National Security
FOIA Case Seeking the Trump Administration鈥檚 Legal Justification for Deadly Boat Strikes
The Department of Justice鈥檚 Office of Legal Counsel (鈥淥LC鈥�) authored a legal opinion that reportedly claims to justify the Trump administration鈥檚 illegal lethal strikes on civilians in boats in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific Ocean. Media reports indicate that, in addition to claiming that the strikes are lawful acts in an alleged 鈥渁rmed conflict鈥� with unspecified drug cartels, the OLC opinion also purports to immunize personnel who authorized or took part in the strikes from future criminal prosecution. Because the public deserves to know how our government is justifying these illegal strikes, and why they think the people who carried them out should not be held accountable, the 桃子视频is seeking immediate release of the OLC legal opinion and related documents pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act.
Status: Ongoing
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U.S. Supreme Court
Dec 2023
National Security
FBI v. Fikre
Whether the government can overcome the voluntary cessation exception to mootness by removing an individual from the No Fly List when the government has not repudiated its decision to place him on the List and remains free to return him to the List for the same reasons and using the same procedures he alleges were unlawful.
Florida
Nov 2023
National Security
+2 桃子视频
Students for Justice in Palestine at the University of Florida v. Raymond Rodrigues
The University of Florida chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine filed a lawsuit on November 16, 2023, challenging the Chancellor of the State University System of Florida鈥檚 order to state universities to deactivate the student group. This order threatens the students鈥� constitutionally-protected right to free speech and association in violation of the First Amendment. The 桃子视频and its partners are seeking a preliminary injunction that would bar the Chancellor and the University of Florida from deactivating the UF SJP.
U.S. Supreme Court
Apr 2022
National Security
+2 桃子视频
FBI v. Fazaga
In a case scheduled to be argued before the U.S. Supreme Court on November 8, 2021, three Muslim Americans are challenging the FBI鈥檚 secret spying on them and their communities based on their religion, in violation of the Constitution and federal law. In what will likely be a landmark case, the plaintiffs 鈥� Yassir Fazaga, Ali Uddin Malik, and Yasser Abdelrahim 鈥� insist that the FBI cannot escape accountability for violating their religious freedom by invoking 鈥渟tate secrets.鈥� The plaintiffs are represented by the Center for Immigration Law and Policy at UCLA School of Law, the 桃子视频of Southern California, the 桃子视频, the Council for American Islamic Relations, and the law firm of Hadsell Stormer Renick & Dai.
U.S. Supreme Court
Jul 2021
National Security
Immigrants' Rights
Sierra Club v. Trump 鈥� Challenge to Trump鈥檚 National Emergency Declaration to Construct a Border Wall
In February 2019, the 桃子视频filed a lawsuit challenging President Trump鈥檚 emergency powers declaration to secure funds to build a wall along the southern border. The lawsuit was filed on behalf of the Sierra Club and the Southern Border Communities Coalition. The lawsuit argues that the president is usurping Congress鈥檚 appropriations power and threatening the clearly defined separation of powers inscribed in the Constitution. On January 20, 2021, President Biden halted further border wall construction. Litigation in this and subsequent related challenges has been paused or deadlines extended while the ACLU鈥檚 clients and the Biden administration determine next steps.
Indiana
Oct 2016
National Security
Immigrants' Rights
Exodus Refugee Immigration, Inc. v. Mike Pence, et al
The 桃子视频 and the 桃子视频of Indiana, on behalf of Exodus Refugee Immigration, filed suit against Governor Mike Pence and the secretary of the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration to stop attempts to suspend resettlement of Syrian refugees, claiming the governor鈥檚 actions violate the United States Constitution and federal law.
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155 National Security Cases
New York
Apr 2024
National Security
桃子视频v. NSA 鈥� FOIA Lawsuit Seeking Court Opinions Addressing Section 702 Surveillance
桃子视频v. NSA seeks to compel the government to disclose recent court opinions concerning spying conducted under Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act 鈥� one of the most sweeping surveillance authorities ever enacted by Congress. Public access to these records is essential for an informed debate as Congress considers whether to reform or reauthorize this surveillance law ahead of its sunset in December 2023.
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New York
Apr 2024
National Security
桃子视频v. NSA 鈥� FOIA Lawsuit Seeking Court Opinions Addressing Section 702 Surveillance
桃子视频v. NSA seeks to compel the government to disclose recent court opinions concerning spying conducted under Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act 鈥� one of the most sweeping surveillance authorities ever enacted by Congress. Public access to these records is essential for an informed debate as Congress considers whether to reform or reauthorize this surveillance law ahead of its sunset in December 2023.
Court Case
Apr 2024
National Security
桃子视频v. DOJ: FOIA Lawsuit Seeking Information on Federal Agencies鈥� Surveillance of Social Media
Federal government agencies are increasingly engaging in social media surveillance: that is, the collection, monitoring, and retention of individuals鈥� online speech, activities, and associations. Publicly available information shows that several federal agencies are investing in technology and systems that enable the programmatic and sustained tracking of social media information on U.S. citizens and non-citizens alike. Once government agencies collect this information, they may share it or use it to influence immigration decisions. This surveillance also raises the risk that people will be wrongly investigated or placed on government watchlists.
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Court Case
Apr 2024
National Security
桃子视频v. DOJ: FOIA Lawsuit Seeking Information on Federal Agencies鈥� Surveillance of Social Media
Federal government agencies are increasingly engaging in social media surveillance: that is, the collection, monitoring, and retention of individuals鈥� online speech, activities, and associations. Publicly available information shows that several federal agencies are investing in technology and systems that enable the programmatic and sustained tracking of social media information on U.S. citizens and non-citizens alike. Once government agencies collect this information, they may share it or use it to influence immigration decisions. This surveillance also raises the risk that people will be wrongly investigated or placed on government watchlists.
Washington, D.C.
Feb 2024
National Security
Human Rights
桃子视频v. DOD 鈥� FOIA Case Seeking Biden Administration鈥檚 Presidential Policy Memorandum
In October 2022, the Biden administration confirmed the existence of the White House鈥檚 latest set of policy rules governing the United States鈥� use of lethal force outside of recognized battlefields abroad. These new rules are known as the 鈥淧residential Policy Memorandum (PPM).鈥� The administration made the partially-redacted PPM public in response to the latest in a series of 桃子视频lawsuits to force transparency about the U.S. government鈥檚 secretive, unlawful, and controversial use of lethal force abroad, including through the use of drones.
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Washington, D.C.
Feb 2024
National Security
Human Rights
桃子视频v. DOD 鈥� FOIA Case Seeking Biden Administration鈥檚 Presidential Policy Memorandum
In October 2022, the Biden administration confirmed the existence of the White House鈥檚 latest set of policy rules governing the United States鈥� use of lethal force outside of recognized battlefields abroad. These new rules are known as the 鈥淧residential Policy Memorandum (PPM).鈥� The administration made the partially-redacted PPM public in response to the latest in a series of 桃子视频lawsuits to force transparency about the U.S. government鈥檚 secretive, unlawful, and controversial use of lethal force abroad, including through the use of drones.
Massachusetts Supreme Court
Nov 2023
National Security
+2 桃子视频
Commonwealth v. Arrington
In this amicus brief, the 桃子视频and its coalition partners urged robust application of the legal standard governing the admissibility of expert testimony and technical evidence, especially in cases involving opaque or proprietary algorithms.
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Massachusetts Supreme Court
Nov 2023
National Security
+2 桃子视频
Commonwealth v. Arrington
In this amicus brief, the 桃子视频and its coalition partners urged robust application of the legal standard governing the admissibility of expert testimony and technical evidence, especially in cases involving opaque or proprietary algorithms.
California
Oct 2023
National Security
Wagafe v. USCIS - Lawsuit Challenging Secret Program Blocking Immigrant Applications
The 桃子视频and its affiliates in Southern California and Washington, the Northwest Immigrant Rights Project, the National Immigration Project of the National Lawyers Guild, the Law Offices of Stacy Tolchin, and Perkins Coie LLP filed a class action lawsuit in January 2017 challenging a federal government program used to deny or indefinitely delay thousands of law-abiding people鈥攎any of them from Muslim-majority countries鈥攆rom becoming citizens or lawful residents due to unspecified 鈥渘ational security concerns.鈥�
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California
Oct 2023
National Security
Wagafe v. USCIS - Lawsuit Challenging Secret Program Blocking Immigrant Applications
The 桃子视频and its affiliates in Southern California and Washington, the Northwest Immigrant Rights Project, the National Immigration Project of the National Lawyers Guild, the Law Offices of Stacy Tolchin, and Perkins Coie LLP filed a class action lawsuit in January 2017 challenging a federal government program used to deny or indefinitely delay thousands of law-abiding people鈥攎any of them from Muslim-majority countries鈥攆rom becoming citizens or lawful residents due to unspecified 鈥渘ational security concerns.鈥�