, Kristi L. Noem, Rodney S. Scott, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Department of Homeland Security (Canzoneri, Julian) (Entered: 03/31/2026)

March 31, 2026

March 31, 2026

15

Assented to MOTION for Extension of Time to 4/8/2026 to File Response/Reply as to 1 Complaint, by Jason Adams, Melissa Armijo, Julio Caravia, Roderick W. Hudson, Salvatore Ingrassia, Kristi L. Noem, Rodney S. Scott, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Department of Homeland Security.(Farquhar, Rayford) (Entered: 04/01/2026)

April 1, 2026

April 1, 2026

16

District Judge Patti B. Saris: ELECTRONIC ORDER entered ALLOWED re 15 Assented to Motion for Extension of Time to File Response/Reply as to 1 Complaint, by Jason Adams, Melissa Armijo, Julio Caravia, Roderick W. Hudson, Salvatore Ingrassia, Kristi L. Noem, Rodney S. Scott, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Response due by 4/8/2026 (CGK) (Entered: 04/01/2026)

April 1, 2026

April 1, 2026

Order on Motion for Extension of Time to File Response/Reply

April 1, 2026

April 1, 2026

17

Defendants' Assented to MOTION to Clarify their Assented to Motion for a Further Extension of Time for Defendant's to Respond to Plaintiffs' Complaint (Dkt. No 15 ) by Jason Adams, Melissa Armijo, Julio Caravia, Roderick W. Hudson, Salvatore Ingrassia, Kristi L. Noem, Rodney S. Scott, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Department of Homeland Security.(Farquhar, Rayford) (Entered: 04/02/2026)

April 2, 2026

April 2, 2026

18

District Judge Patti B. Saris: ELECTRONIC ORDER entered ALLOWED re 17 Defendants' Assented to Motion to Clarify their Assented to Motion for a Further Extension of Time for Defendant's to Respond to Plaintiffs' Complaint (Dkt. No 15 ).(CGK) (Entered: 04/02/2026)

April 2, 2026

April 2, 2026

Order on Motion for Clarification

April 2, 2026

April 2, 2026

Order on Motion for Miscellaneous Relief

April 3, 2026

April 3, 2026

21

Response to Motion

April 8, 2026

April 8, 2026

Order on Motion to Expedite

April 9, 2026

April 9, 2026

Case Details

State / Territory:

Massachusetts

Case Type(s):

Labor Rights

Immigration and/or the Border

Special Collection(s):

Trump Administration 2.0: Challenges to the Government

Key Dates

Filing Date: March 13, 2026

Case Ongoing: Yes

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

Plaintiffs are are employment-authorized noncitizens and members of Plaintiff Service Employees International Union who were employed for many years at Logan Airport with Customs seal security clearance. Individual Plaintiffs have labored in various capacities serving the public, servicing airlines, and furthering the safe operation of the airport. Plaintiff SEIU is a union of over two million diverse health care, public sector, and property service workers in North America, including the Individual Plaintiffs in this action.

Plaintiff Type(s):

Non-profit NON-religious organization

Private Plaintiff

Public Interest Lawyer: Yes

Filed Pro Se: No

Class Action Sought: No

Class Action Outcome: Not sought

Defendants

Federal

U.S. Customs and Border Protection

Case Details

Causes of Action:

Administrative Procedure Act, 5 U.S.C. §§ 551 et seq.

Constitutional Clause(s):

Due Process

Other Dockets:

District of Massachusetts 1:26-cv-11251

Available Documents:

Complaint (any)

Trial Court Docket

Outcome

Prevailing Party: None Yet / None

Relief Sought:

Attorneys fees

Declaratory judgment

Injunction

Relief Granted:

None yet

Source of Relief:

None yet

Issues

Immigration/Border:

Constitutional rights

Employment

Recommended Citation