Case: Freedom of the Press Foundation v. United States Department of Homeland Security

1:25-cv-03387 | U.S. District Court for the District of District of Columbia

Filed Date: Sept. 24, 2025

Case Ongoing

Clearinghouse coding in progress

Case Summary

(This summary is temporary while we research the case).

On September 24, 2025, a press freedom nonprofit and an technology publication filed this lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia against the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) under the Freedom of Information Act. The plaintiffs had each submitted requests to both agencies on July 17, 2025 seeking the agreement under which CMS agreed to give Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) identity and location information for nearly 80 million Medicaid recipients in connection with immigration enforcement. Over the course of litigation, the plaintiffs subsequently obtained the agreement; parties stipulated to dismiss the action in July 2026. 

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/71444462/parties/freedom-of-the-press-foundation-v-united-states-department-of-homeland/


Judge(s)

Nichols, Carl John (District of Columbia)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Cate, Matthew Stephen (District of Columbia)

Attorney for Defendant

Jones, Sian (District of Columbia)

Documents in the Clearinghouse

Documents in this case
1

1:25-cv-03387

Complaint for Declaratory and Injunctive Relief

Freedom of the Press Foundation et al. v. United States Department of Homeland Security et al.

Sept. 24, 2025

Sept. 24, 2025

Complaint

Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/71444462/freedom-of-the-press-foundation-v-united-states-department-of-homeland/

Last updated Aug. 9, 2026, 5:02 p.m.

Docket for: FREEDOM OF THE PRESS FOUNDATION v. UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
ECF Number Date Description Link
1 Sept. 24, 2025

COMPLAINT against UNITED STATES CENTERS FOR MEDICARE AND MEDICAID SERVICES, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY ( Filing fee $ 405 receipt number ADCDC-11980710) filed by FREEDOM OF THE PRESS FOUNDATION, DARK MODE LLC d/b/a 404 MEDIA. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit 1 - FPF request to CMS, # 2 Exhibit 2 - FPF request to DHS, # 3 Exhibit 3 - 404 Media request to CMS, # 4 Exhibit 4 - 404 Media request to DHS, # 5 Civil Cover Sheet, # 6 Summons DHS, # 7 Summons CMS, # 8 Summons Attorney General, # 9 Summons USAO)(Cate, Matthew) (Entered: 09/24/2025)

1 Exhibit 1 - FPF request to CMS

View on RECAP

2 Exhibit 2 - FPF request to DHS

View on RECAP

3 Exhibit 3 - 404 Media request to CMS

View on RECAP

4 Exhibit 4 - 404 Media request to DHS

View on RECAP

5 Civil Cover Sheet

View on RECAP

6 Summons DHS

View on RECAP

7 Summons CMS

View on RECAP

8 Summons Attorney General

View on RECAP

9 Summons USAO

View on RECAP

Clearinghouse
2 Sept. 24, 2025

LCvR 26.1 CERTIFICATE OF DISCLOSURE of Corporate Affiliations and Financial Interests by FREEDOM OF THE PRESS FOUNDATION (Cate, Matthew) (Entered: 09/24/2025)

RECAP
3 Sept. 24, 2025

LCvR 26.1 CERTIFICATE OF DISCLOSURE of Corporate Affiliations and Financial Interests by DARK MODE LLC d/b/a 404 MEDIA (Cate, Matthew) (Entered: 09/24/2025)

RECAP
4 Sept. 24, 2025

SUMMONS (4)Issued Electronically as to All Defendants, U.S. Attorney and U.S. Attorney General (Attachments: # 1 Notice and Consent)(zmtm) (Entered: 09/24/2025)

RECAP
Sept. 24, 2025

Case Assigned/Reassigned

Sept. 24, 2025

Case Assigned to Judge Carl J. Nichols. (zmtm)

5 Sept. 29, 2025

STANDING ORDER. Signed by Judge Carl J. Nichols on 09/29/2025. (lccjn3) (Entered: 09/29/2025)

RECAP
6 Oct. 2, 2025

RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed as to the United States Attorney. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney on 9/24/2025. Answer due for ALL FEDERAL DEFENDANTS by 10/24/2025. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit 1 - US Attorney's Confirmation of Receipt of Service)(Cate, Matthew) (Entered: 10/02/2025)

1 Exhibit 1 - US Attorney's Confirmation of Receipt of Service

View on PACER

RECAP
7 Oct. 2, 2025

RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed on United States Attorney General. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney General 10/01/2025. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit 1 - USPS Tracking Confirmation of Delivery)(Cate, Matthew) (Entered: 10/02/2025)

1 Exhibit 1 - USPS Tracking Confirmation of Delivery

View on PACER

RECAP
8 Oct. 2, 2025

RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed. UNITED STATES CENTERS FOR MEDICARE AND MEDICAID SERVICES served on 9/30/2025; UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY served on 10/1/2025 (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit 1 - USPS Tracking Confirmation of Delivery (DHS), # 2 Exhibit 2 - USPS Tracking Confirmation of Delivery (CMS))(Cate, Matthew) (Entered: 10/02/2025)

1 Exhibit 1 - USPS Tracking Confirmation of Delivery (DHS)

View on PACER

2 Exhibit 2 - USPS Tracking Confirmation of Delivery (CMS)

View on PACER

RECAP
9 Dec. 10, 2025

Notice of Appearance

RECAP
10 Dec. 12, 2025

Extension of Time to File Document

RECAP
Dec. 15, 2025

Order on Motion for Extension of Time to File AND Set/Reset Deadlines

11 Jan. 13, 2026

Consent MOTION to Stay by UNITED STATES CENTERS FOR MEDICARE & MEDICAID SERVICES, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY. (Attachments: (1) Text of Proposed Order)(Jones, Sian)

1 Text of Proposed Order

View on RECAP

RECAP
Jan. 16, 2026

MINUTE ORDER. Defendants' 11 Consent Motion to Stay is GRANTED. It is ORDERED that the case is stayed pending further order. It is further ORDERED that the parties shall file a joint status report every sixty days to update the Court on the status of their efforts to resolve this matter. So ORDERED by Judge Carl J. Nichols on 01/16/2026. (lccjn3)

12 March 17, 2026

Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES CENTERS FOR MEDICARE & MEDICAID SERVICES, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY. (Jones, Sian)

RECAP
13 May 18, 2026

Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES CENTERS FOR MEDICARE & MEDICAID SERVICES, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY. (Jones, Sian)

RECAP
14 July 10, 2026

STIPULATION of Dismissal by UNITED STATES CENTERS FOR MEDICARE & MEDICAID SERVICES, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY. (Jones, Sian)

RECAP

Case Details

State / Territory:

District of Columbia

Case Type(s):

Immigration and/or the Border

Healthcare Access and Reproductive Issues

Special Collection(s):

Trump Administration 2.0: Challenges to the Government

Key Dates

Filing Date: Sept. 24, 2025

Case Ongoing: Yes

Case Details

Other Dockets:

District of District of Columbia 1:25-cv-03387

Recommended Citation