Case: Benitez v. U.S. Department of Homeland Security

2:26-cv-02082 | U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York

Filed Date: April 8, 2026

Case Ongoing

Clearinghouse coding in progress

Case Summary

[This summary is temporary while we research the case.] Seven individual Latino residents of New York, along with the Workers' Center of Central New York, filed a putative class action lawsuit on April 8, 2026, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York against the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and numerous federal immigration enforcement agencies and officials. The plaintiffs alleged that under the second Trump Administration, federal immigration agents implemented …

[This summary is temporary while we research the case.]

Seven individual Latino residents of New York, along with the Workers' Center of Central New York, filed a putative class action lawsuit on April 8, 2026, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York against the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and numerous federal immigration enforcement agencies and officials. The plaintiffs alleged that under the second Trump Administration, federal immigration agents implemented a systematic campaign of suspicionless stops and warrantless arrests targeting Black and Brown individuals, particularly Latinos, based solely on their perceived race and ethnicity⁻. According to the complaint, agents conducted these operations throughout New York State using tactics such as surrounding individuals with unmarked cars, using photo ruses to initiate contact, and targeting specific locations like Home Depots and Walmart parking lots⁻. The plaintiffs sought class certification and various forms of relief, including declaratory and injunctive relief prohibiting the challenged practices, based on alleged violations of the Fourth and Fifth Amendments, the Administrative Procedure Act, and federal immigration statutes⁻.

Summary Authors

Jinan Abufarha (4/12/2026)

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/73165998/parties/benitez-v-us-department-of-homeland-security/


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Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document
1

2:26-cv-02082

Complaint

April 8, 2026

April 8, 2026

Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/73165998/benitez-v-us-department-of-homeland-security/

Last updated April 14, 2026, 3:05 a.m.

ECF Number Description Date Link Date / Link
1

COMPLAINT against Michael W. Banks, Todd Blanche, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Kenneth Genalo, Todd M. Lyons, Tammy Marich, Markwayne Mullin, Kash Patel, Rodney S. Scott, Gadyaces S. Serralta, U.S. Border Patrol, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Department Of Justice, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, U.S. Marshals Service filing fee $ 405, receipt number ANYEDC-20092217 Was the Disclosure Statement on Civil Cover Sheet completed -Yes,, filed by F.R.P., Darwin Garcia Medrano, Rene Antonio Benitez, R.C.R., H.L.A.O., Workers' Center of Central New York, A.M.C., Hesler Asaf Garcia Lanza. (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet, # 2 Proposed Summons, # 3 Proposed Summons, # 4 Proposed Summons, # 5 Proposed Summons, # 6 Proposed Summons, # 7 Proposed Summons, # 8 Proposed Summons, # 9 Proposed Summons, # 10 Proposed Summons, # 11 Proposed Summons, # 12 Proposed Summons, # 13 Proposed Summons, # 14 Proposed Summons, # 15 Proposed Summons, # 16 Proposed Summons, # 17 Proposed Summons) (Gimbel, Mark) (Entered: 04/08/2026)

1 Civil Cover Sheet

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2 Proposed Summons

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3 Proposed Summons

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4 Proposed Summons

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5 Proposed Summons

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6 Proposed Summons

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7 Proposed Summons

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8 Proposed Summons

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9 Proposed Summons

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10 Proposed Summons

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11 Proposed Summons

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12 Proposed Summons

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13 Proposed Summons

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14 Proposed Summons

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15 Proposed Summons

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16 Proposed Summons

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17 Proposed Summons

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April 8, 2026

April 8, 2026

Clearinghouse
2

NOTICE of Appearance by Mark P. Gimbel on behalf of A.M.C., Rene Antonio Benitez, F.R.P., H.L.A.O., Hesler Asaf Garcia Lanza, Darwin Garcia Medrano, R.C.R., Workers' Center of Central New York, J.R.H.L. (aty to be noticed) (Gimbel, Mark) (Entered: 04/08/2026)

April 8, 2026

April 8, 2026

3

NOTICE of Appearance by Giovanni Scarcella on behalf of A.M.C., Rene Antonio Benitez, F.R.P., H.L.A.O., J.R.H.L., Hesler Asaf Garcia Lanza, Darwin Garcia Medrano, R.C.R., Workers' Center of Central New York (aty to be noticed) (Scarcella, Giovanni) (Entered: 04/08/2026)

April 8, 2026

April 8, 2026

4

Corporate Disclosure Statement by Workers' Center of Central New York (Gimbel, Mark) (Entered: 04/08/2026)

April 8, 2026

April 8, 2026

5

NOTICE of Appearance by Evan Henley on behalf of All Plaintiffs (aty to be noticed) (Henley, Evan) (Entered: 04/08/2026)

April 8, 2026

April 8, 2026

6

NOTICE of Appearance by Hasan Shafiqullah on behalf of A.M.C., Rene Antonio Benitez, F.R.P., H.L.A.O., J.R.H.L., Hesler Asaf Garcia Lanza, Darwin Garcia Medrano, R.C.R., Workers' Center of Central New York (aty to be noticed) (Shafiqullah, Hasan) (Entered: 04/08/2026)

April 8, 2026

April 8, 2026

7

MOTION for Protective Order and to Proceed Under a Pseudonym by A.M.C., Rene Antonio Benitez, F.R.P., H.L.A.O., J.R.H.L., Hesler Asaf Garcia Lanza, Darwin Garcia Medrano, R.C.R., Workers' Center of Central New York. (Attachments: # 1 Memorandum of Law, # 2 Scarcella Declaration, # 3 Exhibit 1 - Zullo Article, # 4 Exhibit 2 - Tolan Article, # 5 Exhibit 3 - Dernbach Article, # 6 Exhibit 4 - Paul Article, # 7 Exhibit 5 - Walker Article, # 8 Das Declaration) (Gimbel, Mark) (Entered: 04/08/2026)

April 8, 2026

April 8, 2026

8

This attorney case opening filing has been checked for quality control. See the attachment for corrections that were made. (LJ) (Entered: 04/09/2026)

April 9, 2026

April 9, 2026

9

Clerks Notice Re: Consent. A magistrate judge has been assigned as the presiding judge in this case under the EDNY Direct Assignment Program, governed by EDNY Administrative Order 2025-14. In accordance with Rule 73 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, Local Rule 73.1, the parties are notified that if all parties consent, the assigned Magistrate Judge is available to conduct all proceedings in this action including a (jury or nonjury) trial and to order the entry of a final judgment. Attached to this Notice is a blank copy of the consent form that should be filled out, signed and filed electronically only if all parties wish to consent. The form is also available here: https://www.nyed.uscourts.gov/sites/default/files/uploads/mjconsentform.pdf. Any party may withhold its consent without adverse substantive consequences. Do NOT return or file the consent form unless all parties have signed the consent form. Unless all parties consent to the Magistrate Judge jurisdiction by the deadline set forth in the Administrative Order 2025-14, a District Judge will be assigned to the case. The parties are directed to review the terms of Administrative Order 2025-14 and other materials related to the EDNY Direct Assignment Program on the Court's website: https://www.nyed.uscourts.gov/bulletin-direct-assignment-program. (LJ) (Entered: 04/09/2026)

April 9, 2026

April 9, 2026

10

NOTICE of Appearance by Meghna Philip on behalf of All Plaintiffs (aty to be noticed) (Philip, Meghna) (Entered: 04/09/2026)

April 9, 2026

April 9, 2026

11

Notice of Related Case: The Civil Cover Sheet filed in this civil action indicates a related case. (LJ) (Entered: 04/09/2026)

April 9, 2026

April 9, 2026

12

NOTICE of Appearance by Brian Perbix on behalf of All Plaintiffs (aty to be noticed) (Perbix, Brian) (Entered: 04/09/2026)

April 9, 2026

April 9, 2026

13

Proposed Summons. Re 1 Complaint,,,, by A.M.C., Rene Antonio Benitez, F.R.P., H.L.A.O., J.R.H.L., Hesler Asaf Garcia Lanza, Darwin Garcia Medrano, R.C.R., Workers' Center of Central New York (Gimbel, Mark) (Entered: 04/09/2026)

April 9, 2026

April 9, 2026

14

NOTICE of Appearance by Paige Austin on behalf of A.M.C., Rene Antonio Benitez, F.R.P., H.L.A.O., J.R.H.L., Hesler Asaf Garcia Lanza, Darwin Garcia Medrano, R.C.R., Workers' Center of Central New York (aty to be noticed) (Austin, Paige) (Entered: 04/09/2026)

April 9, 2026

April 9, 2026

15

NOTICE of Appearance by Harold A. Solis on behalf of All Plaintiffs (aty to be noticed) (Solis, Harold) (Entered: 04/09/2026)

April 9, 2026

April 9, 2026

16

Summons Issued as to Michael W. Banks, Todd Blanche, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Kenneth Genalo, Todd M. Lyons, Tammy Marich, Markwayne Mullin, Kash Patel, Rodney S. Scott, Gadyaces S. Serralta, U.S. Border Patrol, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Department Of Justice, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, U.S. Marshals Service, U.S. Attorney and U.S. Attorney General (EJK) (Entered: 04/10/2026)

April 9, 2026

April 9, 2026

Case Assigned/Reassigned

April 9, 2026

April 9, 2026

Quality Control Check - Summons

April 9, 2026

April 9, 2026

Case Assigned to Magistrate Judge James M. Wicks. Please download and review the Individual Practices of the assigned Judges, located on our website. Attorneys are responsible for providing courtesy copies to judges where their Individual Practices require such. (LJ)

April 9, 2026

April 9, 2026

Your proposed summonses were not issued for the following reasons: The full case caption must appear on the summons. If it does not fit on the first page of the summons, please attach a rider with the full caption. Additionally, the date must be left blank. Please correct and resubmit using the event Proposed Summons/Civil Cover Sheet. (LJ)

April 9, 2026

April 9, 2026

17

NOTICE of Appearance by Amy Belsher on behalf of All Plaintiffs (aty to be noticed) (Belsher, Amy) (Entered: 04/10/2026)

April 10, 2026

April 10, 2026

18

NOTICE of Appearance by Ifeyinwa Chikezie on behalf of All Plaintiffs (aty to be noticed) (Chikezie, Ifeyinwa) (Entered: 04/10/2026)

April 10, 2026

April 10, 2026

19

NOTICE of Appearance by Molly Knopp Biklen on behalf of All Plaintiffs (aty to be noticed) (Biklen, Molly) (Entered: 04/10/2026)

April 10, 2026

April 10, 2026

20

NOTICE of Appearance by Wafa Junaid on behalf of All Plaintiffs (aty to be noticed) (Junaid, Wafa) (Entered: 04/10/2026)

April 10, 2026

April 10, 2026

21

Preliminary Injunction

April 13, 2026

April 13, 2026

22

Certify Class

April 13, 2026

April 13, 2026

23

Affidavit/Declaration in Support of Motion

April 13, 2026

April 13, 2026

24

Protective Order

April 13, 2026

April 13, 2026

Case Details

State / Territory:

New York

Case Type(s):

Immigration and/or the Border

Special Collection(s):

Trump Administration 2.0: Challenges to the Government

Key Dates

Filing Date: April 8, 2026

Case Ongoing: Yes

Case Details

Other Dockets:

Eastern District of New York 2:26-cv-02082

Recommended Citation