Case: Council on American-Islamic Relations - Chicago v. U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services

1:18-cv-03097 | U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois

Filed Date: May 1, 2018

Closed Date: June 28, 2019

Clearinghouse coding complete

Case Summary

On May 1, 2018, the Council on American-Islamic Relations - Chicago (CAIR-Chicago) filed this lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. The case was assigned to Judge Robert Gettleman. CAIR-Chicago sued the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), an agency within DHS, under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). Represented by private counsel, CAIR-Chicago sought declaratory and injunctive relief.On August…

On May 1, 2018, the Council on American-Islamic Relations - Chicago (CAIR-Chicago) filed this lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. The case was assigned to Judge Robert Gettleman. CAIR-Chicago sued the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), an agency within DHS, under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). Represented by private counsel, CAIR-Chicago sought declaratory and injunctive relief.

On August 1, 2017, CAIR-Chicago filed a FOIA request for records containing demographics and processing times of naturalization, change of status, and asylum since the 2008 institution of the Controlled Application Review & Resolution Program, a policy that imposes rules to delay or deny immigration benefits. CAIR-Chicago sought expedited processing of its FOIA request because it suspected religious discrimination against Muslim applicants, but defendants denied this request. The defendants did not respond to the FOIA request within the statutory time period and still had yet to respond. The plaintiff alleged that this conduct was a wrongful delay of release of records in violation of FOIA.

A status report filed on August 21, 2018 indicated the parties were attempting to avoid litigation and that the government would conduct the necessary searches for responsive records.

On June 28, 2019, CAIR-Chicago voluntarily dismissed the suit without explanation. Presumably, the parties resolved the disputes related to the records and the defendants provided the records to CAIR-Chicago. This case is closed.

Summary Authors

Rebecca Strauss (6/22/2018)

Virginia Weeks (8/26/2018)

Gregory Marsh (8/27/2020)

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/7390824/parties/council-on-american-islamic-relations-chicago-v-united-states-citizenship/


Judge(s)

Gettleman, Robert William (Illinois)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Badlani, Chirag (Illinois)

Lederer, Caryn Cecelia (Illinois)

Attorney for Defendant

Chicago, AUSA - (Illinois)

Hartzler, Alex Harms (Illinois)

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Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document

1:18-cv-03097

Docket [PACER]

Council on American−Islamic Relations−Chicago v. United States Citizenship & Immigration Services

June 28, 2019

June 28, 2019

Docket
1

1:18-cv-03097

Complaint for Declaratory and Injunctive Relief

Council on American-Islamic Relations-Chicago v. United States Citizenship & Immigration Services, and United States Department of Homeland Security

May 1, 2018

May 1, 2018

Complaint

Resources

Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/7390824/council-on-american-islamic-relations-chicago-v-united-states-citizenship/

Last updated Feb. 28, 2024, 3:05 a.m.

ECF Number Description Date Link Date / Link
1

COMPLAINT filed by Council on American-Islamic Relations; Filing fee $ 400, receipt number 0752-14415921. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit, # 2 Exhibit, # 3 Civil Cover Sheet)(Robertson, Phillip) (Entered: 05/01/2018)

1 Exhibit

View on PACER

2 Exhibit

View on PACER

3 Civil Cover Sheet

View on PACER

May 1, 2018

May 1, 2018

PACER

CASE ASSIGNED to the Honorable Robert W. Gettleman. Designated as Magistrate Judge the Honorable Mary M. Rowland. (acm, )

May 1, 2018

May 1, 2018

PACER
2

ATTORNEY Appearance for Plaintiff Council on American-Islamic Relations -Chicago by Chirag Gopal Badlani (Badlani, Chirag) (Entered: 05/02/2018)

May 2, 2018

May 2, 2018

PACER
3

ATTORNEY Appearance for Plaintiff Council on American-Islamic Relations -Chicago by Kalman D. Resnick (Resnick, Kalman) (Entered: 05/02/2018)

May 2, 2018

May 2, 2018

PACER

SUMMONS Issued as to Defendants United States Citizenship & Immigration Services, United States Department of Homeland Security (acm, )

May 3, 2018

May 3, 2018

PACER
4

SUMMONS Returned Executed by Council on American-Islamic Relations -Chicago as to All Defendants (Badlani, Chirag) (Entered: 06/19/2018)

June 19, 2018

June 19, 2018

PACER
5

MOTION by Defendants United States Citizenship & Immigration Services, United States Department of Homeland Security for extension of time to file answer regarding complaint 1 (Hartzler, Alex) (Entered: 07/09/2018)

July 9, 2018

July 9, 2018

PACER
6

NOTICE of Motion by Alex Harms Hartzler for presentment of motion for extension of time to file answer 5 before Honorable Robert W. Gettleman on 7/12/2018 at 09:15 AM. (Hartzler, Alex) (Entered: 07/09/2018)

July 9, 2018

July 9, 2018

PACER
7

DESIGNATION of Alex Harms Hartzler as U.S. Attorney for Defendants United States Citizenship & Immigration Services, United States Department of Homeland Security (Hartzler, Alex) (Entered: 07/10/2018)

July 10, 2018

July 10, 2018

PACER
8

MINUTE entry before the Honorable Robert W. Gettleman: Defendants' motion 5 for extension of time to 8/9/2018 to respond to the complaint is granted. Mailed notice (cn). (Entered: 07/12/2018)

July 12, 2018

July 12, 2018

PACER
9

ANSWER to Complaint by United States Citizenship & Immigration Services, United States Department of Homeland Security(Hartzler, Alex) (Entered: 08/09/2018)

Aug. 9, 2018

Aug. 9, 2018

PACER
10

MINUTE entry before the Honorable Robert W. Gettleman: This matter is set for a hearing to report on status on 8/23/2018 at 9:00 a.m. Mailed notice (cn). (Entered: 08/14/2018)

Aug. 14, 2018

Aug. 14, 2018

PACER
11

STATUS Report Joint Initial Status Report by Council on American-Islamic Relations -Chicago (Badlani, Chirag) (Entered: 08/21/2018)

Aug. 21, 2018

Aug. 21, 2018

PACER
12

MINUTE entry before the Honorable Robert W. Gettleman: Status hearing held on 8/23/2018. Status hearing set for 12/5/2018 at 9:10 a.m. Mailed notice (cn). (Entered: 08/23/2018)

Aug. 23, 2018

Aug. 23, 2018

PACER
13

MINUTE entry before the Honorable Robert W. Gettleman: Due to the Court closing for the National Day of Mourning, status hearing set for 12/5/2018 is stricken and reset to 12/6/2018 at 9:00 a.m. Mailed notice (cn). (Entered: 12/03/2018)

Dec. 3, 2018

Dec. 3, 2018

PACER
14

MINUTE entry before the Honorable Robert W. Gettleman: Status hearing held on 12/6/2018. Status hearing set for 1/30/2019 at 9:10 a.m. Mailed notice (cn). (Entered: 12/06/2018)

Dec. 6, 2018

Dec. 6, 2018

PACER
15

GENERAL ORDER 18-0028 dated 12/26/18: IT IS HEREBY ORDERED, effective December 26, 2018, that all civil litigation involving as a party the United States of America, is immediately suspended, postponed and held in abeyance continuing for a period of fourteen (14) days from the date of entry of this General Order (For Further Details See Attached Order). Signed by the Honorable Ruben Castillo on 12/26/2018: Mailed notice. (sm, ) (Entered: 12/30/2018)

Dec. 26, 2018

Dec. 26, 2018

PACER
16

GENERAL ORDER 18-0028 dated 12/26/18: IT IS HEREBY ORDERED, effective December 26, 2018, that all civil litigation involving as a party the United States of America, is immediately suspended, postponed and held in abeyance continuing for a period of fourteen (14) days from the date of entry of this General Order (For Further Details See Attached Order). Signed by the Honorable Ruben Castillo on 12/26/2018: Mailed notice. (sm, ) (Entered: 12/30/2018)

Dec. 26, 2018

Dec. 26, 2018

PACER
17

AMENDED GENERAL ORDER 18-0028 dated 01/08/2019: On December 26, 2018, General Order 18-0028 was entered. It appearing that the lapse of congressional appropriations funding the federal government continues, therefore General Order 18-0028 is now amended. (For Further Details See Attached Order). Signed by the Honorable Ruben Castillo on 1/8/2019: Mailed notice. (sm, ) (Entered: 01/08/2019)

Jan. 8, 2019

Jan. 8, 2019

PACER
18

MINUTE entry before the Honorable Robert W. Gettleman: Status hearing set for 1/30/2019 is stricken and reset to 3/28/2019 at 9:00 a.m. Mailed notice (cn). (Entered: 01/24/2019)

Jan. 24, 2019

Jan. 24, 2019

PACER
19

GENERAL ORDER 19-0004: RESETTING OF DEADLINES IN CIVIL MATTERS INVOLVING THE UNITED STATES AS A PARTY. IT APPEARING THAT as a result of the partial federal government shutdown, this Court amended General Order 18-0028 suspending as of December 21, 2018, all civil litigation in which the United States of America, its agencies, its officers, or employees were parties, with the stated intention of clarifying schedules in such cases upon the expiration of the lapse in appropriations; and IT FURTHER APPEARING THAT appropriations having been restored to fund the Department of Justice and other Executive Branch agencies, with employees beginning to report for work beginning on January 28, 2019; accordingly IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED that the stay entered by General Order 18-0028 is hereby lifted, and any and all deadlines in the affected civil litigation (whether established by order, rule, or agreement.), including but not limited to any scheduled discovery and pleading dates, are extended by 42 days. (For Further Details See Attached Order). Signed by the Honorable Ruben Castillo on 1/28/2019: Mailed notice. (mgw, ) (Entered: 01/28/2019)

Jan. 28, 2019

Jan. 28, 2019

PACER
20

ATTORNEY Appearance for Plaintiff Council on American-Islamic Relations -Chicago by Caryn Cecelia Lederer (Lederer, Caryn) (Entered: 02/07/2019)

Feb. 7, 2019

Feb. 7, 2019

PACER
21

MINUTE entry before the Honorable Robert W. Gettleman: Status hearing held on 3/28/2019. Status hearing set for 4/30/2019 at 9:00 a.m. Mailed notice (cn). (Entered: 03/29/2019)

March 28, 2019

March 28, 2019

PACER
22

MINUTE entry before the Honorable Robert W. Gettleman: Status hearing held on 4/30/2019. Status hearing continued to 7/10/2019 at 9:10 a.m. Mailed notice (cn). (Entered: 04/30/2019)

April 30, 2019

April 30, 2019

PACER
23

STIPULATION of Dismissal (Badlani, Chirag) (Entered: 06/28/2019)

June 28, 2019

June 28, 2019

RECAP
24

MINUTE entry before the Honorable Robert W. Gettleman: On stipulation 23 and pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 41(a)(1)(A)(ii), this case is dismissed with each party to bear its own respective costs and attorneys' fees. Status hearing set for 7/10/2019 is stricken. Civil case terminated. Mailed notice (cn). (Entered: 06/28/2019)

June 28, 2019

June 28, 2019

PACER

Case Details

State / Territory: Illinois

Case Type(s):

Immigration and/or the Border

Special Collection(s):

Trump Administration FOIA cases

Multi-LexSum (in sample)

Key Dates

Filing Date: May 1, 2018

Closing Date: June 28, 2019

Case Ongoing: No

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

Council on American-Islamic Relations - Chicago

Plaintiff Type(s):

Non-profit NON-religious organization

Attorney Organizations:

Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR)

Public Interest Lawyer: Yes

Filed Pro Se: No

Class Action Sought: No

Class Action Outcome: Not sought

Defendants

United States of America, Federal

United States of America, Federal

Case Details

Causes of Action:

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

Available Documents:

Trial Court Docket

Complaint (any)

Outcome

Prevailing Party: Unknown

Nature of Relief:

Unknown

Source of Relief:

None

Form of Settlement:

Voluntary Dismissal

Issues

General:

Records Disclosure

Type of Facility:

Government-run

Immigration/Border:

Asylum - procedure

U.S. citizenship - acquiring

Visas - procedures