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 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/
Amiri, Brigitte Adrienne (New York)
Law, National Center (New York)
Documents in the Clearinghouse
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
Case Details
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).