Case: United States v. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

1:26-cv-12401 | U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts

Filed Date: May 27, 2026

Clearinghouse coding in progress

Case Summary

[This summary is temporary while we research the case]. The United States of America filed this complaint on May 27, 2026, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts against the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and several state officials in their official capacities, including Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey, Attorney General, Interim Secretary of Transportation, and Registrar of Motor Vehicles. The complaint alleged that Massachusetts had long operated a confidential licens…

[This summary is temporary while we research the case]. The United States of America filed this complaint on May 27, 2026, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts against the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and several state officials in their official capacities, including Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey, Attorney General, Interim Secretary of Transportation, and Registrar of Motor Vehicles. The complaint alleged that Massachusetts had long operated a confidential license plate program available to numerous law enforcement agencies, including federal agencies such as the FBI, ATF, U.S. Marshals Service, DEA, CBP, ICE. However, since President Trump took office in 2025, Massachusetts has changed its policy and began refusing to issue confidential plates exclusively to ICE and CBP. Governor Healey's office justified the change by asserting that ICE is not engaged in "legitimate criminal law enforcement work," though the United States contended this rationale was pretextual, noting that Massachusetts's own application forms and internal policies drew no civil-versus-criminal distinction for other agencies. The complaint further alleged that this policy endangered federal officers and compromises undercover operations and immigration enforcement. The United States asserted two counts under the Supremacy Clause: unlawful discrimination against the Federal Government and unlawful regulation of federal immigration enforcement operations. The United States sought declaratory relief, a permanent injunction, and costs.

Summary Authors

(6/7/2026)

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/73400637/parties/united-states-v-the-commonwealth-of-massachusetts/


Attorney for Plaintiff

Faso, Alessandra (Massachusetts)

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Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document
1

1:26-cv-12401

Complaint

The United States of America v. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts et al.

May 27, 2026

May 27, 2026

Complaint

Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/73400637/united-states-v-the-commonwealth-of-massachusetts/

Last updated July 21, 2026, 3:13 a.m.

ECF Number Description Date Link Date / Link
1

COMPLAINT against The United States of America, (Fee Status: US Government), filed by The United States of America,. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit A, # 2 Exhibit B, # 3 Exhibit C, # 4 Civil Cover Sheet, # 5 Category Form)(Faso, Alessandra) (Entered: 05/27/2026)

1 Exhibit A

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2 Exhibit B

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3 Exhibit C

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4 Civil Cover Sheet

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5 Category Form

View on RECAP

May 27, 2026

May 27, 2026

Clearinghouse
2

NOTICE of Case Assignment. Magistrate Judge Jessica D. Hedges assigned to case. Plaintiff's counsel, or defendant's counsel if this case was initiated by the filing of a Notice of Removal, are required to submit a form indicating whether the parties consent to proceed before a U.S. Magistrate Judge. PROMPT SUBMISSION OF THE COMPLETED FORM IS MANDATORY. The parties are directed to the Notice and Procedures regarding Consent to Proceed before the Magistrate Judge which can be downloaded here. These documents will be mailed to counsel not receiving notice electronically. Pursuant to General Order 26-01, until the Court receives for filing a consent to the Magistrate Judge's jurisdiction, or until a case is reassigned to a District Judge, the initial assignment of a civil case to the Magistrate Judge is a referral to the Magistrate Judge under 28 USC 636(b) for decision on all pretrial non-dispositive matters and for Report and Recommendation on dispositive matters. (MBM) (Entered: 05/28/2026)

May 28, 2026

May 28, 2026

3

Summons Issued as to Andrea Campbell, Phillip Eng, Maura Healey, Colleen Ogilvie, The Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Counsel receiving this notice electronically should download this summons, complete one for each defendant and serve it in accordance with Fed.R.Civ.P. 4 and LR 4.1. Summons will be mailed to plaintiff(s) not receiving notice electronically for completion of service. (EZG) (Entered: 05/28/2026)

May 28, 2026

May 28, 2026

Notice of Case Assignment to a Magistrate Judge

May 28, 2026

May 28, 2026

4

MOTION of Brandon Michael Hayes for Leave to File Brief as Amicus Curiae in Support of Declaratory and Injunctive Relief, Federal Supremacy, Neutral Administration, and Operational Record Integrity. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Brief, # 2 Text of Proposed Order) (EZG) (Entered: 06/05/2026)

1 Text of Proposed Brief

View on PACER

2 Text of Proposed Order

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June 3, 2026

June 3, 2026

RECAP
5

MOTION for Extension of Time to 30 Days From the Date the Last Defendant is Served to File Answer by Andrea Campbell.(Fowler, Erin) (Entered: 06/16/2026)

June 16, 2026

June 16, 2026

6

NOTICE of Appearance by Erin E. Fowler on behalf of Andrea Campbell (Fowler, Erin) (Entered: 06/17/2026)

June 17, 2026

June 17, 2026

7

Magistrate Judge Jessica D. Hedges: ELECTRONIC ORDER entered regarding MOTION for Extension of Time 5 . Because the United States does not assent to the full extension of time requested in this motion, I will reserve ruling fully on the motion until the United States has the opportunity to file an opposition, pursuant to L.R. 7.1(b)(2). If the United States wishes to file an opposition to this motion, it shall do so on an expedited basis, within seven days of this order. In the meantime, I find good cause, based on the agreement of the parties, to grant the 14-day extension assented to by the United States. See Docket No. 5 at 6. SO ORDERED. (EZG) (Entered: 06/17/2026)

June 17, 2026

June 17, 2026

8

NOTICE of Appearance by Tasha J. Bahal on behalf of Andrea Campbell (Bahal, Tasha) (Entered: 06/17/2026)

June 17, 2026

June 17, 2026

Order

June 17, 2026

June 17, 2026

9

RESPONSE to Motion re 5 MOTION for Extension of Time to 30 Days From the Date the Last Defendant is Served to File Answer filed by The United States of America. (Faso, Alessandra) (Entered: 06/24/2026)

June 24, 2026

June 24, 2026

10

Refusal to Consent to Proceed Before a US Magistrate Judge. . (Faso, Alessandra) (Entered: 06/24/2026)

June 24, 2026

June 24, 2026

RECAP
11

Magistrate Judge Jessica D. Hedges: ELECTRONIC ORDER REASSIGNING CASE entered. (EZG) (Entered: 06/25/2026)

June 25, 2026

June 25, 2026

12

ELECTRONIC NOTICE of Case Assignment. Judge William G. Young assigned to case. If the trial Judge issues an Order of Reference of any matter in this case to a Magistrate Judge, the matter will be transmitted to Magistrate Judge Jessica D. Hedges. (JAM) (Entered: 06/25/2026)

June 25, 2026

June 25, 2026

13

Judge William G. Young: ELECTRONIC ORDER 5 MOTION for Extension of Time to 30 Days From the Date the Last Defendant is Served to File Answer. Motion denied beyond the 14 day extension already granted. ECF No. [ 7 ]. (MAP) (Entered: 06/25/2026)

June 25, 2026

June 25, 2026

14

Judge William G. Young: ELECTRONIC ORDER VACATING 13 Electronic Order. (MAP) (Entered: 06/25/2026)

June 25, 2026

June 25, 2026

15

Judge William G. Young: ELECTRONIC ORDER 5 MOTION for Extension of Time to 30 Days From the Date the Last Defendant is Served to File Answer.Motion denied beyond the 21 days from the date of service in accordance with Fed.R.Civ.Proc. 12(a)(1)(A)(i).(MAP) (Entered: 06/25/2026)

June 25, 2026

June 25, 2026

Order Reassigning Case

June 25, 2026

June 25, 2026

Notice of Case Assignment

June 25, 2026

June 25, 2026

Order on Motion for Extension of Time to Answer

June 25, 2026

June 25, 2026

Order

June 25, 2026

June 25, 2026

18

Judge William G. Young: ORDER entered granting 16 Motion to Dismiss for Failure to State a Claim (Sonnenberg, Elizabeth) (Entered: 07/20/2026)

July 20, 2026

July 20, 2026

RECAP
19

Summons Returned Executed

July 20, 2026

July 20, 2026

20

Summons Returned Executed

July 20, 2026

July 20, 2026

21

Summons Returned Executed

July 20, 2026

July 20, 2026

22

Summons Returned Executed

July 20, 2026

July 20, 2026

23

Summons Returned Executed

July 20, 2026

July 20, 2026

Case Details

State / Territory:

Massachusetts

Case Type(s):

Public Benefits/Government Services

Immigration and/or the Border

Special Collection(s):

Trump Administration 2.0: Litigation and Investigations By the Government

Key Dates

Filing Date: May 27, 2026

Case Details

Other Dockets:

District of Massachusetts 1:26-cv-12401

Recommended Citation