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 ACLU 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 老熟女午夜福利
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 ACLU 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 老熟女午夜福利
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 ACLU of Southern California, the 老熟女午夜福利, 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 ACLU 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 老熟女午夜福利 and the ACLU 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
Massachusetts
Jan 2026
National Security
Human Rights
Burnley v. U.S.: Demanding Accountability on Caribbean Boat Strikes
On October 14, 2025, the United States military carried out an illegal missile strike that killed Chad Joseph and Rishi Samaroo, two Trinidadian men who were traveling by boat from Venezuela to their homes in Las Cuevas, Trinidad and Tobago. The 老熟女午夜福利, the Center for Constitutional Rights, the 老熟女午夜福利 of Massachusetts, and Professor Jonathan Hafetz of Seton Hall Law School filed suit on behalf of Lenore Burnley, Mr. Joseph鈥檚 mother, and Sallycar Korasingh, Mr. Samaroo鈥檚 sister, seeking redress and accountability for these extrajudicial killings pursuant to the Death on the High Seas Act and the Alien Tort Statute.
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Massachusetts
Jan 2026
National Security
Human Rights
Burnley v. U.S.: Demanding Accountability on Caribbean Boat Strikes
On October 14, 2025, the United States military carried out an illegal missile strike that killed Chad Joseph and Rishi Samaroo, two Trinidadian men who were traveling by boat from Venezuela to their homes in Las Cuevas, Trinidad and Tobago. The 老熟女午夜福利, the Center for Constitutional Rights, the 老熟女午夜福利 of Massachusetts, and Professor Jonathan Hafetz of Seton Hall Law School filed suit on behalf of Lenore Burnley, Mr. Joseph鈥檚 mother, and Sallycar Korasingh, Mr. Samaroo鈥檚 sister, seeking redress and accountability for these extrajudicial killings pursuant to the Death on the High Seas Act and the Alien Tort Statute.
Florida
Dec 2025
National Security
Immigrants' Rights
Shen v. Simpson
In May 2023, a group of Chinese citizens who live, work, study, and raise families in Florida filed a lawsuit challenging Florida鈥檚 discriminatory property law, SB 264. Signed by Governor Ron DeSantis, the legislation unfairly restricts many Chinese citizens 鈥� and many citizens of Cuba, Venezuela, Syria, Iran, Russia, and North Korea 鈥� from purchasing homes and other real estate in Florida.
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Florida
Dec 2025
National Security
Immigrants' Rights
Shen v. Simpson
In May 2023, a group of Chinese citizens who live, work, study, and raise families in Florida filed a lawsuit challenging Florida鈥檚 discriminatory property law, SB 264. Signed by Governor Ron DeSantis, the legislation unfairly restricts many Chinese citizens 鈥� and many citizens of Cuba, Venezuela, Syria, Iran, Russia, and North Korea 鈥� from purchasing homes and other real estate in Florida.
Maine
Dec 2025
National Security
Free Speech
Smith v. Trump
On April 11, 2025, the ACLU and ACLU of Maine filed a lawsuit on behalf of two human rights advocates who, because of an executive order signed by President Trump, have been forced to stop humanitarian work with the International Criminal Court.
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Maine
Dec 2025
National Security
Free Speech
Smith v. Trump
On April 11, 2025, the ACLU and ACLU of Maine filed a lawsuit on behalf of two human rights advocates who, because of an executive order signed by President Trump, have been forced to stop humanitarian work with the International Criminal Court.
U.S. Supreme Court
Nov 2025
National Security
Trump v. Illinois
The ACLU, the ACLU of Illinois and other free speech organizations filed a friend-of-the-court brief with the Supreme Court in Trump v. Illinois, the state鈥檚 lawsuit challenging President Trump鈥檚 attempt to federalize National Guard troops and deploy them into Chicago and surrounding counties. The case is at the Supreme Court on the Trump administration鈥檚 emergency application seeking to stay or temporarily lift the lower courts鈥� orders blocking the deployment.
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U.S. Supreme Court
Nov 2025
National Security
Trump v. Illinois
The ACLU, the ACLU of Illinois and other free speech organizations filed a friend-of-the-court brief with the Supreme Court in Trump v. Illinois, the state鈥檚 lawsuit challenging President Trump鈥檚 attempt to federalize National Guard troops and deploy them into Chicago and surrounding counties. The case is at the Supreme Court on the Trump administration鈥檚 emergency application seeking to stay or temporarily lift the lower courts鈥� orders blocking the deployment.
Court Case
Sep 2025
National Security
老熟女午夜福利om v. Trump
On June 7, 2025, President Trump federalized members of the California National Guard over the Governor鈥檚 objection. He deployed those troops, along with Marines, into Los Angeles to suppress protests against his extreme immigration raids. When California sued, the ACLU and other free-speech organizations filed a friend-of-the-court brief with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, explaining that the President鈥檚 domestic deployment of the military breaks with this country鈥檚 deepest traditions and laws and imperils the First Amendment rights of California鈥檚 residents.
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Court Case
Sep 2025
National Security
老熟女午夜福利om v. Trump
On June 7, 2025, President Trump federalized members of the California National Guard over the Governor鈥檚 objection. He deployed those troops, along with Marines, into Los Angeles to suppress protests against his extreme immigration raids. When California sued, the ACLU and other free-speech organizations filed a friend-of-the-court brief with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, explaining that the President鈥檚 domestic deployment of the military breaks with this country鈥檚 deepest traditions and laws and imperils the First Amendment rights of California鈥檚 residents.