Case: ACLU v. ICE

3:26-cv-05590 | U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California

Filed Date: June 10, 2026

Case Ongoing

Clearinghouse coding complete

Case Summary

This case challenges the government’s alleged withholding of records concerning policies and practices related to identifying, investigating, and retaliating against individuals who record immigration enforcement activity.  The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), the American Civil Liberties Union Foundation (ACLUF), and the American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California (ACLU NorCal) filed this complaint on June 10, 2026, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Califo…

This case challenges the government’s alleged withholding of records concerning policies and practices related to identifying, investigating, and retaliating against individuals who record immigration enforcement activity. 

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), the American Civil Liberties Union Foundation (ACLUF), and the American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California (ACLU NorCal) filed this complaint on June 10, 2026, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The complaint alleged that since January 2025, the Trump administration had dramatically escalated immigration enforcement operations nationwide while simultaneously engaging in a systematic pattern of retaliation against individuals who photographed, filmed, or published footage of those enforcement actions. Alleged retaliatory conduct included DHS agents threatening lethal force against peaceful observers, deploying tear gas and pepper balls against individuals recording enforcement activity, tackling and detaining bystanders, following observers to their homes, issuing administrative subpoenas to social media companies such as Meta/Instagram to obtain private account information of people documenting enforcement, and maintaining internal watchlists tracking protesters and individuals who recorded agents. 

On November 18, 2025, the plaintiffs submitted a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to the defendant agencies seeking records about their policies and practices toward individuals who recorded immigration enforcement activity. All four agencies allegedly failed to comply with FOIA's statutory deadlines, produce responsive records, or adjudicate plaintiffs' requests for fee waivers and expedited processing. The plaintiffs asserted five claims under FOIA pertaining to the defendants’ alleged failure to reasonably search for requested records, make records available, waive and limit fees, or grant expedited processing. The plaintiffs sought court orders compelling the agencies to search for and produce responsive records, enjoining the withholding of records and the imposition of fees, granting expedited processing, and awarding costs and attorneys' fees. The case was assigned to District Judge Jacqueline Scott Corley. 

As of August 4, 2026, this case is ongoing. 

Summary Authors

Trump2.0 Collection (6/14/2026)

Kara Wilczynski (8/7/2026)

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/63890699/parties/american-civil-liberties-union-v-united-states-immigration-and-customs/


Judge(s)

Corley, Jacquelyn Scott (California)

Attorney for Plaintiff
Attorney for Defendant

Boughrum, Jonathan P. (California)

Casamassima, Christopher Thomas (California)

Dixon, Megan (California)

Druding, Kyle Mitchell (California)

Documents in the Clearinghouse

Documents in this case
1

3:26-cv-05590

Complaint

American Civil Liberties Union et al. v. United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement et al.

June 10, 2026

June 10, 2026

Complaint

Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/63890699/american-civil-liberties-union-v-united-states-immigration-and-customs/

Last updated Sept. 15, 2026, 3:20 a.m.

Docket for: American Civil Liberties Union v. United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement
ECF Number Date Description Link
1 June 10, 2026

COMPLAINT against Department of Homeland Security, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, United States Customs and Border Protection, United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement ( Filing fee $ 405, receipt number ACANDC-22083586.). Filed by American Civil Liberties Union, American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California, American Civil Liberties Union Foundation. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit A, # 2 Exhibit B, # 3 Exhibit C, # 4 Exhibit D, # 5 Exhibit E, # 6 Exhibit F, # 7 Exhibit G, # 8 Exhibit H, # 9 Exhibit I, # 10 Exhibit J, # 11 Exhibit K, # 12 Exhibit L)(Snow, Jacob) (Filed on 6/10/2026) (Entered: 06/10/2026)

1 Exhibit A

View on RECAP

2 Exhibit B

View on PACER

3 Exhibit C

View on PACER

4 Exhibit D

View on PACER

5 Exhibit E

View on PACER

6 Exhibit F

View on PACER

7 Exhibit G

View on PACER

8 Exhibit H

View on PACER

9 Exhibit I

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10 Exhibit J

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11 Exhibit K

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12 Exhibit L

View on PACER

Clearinghouse
2 June 10, 2026

Case assigned to Magistrate Judge Kandis A. Westmore. Counsel for plaintiff or the removing party is responsible for serving the Complaint or Notice of Removal, Summons and the assigned judge's standing orders and all other new case documents upon the opposing parties. For information, visit E-Filing A New Civil Case at http://cand.uscourts.gov/ecf/caseopening.Standing orders can be downloaded from the court's web page at www.cand.uscourts.gov/judges. Upon receipt, the summons will be issued and returned electronically. A scheduling order will be sent by Notice of Electronic Filing (NEF) within two business days. Consent/Declination due by 6/24/2026. (as, COURT STAFF) (Filed on 6/10/2026) (Entered: 06/10/2026)

RECAP
3 June 10, 2026

MOTION for leave to appear in Pro Hac Vice ( Filing fee $ 328, receipt number ACANDC-22085226.) filed by American Civil Liberties Union, American Civil Liberties Union Foundation, American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California. (Attachments: # 1 Supplement)(Kimura, Chisato) (Filed on 6/10/2026) (Entered: 06/10/2026)

1 Supplement

View on PACER

RECAP
4 June 10, 2026

Certificate of Interested Entities by American Civil Liberties Union, American Civil Liberties Union Foundation, American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California (Snow, Jacob) (Filed on 6/10/2026) (Entered: 06/10/2026)

RECAP
5 June 10, 2026

MOTION for leave to appear in Pro Hac Vice ( Filing fee $ 328, receipt number ACANDC-22085527.) filed by American Civil Liberties Union, American Civil Liberties Union Foundation, American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California. (Attachments: # 1 Supplement)(Gingold, Jessica) (Filed on 6/10/2026) (Entered: 06/10/2026)

1 Supplement

View on PACER

RECAP
6 June 10, 2026

Proposed Summons. (Snow, Jacob) (Filed on 6/10/2026) (Entered: 06/10/2026)

RECAP
7 June 10, 2026

Order Granting 3 Application for Admission of Attorney Pro Hac Vice as to Chisato Kimura. Signed by Magistrate Judge Kandis A. Westmore on 6/10/2026. (ccf, COURT STAFF) (Filed on 6/10/2026) (Entered: 06/10/2026)

RECAP
8 June 10, 2026

Order Granting 5 Application for Admission of Attorney Pro Hac Vice as to Jessica Gingold. Signed by Magistrate Judge Kandis A. Westmore on 6/10/2026. (ccf, COURT STAFF) (Filed on 6/10/2026) (Entered: 06/10/2026)

RECAP
June 10, 2026

~Util - Case Assigned by Intake

9 June 11, 2026

MOTION for leave to appear in Pro Hac Vice ( Filing fee $ 328, receipt number ACANDC-22088625.) filed by American Civil Liberties Union, American Civil Liberties Union Foundation, American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California. (Attachments: # 1 Supplement Certificate of Good Standing (SDNY))(Kim, Scarlet) (Filed on 6/11/2026) (Entered: 06/11/2026)

1 Supplement Certificate of Good Standing (SDNY)

View on PACER

RECAP
10 June 11, 2026

Summons Issued as to Department of Homeland Security, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, United States Customs and Border Protection, United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement, U.S. Attorney and U.S. Attorney General. (kmg, COURT STAFF) (Filed on 6/11/2026) (Entered: 06/11/2026)

RECAP
11 June 11, 2026

Initial Case Management Scheduling Order with ADR Deadlines: Case Management Statement due by 9/8/2026. Initial Case Management Conference set for 9/15/2026 01:30 PM in Oakland, - Videoconference Only. (kmg, COURT STAFF) (Filed on 6/11/2026) (Entered: 06/11/2026)

RECAP
12 June 12, 2026

Order Granting 9 Application for Admission of Attorney Pro Hac Vice. Signed by Magistrate Judge Kandis A. Westmore on 6/12/2026. (ccf, COURT STAFF) (Filed on 6/12/2026) (Entered: 06/12/2026)

RECAP
13 June 15, 2026

MOTION for leave to appear in Pro Hac Vice ( Filing fee $ 328, receipt number ACANDC-22098574.) filed by American Civil Liberties Union, American Civil Liberties Union Foundation, American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California. (Attachments: # 1 Supplement)(Manes, Jonathan) (Filed on 6/15/2026) (Entered: 06/15/2026)

RECAP
14 June 16, 2026

Order Granting 13 Application for Admission of Attorney Pro Hac Vice. Signed by Magistrate Judge Kandis A. Westmore on 6/16/2026. (ccf, COURT STAFF) (Filed on 6/16/2026) (Entered: 06/16/2026)

RECAP
15 June 24, 2026

CONSENT/DECLINATION to Proceed Before a US Magistrate Judge by American Civil Liberties Union, American Civil Liberties Union Foundation, American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California.. (Snow, Jacob) (Filed on 6/24/2026) (Entered: 06/24/2026)

RECAP
16 June 25, 2026

CLERK'S NOTICE OF IMPENDING REASSIGNMENT TO A U.S. DISTRICT COURT JUDGE: The Clerk of this Court will now randomly reassign this case to a District Judge because either (1) a party has not consented to the jurisdiction of a Magistrate Judge, or (2) time is of the essence in deciding a pending judicial action for which the necessary consents to Magistrate Judge jurisdiction have not been secured. You will be informed by separate notice of the district judge to whom this case is reassigned. ALL HEARING DATES PRESENTLY SCHEDULED BEFORE THE CURRENT MAGISTRATE JUDGE ARE VACATED AND SHOULD BE RE-NOTICED FOR HEARING BEFORE THE JUDGE TO WHOM THIS CASE IS REASSIGNED. This is a text only docket entry; there is no document associated with this notice. (ccf, COURT STAFF) (Filed on 6/25/2026) (Entered: 06/25/2026)

RECAP
17 June 25, 2026

ORDER REASSIGNING CASE IT IS ORDERED that this case is reassigned using a proportionate, random and blind system pursuant to General Order No. 44 to Judge Jacqueline Scott Corley. Magistrate Judge Kandis A. Westmore no longer assigned to the case. Counsel are instructed that all future filings shall bear the updated judicial initials immediately after the case number. Counsel are reminded to verify the location of the judge on the court website. All hearing and trial dates presently scheduled are vacated. However, existing briefing schedules for motions remain unchanged. Motions must be renoticed for hearing before the judge to whom the case has been reassigned, but the renoticing of the hearing does not affect the prior briefing schedule. Other deadlines such as those for ADR compliance and discovery cutoff also remain unchanged. Mark B. Busby Clerk, United States District Court (This is a text-only entry generated by the court. There is no document associated with this entry.) (dso, COURT STAFF) (Filed on 6/25/2026) (Entered: 06/25/2026)

RECAP
18 June 25, 2026

CLERK'S NOTICE RESCHEDULING INITIAL CASE MANAGEMENT CONFERENCE. Initial Case Management Conference reset for 9/16/2026 at 2:00 p.m. before Judge Jacqueline Scott Corley by a Zoom webinar.Webinar Access: All counsel, members of the public, and media may access the webinar information at https://www.cand.uscourts.gov/jsc Court Appearances: Advanced notice is required of counsel or parties who wish to be identified by the court as making an appearance or will be participating in the argument at the hearing. A list of names must be sent to the CRD at jsccrd@cand.uscourts.gov no later than noon on 9/15/2026.Civ LR 77-3(d). Persons granted access to court proceedings held by telephone or videoconference are reminded that photographing, recording, and rebroadcasting of court proceedings, including screenshots or other visual copying of a hearing, is absolutely prohibited.Zoom Guidance and Setup: https://cand.uscourts.gov/zoom. (ahm, COURT STAFF) (Filed on 6/25/2026) (Entered: 06/25/2026)

RECAP
June 25, 2026

Clerk's Notice of Impending Reassignment - Text Only

June 25, 2026

Case Assigned/Reassigned

19 June 30, 2026

SUMMONS Returned Executed (FOIA) by American Civil Liberties Union, American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California, American Civil Liberties Union Foundation. Department of Homeland Security served on 6/12/2026, answer due 7/13/2026; United States Citizenship and Immigration Services served on 6/12/2026, answer due 7/13/2026; United States Customs and Border Protection served on 6/12/2026, answer due 7/13/2026; United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement served on 6/12/2026, answer due 7/13/2026. (Snow, Jacob) (Filed on 6/30/2026) (Entered: 06/30/2026)

RECAP
20 June 30, 2026

NOTICE of Appearance filed by Kenneth John Kao on behalf of Department of Homeland Security, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, United States Customs and Border Protection, United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (Kao, Kenneth) (Filed on 6/30/2026) (Entered: 06/30/2026)

RECAP
June 30, 2026

Notice of Appearance/Substitution/Change/Withdrawal of Attorney

21 July 13, 2026

STIPULATION Extending Response Deadline filed by Department of Homeland Security, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, United States Customs and Border Protection, United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement. (Kao, Kenneth) (Filed on 7/13/2026) (Entered: 07/13/2026)

RECAP
22 Aug. 6, 2026

Notice of Change of Address

RECAP
23 Aug. 10, 2026

Notice of Change of Address

RECAP
24 Aug. 13, 2026

Notice of Change of Address

RECAP
25 Aug. 26, 2026

ADR Certification (ADR L.R. 3-5 b) of discussion of ADR options

RECAP
26 Aug. 26, 2026

ADR Certification (ADR L.R. 3-5 b) of discussion of ADR options

RECAP
27 Aug. 31, 2026

Stipulation without Proposed Order

RECAP
28 Sept. 9, 2026

Joint Case Management Statement

RECAP
29 Sept. 11, 2026

Order

RECAP

Case Details

State / Territory:

California

Case Type(s):

Immigration and/or the Border

Special Collection(s):

Trump Administration 1.0: Challenges to the Government

Trump Administration 2.0: Challenges to the Government

Key Dates

Filing Date: June 10, 2026

Case Ongoing: Yes

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

Plaintiffs are the ACLU, ACLUF, and ACLU NorCal.

Plaintiff Type(s):

Non-profit NON-religious organization

Attorney Organizations:

ACLU Affiliates (any)

ACLU National (all projects)

ACLU of Northern California

Public Interest Lawyer: Yes

Filed Pro Se: No

Class Action Sought: No

Class Action Outcome: Not sought

Defendants

Federal

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services

U.S. Customs and Border Protection

U.S. Department of Homeland Security

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement

Case Details

Causes of Action:

FOIA (Freedom of Information Act), 5 U.S.C. § 552

Other Dockets:

Northern District of California 3:26-cv-05590

Available Documents:

Complaint (any)

Trial Court Docket

Outcome

Prevailing Party: None Yet / None

Relief Sought:

Attorneys fees

Injunction

Relief Granted:

None yet

Source of Relief:

None yet

Issues

General/Misc.:

Aggressive behavior

Records Disclosure

Policing:

Excessive force

Pepper/OC Spray (policing)

Recommended Citation