Active Case

East Bay Sanctuary Covenant, et al. v. William Barr, et al.

As part of its ongoing war on the nation’s asylum system, the Trump administration declared migrants who travel through a third country before reaching the U.S.-Mexico border are ineligible for asylum. The SPLC filed a federal lawsuit challenging this most recent attempt to ban asylum.

The lawsuit, filed in San Diego, charges the administration with violating the Immigration and Nationality Act and the Administrative Procedure Act. It was filed on behalf of East Bay Sanctuary Covenant, Al Otro Lado, Innovation Law Lab and the Central American Resource Center in Los Angeles.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection already has a widespread practice and policy of turning back individuals who attempt to seek asylum at ports of entry, which the SPLC has challenged with earlier lawsuits.

Issue Area

Immigrant Justice

Case Details

Date Filed

July 16, 2019

Status

Active

Court where filed

U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California

Plaintiffs

East Bay Sanctuary Covenant, Al Otro Lado, Innovation Law Lab, and Central American Resource Center in Los Angeles

Defendants

William Barr, in his official capacity as attorney general; James McHenry, in his official capacity as director of the Executive Office for Immigration Review; the Executive Office for Immigration Review; Kevin K. McAleenan, in his official capacity as acting secretary of Homeland Security; U.S. Department of Homeland Security; Kenneth T. Cuccinelli, in his official capacity as acting director of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services; U.S.Citizenship and Immigration Services; John P. Sanders, in his official capacity as acting commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection; U.S. Customs and Border Protection; Matthew T. Albence, in his official capacity as acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement; and Immigration and Customs Enforcement

Co-Counsel

American Civil Liberties Union and Center for Constitutional Rights