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 complete

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 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 treatm…

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. According to the complaint, the defendants failed to respond to the February 2025 FOIA request for more than a year, violating statutory and regulatory time limits.

The complaint alleges that ORR has a documented history of obstructing reproductive healthcare access for unaccompanied youth, including restrictive policies implemented in 2008 and 2017 that limited or denied abortion access. Although current regulations require ORR to provide such access, the complaint notes that recent developments suggest potential policy changes that may restrict it. The lawsuit asserts five specific FOIA violations. It seeks court orders requiring the defendants to process and disclose the requested records, conduct thorough searches, and waive processing fees, as well as an award of the plaintiffs' attorneys' fees.

On April 16, 2026, the case was assigned to U.S. District Judge Jesse M. Furman. As of April 22, 2026, this case is ongoing.

Summary Authors

Ashley Hamilton (4/23/2026)

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)

Documents in the Clearinghouse

Documents in this case
1

1:26-cv-03098

Complaint for Injunctive Relief

April 15, 2026

April 15, 2026

Complaint

Docket

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

Last updated Aug. 30, 2026, 3:18 a.m.

Docket for: American Civil Liberties Union Foundation v. Department of Health and Human Services
ECF Number Date Description Link
1 April 15, 2026

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

View on PACER

4 Exhibit Exhibit D

View on PACER

5 Exhibit Exhibit E

View on PACER

Clearinghouse
2 April 15, 2026

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

RECAP
3 April 15, 2026

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)

RECAP
4 April 15, 2026

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)

RECAP
5 April 15, 2026

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)

RECAP
6 April 15, 2026

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)

RECAP
7 April 15, 2026

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)

RECAP
8 April 15, 2026

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)

RECAP
April 16, 2026

CASE OPENING INITIAL ASSIGNMENT NOTICE: The above-entitled action is assigned to Judge Dale E. Ho. Please download and review the Individual Practices of the assigned District Judge, located at https://nysd.uscourts.gov/judges/district-judges. Attorneys are responsible for providing courtesy copies to judges where their Individual Practices require such. Please download and review the ECF Rules and Instructions, located at https://nysd.uscourts.gov/rules/ecf-related-instructions..(sj)

April 16, 2026

Magistrate Judge Stewart D. Aaron is designated to handle matters that may be referred in this case. Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. Section 636(c) and Fed. R. Civ. P. 73(b)(1) parties are notified that they may consent to proceed before a United States Magistrate Judge. Parties who wish to consent may access the necessary form at the following link: https://nysd.uscourts.gov/sites/default/files/2018-06/AO-3.pdf. (sj)

April 16, 2026

Case Designated ECF. (sj)

April 16, 2026

***NOTICE TO ATTORNEY REGARDING DEFICIENT REQUEST FOR ISSUANCE OF SUMMONS. Notice to Attorney Brigitte Adrienne Amiri to RE-FILE Document No. 7 Request for Issuance of Summons, 8 Request for Issuance of Summons. The filing is deficient for the following reason(s): summonses are only issued to active parties to the case. Re-file the document using the event type Request for Issuance of Summons found under the event list Service of Process - select the correct filer/filers - and attach the correct summons form PDF. (sj)

April 16, 2026

NOTICE OF CASE REASSIGNMENT to Judge Jesse M. Furman. Judge Dale E. Ho is no longer assigned to the case. (tro)

16 April 17, 2026

ORDER : The parties are hereby ORDERED to submit a joint letter, no later than two weeks from the date of this order and not to exceed two pages, indicating whether there is any need for discovery or an initial conference in this case. If there is no such need, the parties should include in their letter a proposed briefing schedule for any motions, including motions for summary judgment. If Defendant has not yet entered a notice of appearance, Plaintiff shall promptly serve a copy of this Order on Defendant and file proof of such service. SO ORDERED. (Signed by Judge Jesse M. Furman on 4/17/26) (yv)

RECAP
April 17, 2026

>>>NOTICE REGARDING DEFICIENT MOTION TO APPEAR PRO HAC VICE. Notice to RE-FILE Document No. 15 MOTION for Mishan Raini Wroe to Appear Pro Hac Vice . Filing fee $ 200.00, receipt number ANYSDC-32712960. Motion and supporting papers to be reviewed by Clerk's Office staff... The filing is deficient for the following reason(s): missing Certificate of Good Standing from Supreme Court of California;. Re-file the motion as a Motion to Appear Pro Hac Vice - attach the correct signed PDF - select the correct named filer/filers - attach valid Certificates of Good Standing issued within the past 30 days - attach Proposed Order.. (rju)

22 April 24, 2026

ORDER granting 21 Motion for Mishan Raini Wroe to Appear Pro Hac Vice (HEREBY ORDERED by Judge Jesse M. Furman)(Text Only Order) (Furman, Jesse) (Entered: 04/24/2026)

RECAP
April 24, 2026

>>>NOTICE REGARDING PRO HAC VICE MOTION. Regarding Document No. 21 MOTION for Mishan Raini Wroe to Appear Pro Hac Vice . Motion and supporting papers to be reviewed by Clerk's Office staff.. The document has been reviewed and there are no deficiencies. (rju)

Case Details

State / Territory:

New York

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:

ACLU National (all projects)

National Center for Youth Law

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):

Jurisdiction-wide

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:

Complaint (any)

Trial Court Docket

Outcome

Prevailing Party: None Yet / None

Relief Sought:

Attorneys fees

Declaratory judgment

Document/Information

Injunction

Relief Granted:

None yet

Source of Relief:

None yet

Issues

General/Misc.:

Barrier Removal

Communication skills

Government services

Juveniles

Records Disclosure

Recommended Citation