Filed Date: April 15, 2026
Case Ongoing
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On April 15, 2026, the American Civil Liberties Union Foundation and the National Center for Youth Law filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Administration for Children and Families, and the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.
The plaintiffs had submitted a FOIA request on February 10, 2025, seeking federal agency records related to the government's treatment of unaccompanied youth in ORR custody who are pregnant and/or seeking reproductive healthcare, including abortion and pregnancy-related care. Per the complaint in this lawsuit, the defendants failed to respond to the February 2025 FOIA request for more than a year, thereby violating statutory and regulatory time limits.
According to the plaintiffs, ORR has a documented history of obstructing access to reproductive healthcare for unaccompanied youth, including restrictive policies implemented in 2008 and 2017 that limited or denied abortion access. The complaint further alleges that while current regulations require ORR to provide access to reproductive healthcare, recent developments suggest potential policy changes that may restrict such access. The lawsuit asserts five specific FOIA violations and seeks court orders requiring the defendants to process and disclose the requested records, conduct thorough searches, waive processing fees, and pay the plaintiffs' attorneys' fees.
On April 16, 2026, District Judge Jesse M. Furman was assigned to this case. As of April 22, 2026, the case is ongoing.
Summary Authors
Ashley Hamilton (4/23/2026)
For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/73197774/parties/american-civil-liberties-union-foundation-v-department-of-health-and-human/
Amiri, Brigitte Adrienne (New York)
Law, National Center (New York)
See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/73197774/american-civil-liberties-union-foundation-v-department-of-health-and-human/
Last updated April 22, 2026, 11:58 p.m.
State / Territory:
Case Type(s):
Healthcare Access and Reproductive Issues
Special Collection(s):
Trump Administration 2.0: Challenges to the Government
Key Dates
Filing Date: April 15, 2026
Case Ongoing: Yes
Plaintiffs
Plaintiff Description:
American Civil Liberties Union and National Center for Youth Law
Plaintiff Type(s):
Non-profit NON-religious organization
Attorney Organizations:
New York Civil Liberties Union (NYCLU)
Public Interest Lawyer: Yes
Filed Pro Se: No
Class Action Sought: No
Class Action Outcome: Not sought
Defendants
Federal
Administration for Children and Families
Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR)
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Defendant Type(s):
Case Details
Causes of Action:
FOIA (Freedom of Information Act), 5 U.S.C. § 552
Other Dockets:
Southern District of New York 1:26-cv-03098
Available Documents:
Outcome
Prevailing Party: None Yet / None
Relief Sought:
Relief Granted:
Source of Relief:
Issues
General/Misc.:
Case Summary of American Civil Liberties Union Foundation v. Department of Health and Human Services, Civil Rights Litig. Clearinghouse, https://clearinghouse.net/case/48104/ (last updated 4/23/2026).