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Case Name
Dora v. Sessions
IM-DC-0065
Docket / Court
1:18-cv-01938 ( D.D.C. )
State/Territory
District of Columbia
Case Type(s)
Disability Rights-Pub. Accom.
Immigration and/or the Border
Special Collection
Civil Rights Challenges to Trump Immigration Enforcement Orders
Civil Rights Challenges to Trump Refugee/Visa Order
Attorney Organization
Muslim Advocates
Case Summary
On August 17, 2018, 29 parents who were forcibly separated from their children by the federal government filed this lawsuit in U.S. District Court of District Columbia. The plaintiffs sued the Department of Justice for violating the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. §§ 1101
et seq.
) ...
read more >
On August 17, 2018, 29 parents who were forcibly separated from their children by the federal government filed this lawsuit in U.S. District Court of District Columbia. The plaintiffs sued the Department of Justice for violating the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. §§ 1101
et seq.
), the Rehabilitation Act (29 U.S.C. § 701), the Administrative Procedure Act (5 U.S.C. §§ 551
et seq.
), and the Due Process Clause of the U.S. Constitution. The Plaintiffs, represented by Muslim Advocates as well as the Legal Aid Justice Center and the law firm of Eversheds & Sunderland, LLP, sought an order compelling the defendants to vacate the results of credible fear interviews, which had found them eligible for removal, as well as the resulting orders of removal. The plaintiffs sought declaratory relief and new credible fear interviews.
Specifically, the plaintiffs alleged that under DOJ policy, parents were forced to undergo credible fear interviews while they were suffering from emotional and psychological trauma from being separated from their children. Credible fear interviews determine whether an asylum seeker faces a credible fear of persecution or torture when returned to their home country. Unable to articulate their experiences due to trauma, the plaintiffs received negative credible fear determinations and faced immediate deportation.
This case was assigned to Judge Paul L. Friedman.
On August 17, 2018, the plaintiffs filed a motion to proceed under pseudonyms and a redacted complaint. The defendant filed a motion to extend time to file an answer on October 22, 2018. On December 31, 2018, the defendant again filed such a motion.
Along with two related cases, MMM v. Sessions and Ms. L v. ICE, this case settled. On November 15, 2018, Judge Dana M. Sabraw (the judge assigned in Ms. L. v. ICE) issued a final approval of the settlement. According to this settlement, the government committed to conducting a good faith review of the plaintiff’s prior credible fear findings to determine if reconsideration would be appropriate. However, the government refused to return any parent who had already been deported.
On February 5, 2019, the plaintiffs filed a notice of voluntary dismissal. This case is now closed, but the court in Ms. L v. ICE retained jurisdiction to enforce the settlement agreement. For more information on that case, including disputes that have developed over the settlement's terms, see
here
.
Bogyung Lim - 02/05/2020
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Issues and Causes of Action
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Issues
Constitutional Clause
Due Process
Due Process: Procedural Due Process
Defendant-type
Law-enforcement
Disability
Integrated setting
Discrimination-basis
Disability (inc. reasonable accommodations)
General
Family reunification
Parents (visitation, involvement)
Reasonable Accommodations
Youth / Adult separation
Immigration/Border
Asylum - criteria
Asylum - procedure
Constitutional rights
Deportation - criteria
Deportation - judicial review
Deportation - procedure
Family
Undocumented immigrants - rights and duties
Medical/Mental Health
Medical care, general
Mental health care, general
Suicide prevention
Plaintiff Type
Private Plaintiff
Causes of Action
Administrative Procedure Act, 5 U.S.C. §§ 551 et seq.
Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), 8 U.S.C. §§ 1101 et seq.
Section 504 (Rehabilitation Act), 29 U.S.C. § 701
Case Details
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Defendant(s)
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
U.S. Department of Homeland Security
U.S. Department of Justice
Plaintiff Description
29 parents who underwent credible fear interviews after being separated from their children.
Indexed Lawyer Organizations
Muslim Advocates
Class action status sought
No
Class action status granted
No
Filed Pro Se
No
Prevailing Party
Plaintiff
Public Int. Lawyer
Yes
Nature of Relief
Injunction / Injunctive-like Settlement
Source of Relief
Settlement
Form of Settlement
Court Approved Settlement or Consent Decree
Voluntary Dismissal
Filed
08/17/2018
Case Closing Year
2019
Case Ongoing
No
Related Cases
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Case Listing
IM-CA-0121
: Ms. L. v. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (S.D. Cal.)
IM-CA-0130
: M.M.M. v. Sessions (S.D. Cal.)
Additional Resources
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See this case
at CourtListener.com
(May provide additional documents and, for active cases, real-time alerts)
Presidential Executive Order on Resuming the United States Refugee Admissions Program with Enhanced Vetting Capabilities
White House
Date: Oct. 24, 2017
By: United States
[ Detail ]
[ External Link ]
Presidential Proclamation Enhancing Vetting Capabilities and Processes for Detecting Attempted Entry Into the United States by Terrorists or Other Public-Safety Threats
www.whitehouse.gov
Date: Sep. 24, 2017
By: President Donald Trump (Office of the President)
[ Detail ]
[ External Link ]
Implementing Executive Order 13780 Following Supreme Court Ruling -- Guidance to Visa-Adjudicating Posts
Reuters
Date: Jun. 28, 2017
By: U.S. Department of State
[ Detail ]
[ PDF ]
[ External Link ]
Presidential Memorandum for the Secretary of State, the Attorney General, the Secretary of Homeland Security, and the Director of National Intelligence
The White House
Date: Jun. 14, 2017
By: Donald Trump (White House)
[ Detail ]
[ External Link ]
Implementation of Executive Order 13768, "Enhancing Public Safety in the Interior of the United States
The Washington Post
Date: May 22, 2017
By: Jefferson Sessions (U.S. Department of Justice)
[ Detail ]
[ External Link ]
Executive Order Protecting The Nation From Foreign Terrorist Entry Into The United States
Date: Mar. 6, 2017
By: President Donald Trump (President of the United States)
[ Detail ]
[ External Link ]
Re: Implementing the President's Border Security and Immigration Enforcement Improvements Policies (Final, 2/20/2017)
dhs.gov
Date: Feb. 20, 2017
By: DHS Secretary John Kelly (United States Department of Homeland Security)
[ Detail ]
[ PDF ]
[ External Link ]
Re: Enforcement of the Immigration Laws to Serve the National Interest (Final, 2/20/2017)
dhs.gov
Date: Feb. 20, 2017
By: DHS Secretary John Kelly (United States Department of Homeland Security)
[ Detail ]
[ PDF ]
[ External Link ]
Memorandum to the Acting Secretary of State, the Acting Attorney General, and the Secretary of Homeland Security
The White House
Date: Feb. 1, 2017
By: Donald F. McGahn II, Counsel to the President (The White House)
[ Detail ]
[ PDF ]
[ External Link ]
Statement by Acting Attorney General Sally Yates
https://www.nytimes.com/
Date: 1/30/2017
By: Acting Attorney General Sally Yates (Department of Justice)
[ Detail ]
[ PDF ]
[ External Link ]
Statement By Secretary John Kelly on the Entry of Lawful Permanent Residents into the United States
https://www.dhs.gov/
Date: 1/29/2017
By: DHS Secretary John Kelly (Department of Homeland Security)
Citation: https://www.dhs.gov/news/2017/01/29/statement-secretary-john-kelly-entry-lawful-permanent-residents-united-states
[ Detail ]
[ PDF ]
[ External Link ]
OLC Memo Re: Proposed Executive Order Entitled "Protecting the Nation from Foreign Terrorist Entry into the United States"
Date: Jan. 27, 2017
By: Curtis Gannon (U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Legal Counsel)
[ Detail ]
[ PDF ]
[ External Link ]
Executive Order 13767: Border Security and Immigration Enforcement Improvements
Federal Register
Date: Jan. 27, 2017
By: President Donald Trump (Office of the President)
Citation: 82 Fed. Reg. Presidential Documents 8793 (Jan. 27, 2017)
[ Detail ]
[ PDF ]
Executive Order: Protecting the Nation from Foreign Terrorist Entry into the United States
Federal Register
Date: Jan. 27, 2017
By: President Donald Trump (Office of the President)
[ Detail ]
[ PDF ]
[ External Link ]
Executive Order 13768: Enhancing Public Safety in the Interior of the United States
Federal Register
Date: Jan. 25, 2017
By: President Donald Trump (Office of the President)
[ Detail ]
[ PDF ]
[ External Link ]
Documents
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Court
Docket(s)
D.D.C.
02/05/2019
1:18-cv-1938
IM-DC-0065-9000.pdf
|
Detail
Source: PACER [Public Access to Court Electronic Records]
General Documents
D.D.C.
08/17/2018
Complaint [ECF# 3]
IM-DC-0065-0001.pdf
|
Detail
Source: PACER [Public Access to Court Electronic Records]
S.D. Cal.
09/12/2018
Plan to Address the Asylum Claims of Class-Member Parents and Children who are Physically Present in the United States [ECF# 220-1]
IM-DC-0065-0002.pdf
|
Detail
Source: PACER [Public Access to Court Electronic Records]
S.D. Cal.
11/15/2018
Order Certifying the Settlement Classes and Granting Final Approval of Class Action Settlement [ECF# 321]
IM-DC-0065-0003.pdf
|
Detail
Source: PACER [Public Access to Court Electronic Records]
People
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Judges
Friedman, Paul L.
(D.D.C.)
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IM-DC-0065-9000
Sabraw, Dana Makoto
(S.D. Cal.)
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IM-DC-0065-0003
Plaintiff's Lawyers
Aguirre, Samir A.
(District of Columbia)
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IM-DC-0065-0001
Amdur, Spencer E. W.
(California)
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IM-DC-0065-0002
Balakrishnan, Anand V.
(New York)
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IM-DC-0065-0002
Barmeyer, Wilson G.
(District of Columbia)
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IM-DC-0065-0001 | IM-DC-0065-9000
Flatt, Margaret
(Georgia)
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IM-DC-0065-0001
Fleming, John Howard
(Georgia)
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IM-DC-0065-0001
Ford, Kara
(New York)
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IM-DC-0065-0001
Gelernt, Lee
(New York)
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IM-DC-0065-0002
Gregg, Sophia Leticia
(Virginia)
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IM-DC-0065-0001
Kang, Stephen B.
(California)
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IM-DC-0065-0002
McClarnon, Carol T.
(District of Columbia)
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IM-DC-0065-0001
Rabinovitz, Judy
(New York)
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IM-DC-0065-0002
Sandoval-Moshenberg, Simon
(Virginia)
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IM-DC-0065-0001
Shebaya, Sirine
(District of Columbia)
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IM-DC-0065-0001 | IM-DC-0065-9000
Smith, Johnathan James
(District of Columbia)
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IM-DC-0065-0001 | IM-DC-0065-9000
Vakili, Bardis
(California)
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IM-DC-0065-0002
Defendant's Lawyers
Bettwy, Samuel William
(California)
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IM-DC-0065-0002
Braverman, Adam
(California)
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IM-DC-0065-0002
Fabian, Sarah B.
(District of Columbia)
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IM-DC-0065-0002
Hunt, Joseph H.
(District of Columbia)
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IM-DC-0065-0002
Murley, Nicole N.
(District of Columbia)
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IM-DC-0065-0002
Peachey, William Charles
(District of Columbia)
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IM-DC-0065-0002
Robins, Jeffrey S
(District of Columbia)
show/hide docs
IM-DC-0065-9000
Silvis, William C.
(District of Columbia)
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IM-DC-0065-0002
Stewart, Scott Grant
(District of Columbia)
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IM-DC-0065-0002
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