Case: American Civil Liberties Union Foundation v. Department of Health and Human Services

1:26-cv-03098 | U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York

Filed Date: April 15, 2026

Case Ongoing

Clearinghouse coding in progress

Case Summary

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 Department of Health and Human Services, the Administration for Children and Families, and the Office of Refugee Resettlement in the United States 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 treatmen…

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 Department of Health and Human Services, the Administration for Children and Families, and the Office of Refugee Resettlement in the United States 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 Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) custody who are pregnant and/or seeking reproductive healthcare, including abortion and pregnancy-related care. The complaint alleges that the defendants failed to respond to this FOIA request for over 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.

This case is ongoing.

People

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/


Attorney for Plaintiff

Amiri, Brigitte Adrienne (New York)

Law, National Center (New York)

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Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document
1

1:26-cv-03098

Complaint

April 15, 2026

April 15, 2026

Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/73197774/american-civil-liberties-union-foundation-v-department-of-health-and-human/

Last updated April 17, 2026, 2:51 p.m.

ECF Number Description Date Link Date / Link
1

COMPLAINT against Administration for Children and Families, Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Refugee Resettlement. (Filing Fee $ 405.00, Receipt Number ANYSDC-32706451)Document filed by American Civil Liberties Union Foundation, National Center for Youth Law. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit Exhibit A, # 2 Exhibit Exhibit B, # 3 Exhibit Exhibit C, # 4 Exhibit Exhibit D, # 5 Exhibit Exhibit E).(Amiri, Brigitte) (Entered: 04/15/2026)

1 Exhibit Exhibit A

View on PACER

2 Exhibit Exhibit B

View on PACER

3 Exhibit Exhibit C

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4 Exhibit Exhibit D

View on PACER

5 Exhibit Exhibit E

View on PACER

April 15, 2026

April 15, 2026

Clearinghouse
2

CIVIL COVER SHEET filed. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit Attachment - List of Attorneys).(Amiri, Brigitte) (Entered: 04/15/2026)

April 15, 2026

April 15, 2026

3

RULE 7.1 CORPORATE DISCLOSURE STATEMENT. No Corporate Parent. Document filed by American Civil Liberties Union Foundation, National Center for Youth Law..(Amiri, Brigitte) (Entered: 04/15/2026)

April 15, 2026

April 15, 2026

4

REQUEST FOR ISSUANCE OF SUMMONS as to Department of Health and Human Services, re: 1 Complaint,. Document filed by American Civil Liberties Union Foundation, National Center for Youth Law..(Amiri, Brigitte) (Entered: 04/15/2026)

April 15, 2026

April 15, 2026

5

REQUEST FOR ISSUANCE OF SUMMONS as to Administration for Children and Families, re: 1 Complaint,. Document filed by American Civil Liberties Union Foundation, National Center for Youth Law..(Amiri, Brigitte) (Entered: 04/15/2026)

April 15, 2026

April 15, 2026

6

REQUEST FOR ISSUANCE OF SUMMONS as to Office of Refugee Resettlement, re: 1 Complaint,. Document filed by American Civil Liberties Union Foundation, National Center for Youth Law..(Amiri, Brigitte) (Entered: 04/15/2026)

April 15, 2026

April 15, 2026

7

REQUEST FOR ISSUANCE OF SUMMONS as to Attorney General of the United States, re: 1 Complaint,. Document filed by American Civil Liberties Union Foundation, National Center for Youth Law..(Amiri, Brigitte) (Entered: 04/15/2026)

April 15, 2026

April 15, 2026

8

REQUEST FOR ISSUANCE OF SUMMONS as to U.S. Attorney's Office, SDNY, re: 1 Complaint,. Document filed by American Civil Liberties Union Foundation, National Center for Youth Law..(Amiri, Brigitte) (Entered: 04/15/2026)

April 15, 2026

April 15, 2026

9

Summons Issued

April 16, 2026

April 16, 2026

10

Summons Issued

April 16, 2026

April 16, 2026

11

Summons Issued

April 16, 2026

April 16, 2026

12

Request for Issuance of Amended Summons

April 16, 2026

April 16, 2026

13

Request for Issuance of Amended Summons

April 16, 2026

April 16, 2026

14

Request for Issuance of Amended Summons

April 16, 2026

April 16, 2026

15

Appear Pro Hac Vice

April 16, 2026

April 16, 2026

Notice to Attorney Regarding Deficient Request for Issuance of Summons

April 16, 2026

April 16, 2026

Case Opening Initial Assignment Notice

April 16, 2026

April 16, 2026

Notice of Case Assignment/Reassignment

April 16, 2026

April 16, 2026

Notice Regarding Deficient Motion to Appear Pro Hac Vice

April 17, 2026

April 17, 2026

Case Details

State / Territory:

New York

Case Type(s):

Privacy

Special Collection(s):

Trump Administration 2.0: Challenges to the Government

Key Dates

Filing Date: April 15, 2026

Case Ongoing: Yes

Case Details

Other Dockets:

Southern District of New York 1:26-cv-03098

Available Documents:

Complaint (any)

Trial Court Docket

Recommended Citation