Filed Date: March 12, 2026
Case Ongoing
Clearinghouse coding complete
The Advocates for Human Rights, a Minneapolis-based non-profit organization that monitors U.S. Immigration Court operations, filed a complaint on March 12, 2026, against several Department of Justice officials in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia. The organization alleged that it had operated an Immigration Court Observation Project at the Fort Snelling Immigration Court since 2017, with volunteers and staff regularly observing removal and bond proceedings under federal regulations requiring immigration court hearings to be generally open to the public. Beginning in early 2025, however, the Fort Snelling Immigration Court increasingly limited or completely blocked public access to hearings, both in-person and by Webex, without prior notice or explanation. These restrictions included locked courtroom doors, ejection of observers from virtual hearings, blanket closure notices, and arbitrary access policies that prevented observers from attending proceedings even when respondents and their attorneys gave permission. The complaint asserted four counts under the Administrative Procedure Act and First Amendment, alleging the restrictions were arbitrary, capricious, implemented without required notice-and-comment procedures, and violated constitutional rights. The organization sought declaratory and injunctive relief requiring defendants to comply with federal regulations governing public access to immigration proceedings.
The case was assigned to District Judge Rudolph Contreras.
On March 19, 2026, plaintiffs filed a motion for preliminary injunction and stay against federal immigration authorities, seeking to restore public access to immigration court proceedings.
This case is ongoing.
Summary Authors
Maddy Ligon (4/14/2026)
For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/72455259/parties/advocates-for-human-rights-v-bondi/
Contreras, Rudolph (District of Columbia)
Nagy, Brandon R. (District of Columbia)
Reiter, Harvey L. (District of Columbia)
See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/72455259/advocates-for-human-rights-v-bondi/
Last updated April 20, 2026, 3:11 a.m.
State / Territory:
Case Type(s):
Public Benefits/Government Services
Special Collection(s):
Trump Administration 2.0: Challenges to the Government
Key Dates
Filing Date: March 12, 2026
Case Ongoing: Yes
Plaintiffs
Plaintiff Description:
The Advocates for Human Rights, a Minneapolis-based non-profit organization that monitors U.S. Immigration Court operations.
Plaintiff Type(s):
Non-profit NON-religious organization
Public Interest Lawyer: No
Filed Pro Se: No
Class Action Sought: No
Class Action Outcome: Not sought
Defendants
Federal
DAREN K. MARGOLIN
HON. ERIC L. DILLOW
HON. TERESA L. RILEY
PAMELA BONDI
Defendant Type(s):
Case Details
Causes of Action:
Administrative Procedure Act, 5 U.S.C. §§ 551 et seq.
Constitutional Clause(s):
Other Dockets:
District of District of Columbia 1:26-cv-00865
Available Documents:
Outcome
Prevailing Party: None Yet / None
Relief Sought:
Relief Granted:
Source of Relief:
Issues
General/Misc.:
Access to lawyers or judicial system
Case Summary of The Advocates For Human Rights v. BONDI, Civil Rights Litig. Clearinghouse, https://clearinghouse.net/case/47904/ (last updated 4/14/2026).