Case: Hines Immigration Law, PLLC v. Executive Office for Immigration Review

1:26-cv-01018 | U.S. District Court for the District of District of Columbia

Filed Date: March 24, 2026

Case Ongoing

Clearinghouse coding in progress

Case Summary

On March 24, 2026, Hines Immigration Law, PLLC, and The Advocates for Human Rights filed suit in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia against the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR), the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), the EOIR Director, and U.S. Attorney General Pamela J. Bondi. The plaintiffs, consisting of a private immigration law firm in Roseville, Minnesota, and a Minneapolis-based nonprofit organization providing free legal representation to low-income immigrants, challenged the defendants' implementation of what they termed a "Somali Fast-Track Policy" in late January 2026⁻. According to the complaint, this policy abruptly fast-tracked immigration proceedings for non-detained Somali nationals on a dedicated national docket before a handpicked subset of immigration judges. The plaintiffs alleged that the defendants truncated the timeline for Somali immigrants to consult with counsel and establish their claims by scheduling master calendar hearings with as little as one week's notice and individual merits hearings with as little as one month's notice. They further contended that all or nearly all hearings were assigned to a small subset of immigration judges, many with higher-than-average removal rates, who were physically located outside the relevant jurisdictions and conducted proceedings remotely via Webex⁻. The lawsuit raised five counts, including violations of the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) for being contrary to law and arbitrary and capricious, violations of the Fifth Amendment Due Process and Equal Protection clauses, and violations of the First Amendment's Free Speech and Association protections⁻. The plaintiffs sought comprehensive relief, including a stay of the policy, preliminary and permanent injunctive relief, an order declaring the policy unlawful and vacating it, and attorney fees.

This case is ongoing.

show full summary

Summary Authors

Claire Pollard (3/27/2026)

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/72618270/parties/hines-immigration-law-pllc-v-executive-office-for-immigration-review/

Judge(s)

Nichols, Carl John (District of Columbia)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Jasrasaria, Jyoti (District of Columbia)

Rodriguez, Yenisey (District of Columbia)

Thurston, Robin F. (District of Columbia)

Attorney for Defendant

Stratton, Kimberly (District of Columbia)

Judge(s)

Nichols, Carl John (District of Columbia)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Jasrasaria, Jyoti (District of Columbia)

Rodriguez, Yenisey (District of Columbia)

Thurston, Robin F. (District of Columbia)

Torcello, Michael (District of Columbia)

Attorney for Defendant

Stratton, Kimberly (District of Columbia)

Attorney Contact Information via CourtListener

show all people

Documents in the Clearinghouse

	Document
1 1:26-cv-01018	Complaint Hines Immigration Law, PLLC et al. v. Executive Office for Immigration Review et al.	March 24, 2026	March 24, 2026 Complaint

show / hide documents

Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/72618270/hines-immigration-law-pllc-v-executive-office-for-immigration-review/

Last updated April 20, 2026, 3:09 a.m.

ECF Number	Description	Date	Link Date / Link
1	COMPLAINT against PAMELA J. BONDI, EXECUTIVE OFFICE FOR IMMIGRATION REVIEW, Daren K. Margolin, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE ( Filing fee $ 405 receipt number ADCDC-12317989) filed by HINES IMMIGRATION LAW, PLLC, THE ADVOCATES FOR HUMAN RIGHTS. (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet, # 2 Summons (EOIR), # 3 Summons (Margolin), # 4 Summons (DOJ), # 5 Summons (Bondi), # 6 Summons (USAO-DC))(Jasrasaria, Jyoti) (Entered: 03/24/2026) 1 Civil Cover Sheet View on PACER 2 Summons (EOIR) View on PACER 3 Summons (Margolin) View on PACER 4 Summons (DOJ) View on PACER 5 Summons (Bondi) View on PACER 6 Summons (USAO-DC) View on PACER	March 24, 2026	March 24, 2026 Clearinghouse
2	LCvR 26.1 CERTIFICATE OF DISCLOSURE of Corporate Affiliations and Financial Interests by HINES IMMIGRATION LAW, PLLC, THE ADVOCATES FOR HUMAN RIGHTS (Jasrasaria, Jyoti) (Entered: 03/24/2026)	March 24, 2026	March 24, 2026
3	Emergency MOTION to Stay Under 5 U.S.C. § 705 by HINES IMMIGRATION LAW, PLLC, THE ADVOCATES FOR HUMAN RIGHTS. (Attachments: # 1 Memorandum in Support, # 2 Exhibit A (Hines Decl.), # 3 Exhibit B (Sandison Decl.), # 4 Exhibit C (Carr Decl.), # 5 Exhibit D (Dhawan-Maloney Decl.), # 6 Exhibit E (Dutt Decl.), # 7 Exhibit F (Mockenhaupt Decl.), # 8 Exhibit G (Maynard Decl.), # 9 Exhibit H (Boyd Decl.), # 10 Exhibit I (Fuchs Decl.), # 11 Exhibit J (Kline Decl.), # 12 Exhibit K (Pickering Decl.), # 13 Exhibit L (Jabane Decl.), # 14 Exhibit M (Brown Decl.), # 15 Exhibit N (Operana Decl.), # 16 Exhibit O (Petersen Decl.), # 17 Exhibit P (Thal Decl.), # 18 Exhibit Q (Lowry Decl.), # 19 Exhibit R (Streefland Decl.), # 20 Text of Proposed Order)(Jasrasaria, Jyoti) (Entered: 03/24/2026) 1 Memorandum in Support View on RECAP 2 Exhibit A (Hines Decl.) View on PACER 3 Exhibit B (Sandison Decl.) View on PACER 4 Exhibit C (Carr Decl.) View on PACER 5 Exhibit D (Dhawan-Maloney Decl.) View on PACER 6 Exhibit E (Dutt Decl.) View on PACER 7 Exhibit F (Mockenhaupt Decl.) View on PACER 8 Exhibit G (Maynard Decl.) View on PACER 9 Exhibit H (Boyd Decl.) View on PACER 10 Exhibit I (Fuchs Decl.) View on PACER 11 Exhibit J (Kline Decl.) View on PACER 12 Exhibit K (Pickering Decl.) View on PACER 13 Exhibit L (Jabane Decl.) View on PACER 14 Exhibit M (Brown Decl.) View on PACER 15 Exhibit N (Operana Decl.) View on PACER 16 Exhibit O (Petersen Decl.) View on PACER 17 Exhibit P (Thal Decl.) View on PACER 18 Exhibit Q (Lowry Decl.) View on PACER 19 Exhibit R (Streefland Decl.) View on PACER 20 Text of Proposed Order View on PACER	March 24, 2026	March 24, 2026
4	SUMMONS (5) Issued Electronically as to All Defendants, U.S. Attorney and U.S. Attorney General (Attachments: # 1 Notice and Consent)(znmw) (Entered: 03/25/2026)	March 25, 2026	March 25, 2026
5	NOTICE of Appearance by Michael Torcello on behalf of ADVOCATES FOR HUMAN RIGHTS, HINES IMMIGRATION LAW, PLLC (Torcello, Michael) (Entered: 03/25/2026)	March 25, 2026	March 25, 2026
6	NOTICE of Appearance by Robin F. Thurston on behalf of ADVOCATES FOR HUMAN RIGHTS, HINES IMMIGRATION LAW, PLLC (Thurston, Robin) (Entered: 03/25/2026)	March 25, 2026	March 25, 2026
7	NOTICE of Appearance by Yenisey Rodriguez on behalf of ADVOCATES FOR HUMAN RIGHTS, HINES IMMIGRATION LAW, PLLC (Rodriguez, Yenisey) (Entered: 03/25/2026)	March 25, 2026	March 25, 2026
8	NOTICE of Appearance by Kimberly Stratton on behalf of PAMELA J. BONDI, EXECUTIVE OFFICE FOR IMMIGRATION REVIEW, DAREN K. MARGOLIN, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE (Stratton, Kimberly) (Entered: 03/25/2026)	March 25, 2026	March 25, 2026
	Case Assigned/Reassigned	March 25, 2026	March 25, 2026
	~Util - Set/Reset Deadlines	March 25, 2026	March 25, 2026
	Case Assigned to Judge Carl J. Nichols. (znmw)	March 25, 2026	March 25, 2026
	Set Deadlines	March 25, 2026	March 25, 2026
	MINUTE ORDER. In light of Plaintiffs' 3 Emergency Motion to Stay, it is ORDERED that by 10:00am EDT on March 26, 2026, the Parties shall meet, confer, and file a Joint Status Report addressing the following issues: (1) a proposed briefing schedule for the 3 Motion; (2) a statement addressing whether a hearing on the 3 Motion is necessary, and if so, a proposed date and time for such a hearing; and (3) a statement addressing whether the Parties anticipate factual disputes between affiants. The Parties may also address any other issues that they believe will be helpful to the Court. Any disagreements should be noted in the Joint Status Report. Plaintiffs shall notify counsel for Defendants of the contents of this Minute Order. So ORDERED by Judge Carl J. Nichols on 03/25/2026. (lccjn3)	March 25, 2026	March 25, 2026
9	Joint STATUS REPORT by PAMELA J. BONDI, EXECUTIVE OFFICE FOR IMMIGRATION REVIEW, DAREN K. MARGOLIN, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Stratton, Kimberly) (Entered: 03/26/2026)	March 26, 2026	March 26, 2026 RECAP
	~Util - Set/Reset Deadlines/Hearings	March 26, 2026	March 26, 2026
	MINUTE ORDER. Upon consideration of the 9 Joint Status Report, it is hereby ORDERED that Defendants shall submit their Opposition to the 3 Emergency Motion to Stay on or before March 31, 2026, and Plaintiffs shall submit their Reply to Defendants' Opposition on or before April 3, 2026. The Parties are further ORDERED to appear for a hearing on the motion on April 7, 2026, at 2:00pm in Courtroom 17. So ORDERED by Judge Carl J. Nichols on 03/26/2026. (lccjn3)	March 26, 2026	March 26, 2026
10	MOTION for Leave to File Additional Declaration by ADVOCATES FOR HUMAN RIGHTS, HINES IMMIGRATION LAW, PLLC. (Attachments: # 1 Declaration of Joseph Gunther)(Jasrasaria, Jyoti) (Entered: 03/31/2026) 1 Declaration of Joseph Gunther View on PACER	March 31, 2026	March 31, 2026
11	RESPONSE re 3 Emergency MOTION to Stay Under 5 U.S.C. § 705 filed by PAMELA J. BONDI, EXECUTIVE OFFICE FOR IMMIGRATION REVIEW, DAREN K. MARGOLIN, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Stratton, Kimberly) (Entered: 03/31/2026)	March 31, 2026	March 31, 2026 RECAP
12	MOTION for Leave to File Corrected Declaration by ADVOCATES FOR HUMAN RIGHTS, HINES IMMIGRATION LAW, PLLC. (Attachments: # 1 Declaration of Alexis Dutt (Corrected))(Jasrasaria, Jyoti) (Entered: 04/03/2026) 1 Declaration of Alexis Dutt (Corrected) View on RECAP	April 3, 2026	April 3, 2026 RECAP
13	REPLY to opposition to motion re 3 Motion to Stay,,, filed by ADVOCATES FOR HUMAN RIGHTS, HINES IMMIGRATION LAW, PLLC. (Jasrasaria, Jyoti) (Entered: 04/03/2026)	April 3, 2026	April 3, 2026 RECAP
14	RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed as to the United States Attorney. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney on 3/27/2026. Answer due for ALL FEDERAL DEFENDANTS by 5/26/2026. (Jasrasaria, Jyoti) (Entered: 04/06/2026)	April 6, 2026	April 6, 2026
15	RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed on United States Attorney General. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney General 3/27/2026. (Jasrasaria, Jyoti) (Entered: 04/06/2026)	April 6, 2026	April 6, 2026
16	RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed. EXECUTIVE OFFICE FOR IMMIGRATION REVIEW served on 3/30/2026 (Jasrasaria, Jyoti) (Entered: 04/06/2026)	April 6, 2026	April 6, 2026
17	RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed. DAREN K. MARGOLIN served on 3/26/2026 (Jasrasaria, Jyoti) (Entered: 04/06/2026)	April 6, 2026	April 6, 2026
18	RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE served on 3/27/2026 (Jasrasaria, Jyoti) (Entered: 04/06/2026)	April 6, 2026	April 6, 2026
19	RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed. PAMELA J. BONDI served on 3/27/2026 (Jasrasaria, Jyoti) (Entered: 04/06/2026)	April 6, 2026	April 6, 2026
	Motion Hearing	April 7, 2026	April 7, 2026
	Minute Entry for proceedings held before Judge Carl J. Nichols: Motion Hearing held on 4/7/2026 re 3 . Motion 3 ; Taken Under Advisement. Government shall file their position on Motions 10 and 12 by 4/9/2026 at noon. Further Order to be issued by the Court. Court Reporter: Lorraine Herman. (zcam)	April 7, 2026	April 7, 2026
20	RESPONSE re 10 MOTION for Leave to File Additional Declaration filed by PAMELA J. BONDI, EXECUTIVE OFFICE FOR IMMIGRATION REVIEW, DAREN K. MARGOLIN, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. (Stratton, Kimberly) (Entered: 04/09/2026)	April 9, 2026	April 9, 2026 RECAP
21	MEMORANDUM OPINION. Signed by Judge Carl J. Nichols on 04/10/2026. (lccjn3) (Entered: 04/10/2026)	April 10, 2026	April 10, 2026 RECAP
22	ORDER denying 3 Motion to Stay. Signed by Judge Carl J. Nichols on 04/10/2026. (lccjn3) (Entered: 04/10/2026)	April 10, 2026	April 10, 2026 RECAP
	Order on Motion for Leave to File AND Order on Motion for Leave to File	April 10, 2026	April 10, 2026
	MINUTE ORDER. Plaintiffs' motions for leave to file 10 the declaration of Dr. Joseph Gunther and 12 the corrected declaration of Alexis Dutt are GRANTED. So ORDERED by Judge Carl J. Nichols on 04/10/2026. (lccjn3)	April 10, 2026	April 10, 2026
	Order on Motion for Leave to File	April 10, 2026	April 10, 2026

show / hide docket entries

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

Immigration Enforcement

Key Dates

Filing Date: March 24, 2026

Case Ongoing: Yes

Case Details

Other Dockets:

District of District of Columbia 1:26-cv-01018

Available Documents:

Complaint (any)

Trial Court Docket

Recommended Citation

Case Summary of Hines Immigration Law, PLLC v. Executive Office for Immigration Review, Civil Rights Litig. Clearinghouse, https://clearinghouse.net/case/47974/ (last updated 3/27/2026).