Since President Trump issued his first Executive Order in 2017, our program has crafted litigation to protect the rights of immigrants and noncitizens traveling to the United States. Working in partnership with organizations from across the country, our program has submitted a number of amicus briefs and civil rights and district court complaints challenging these orders and other actions preventing individuals from the Middle East and other Muslim-majority countries from coming to the United States.
Litigation
Petition for Writ of Mandamus, Civil Rights Complaint (4/2022)
Our program filed a lawsuit against the federal government and submitted a complaint with the Office of Civil Rights and Civil Liberties of the Department of Homeland Security on behalf of a prospective Harvard Medical School scholar and her family, all of whom were unlawfully denied entry to the United States.
CBP FOIA Complaint (2/2022)
Our program submitted a complaint against Customs and Border Patrol for withholding information regarding the unlawful denials of entry of numerous Iranian nationals.
Civil Rights Complaint (1/2020)
Our program submitted a complaint to the Office of Civil Rights and Civil Liberties of the Department of Homeland Security on behalf of an Iranian student who was denied entry to the United States despite having a valid visa to attend the Harvard Divinity School.
Donald J. Trump et al. v. State of Hawaii et al., U.S. Supreme Court (3/2018)
This brief argues that the travel ban violates federal immigration statutes and is not based on any exigent situation involving diplomacy or military affairs.
Donald J. Trump v. International Refugee Assistance Project, Donald J. Trump v. Hawaii, U.S. Supreme Court (9/2017)
This brief argues that the Immigration and Nationality Act as a whole constrains the President’s power to suspend entry of “classes of aliens.”
International Refugee Assistance Project et al. v. Donald Trump (3/2017)
This brief argues that the President does not have the authority to unilaterally reduce the number of refugees admitted to the United States in the middle of a fiscal year and without consultation with Congress.
Hameed Khalid Darweesh v. Donald Trump (2/2017)
This brief argues that the President overstepped his authority when issuing the executive order concerning the Muslim ban.
