INTERNATIONAL REFUGEE ASSISTANCE PROJECT v. TRUMP

No. 17-1351.

INTERNATIONAL REFUGEE ASSISTANCE PROJECT, a project of the Urban Justice Center, Inc., on behalf of itself; HIAS, INC., on behalf of itself and its clients; MIDDLE EAST STUDIES ASSOCIATION OF NORTH AMERICA, INC., on behalf of itself and its members; MUHAMMED METEAB; PAUL HARRISON; IBRAHIM AHMED MOHOMED; JOHN DOES #1 & 3; JANE DOE #2, Plaintiffs-Appellees, v. DONALD J. TRUMP, in his official capacity as President of the United States; DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY; DEPARTMENT OF STATE; OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE; JOHN F. KELLY, in his official capacity as Secretary of Homeland Security; REX W. TILLERSON, in his official capacity as Secretary of State; DANIEL R. COATS, in his official capacity as Director of National Intelligence, Defendants-Appellants. STATE OF TEXAS; STATE OF ALABAMA; STATE OF ARIZONA; STATE OF ARKANSAS; STATE OF FLORIDA; STATE OF KANSAS; STATE OF LOUISIANA; STATE OF MONTANA; STATE OF OKLAHOMA; STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA; STATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA; STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA; PHIL BRYANT, Governor of the State of Mississippi; AMERICAN CENTER FOR LAW AND JUSTICE; SOUTHERN LEGAL FOUNDATION, INC.; AMERICAN CIVIL RIGHTS UNION; IMMIGRATION REFORM LAW INSTITUTE; U.S. JUSTICE FOUNDATION; CITIZENS UNITED; CITIZENS UNITED FOUNDATION; ENGLISH FIRST FOUNDATION; ENGLISH FIRST; PUBLIC ADVOCATE OF THE UNITED STATES; GUN OWNERS FOUNDATION; GUN OWNERS OF AMERICA; CONSERVATIVE LEGAL DEFENSE AND EDUCATION FUND; U.S. BORDER CONTROL FOUNDATION; POLICY ANALYSIS CENTER; VICTOR WILLIAMS, Amici Supporting Appellants, INTERFAITH COALITION; COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES; T.A.; COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA; STATE OF MARYLAND; STATE OF CALIFORNIA; STATE OF CONNECTICUT; STATE OF DELAWARE; STATE OF ILLINOIS; STATE OF IOWA; STATE OF MAINE; STATE OF MASSACHUSETTS; STATE OF NEW MEXICO; STATE OF NEW YORK; STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA; STATE OF OREGON; STATE OF RHODE ISLAND; STATE OF VERMONT; STATE OF WASHINGTON; DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA; CITY OF CHICAGO; CITY OF LOS ANGELES; CITY OF NEW YORK; CITY OF PHILADELPHIA; CITY COUNCIL OF NEW YORK; MAYOR OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK; CITY OF AUSTIN; CITY OF BOSTON; MARTIN J. WALSH, Mayor of Boston; TOWN OF CARRBORO; JAMES A. DIOSSA, Mayor of Central Falls, Rhode Island; COOK COUTNY, ILLINOIS; CITY OF GARY; CITY OF IOWA CITY; SVANTE L. MYRICK, Mayor of Ithaca; CITY OF JERSEY CITY; CITY OF MADISON; CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS; MONTGOMERY COUNTY; CITY OF NEW HAVEN; TONI N. HARP, Mayor of New Haven; CITY OF OAKLAND; CITY OF PORTLAND; CITY OF PROVIDENCE; JORGE O. ELORZA, Mayor of Providence; CITY OF ST. LOUIS; CITY OF SAINT PAUL; CITY OF SAN FRANCISCO; COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO; CITY OF SAN JOSE; SANTA CLARA COUNTY; CITY OF SANTA MONICA; CITY OF SEATTLE; VILLAGE OF SKOKIE; CITY OF SOUTH BEND; CITY OF TUCSON; CITY OF WEST HOLLYWOOD; FORMER NATIONAL SECURITY OFFICIALS; MEMBERS OF THE CLERGY; RIVERSIDE CHURCH IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK; AMERICANS UNITED FOR SEPARATION OF CHURCH & STATE; BEND THE ARC; A JEWISH PARTNERSHIP FOR JUSTICE; SOUTHERN POVERTY LAW CENTER; AMERICAN-ARAB ANTI-DISCRIMINATION COMMITTEE; NEW YORK UNIVERSITY; RODERICK & SOLANGE MACARTHUR JUSTICE CENTER; HOWARD UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF LAW CIVIL RIGHTS CLINIC; UNIVERSITY PROFESSORS & HIGHER EDUCATION ASSOCIATIONS; INTERNATIONAL LAW SCHOLARS; NONGOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS; ISMAIL ELSHIKH; ANT-DEFAMATION LEAGUE; JEWISH COUNCIL FOR PUCLIC AFFAIRS; UNION FOR REFORM JUDAISM; CENTRAL CONFERENCE OF AMERICAN RABBIS; WOMEN OF REFORM JUDAISM; AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION; MUSLIM JUSTICE LEAGUE; MUSLIM PUBLIC AFFAIRS COUNCIL; ISLAMIC CIRCLE OF NORTH AMERICA; COUNCIL ON AMERICAN-ISLAMIC RELATIONS; ASIAN AMERICANS ADVANCING JUSTICE-ASIAN LAW CAUCUS; NATIONAL IMMIGRANT JUSTICE CENTER; ASISTA; AMERICANS FOR IMMIGRANT JUSTICE; FUTURES WITHOUT VIOLENCE; NORTH CAROLINA COALITION AGAINST DOMESTIC VIOLENCE; SANCTUARY FOR FAMILIES; MEMBERS OF CONGRESS; SERVICE EMPLOYEES INTERNATIONAL UNION; AMERICAN FEDERATION OF STATE, COUNTY & MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES, AMERICAN FEDERATION OF TEACHERS; HISTORY PROFESSORS & SCHOLARS; LAWYERS' COMMITTEE FOR CIVIL RIGHTS UNDER LAW; CENTER FOR REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS; SOUTHERN COALITION FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE; NATIONAL CENTER FOR LESBIAN RIGHTS; JUDGE DAVID L. BAZELTON CENTER FOR MENTAL HEALTH LAW; CHICAGO LAWYERS' COMMITTEE FOR CIVIL RIGHTS UNDER LAW; MISSISSIPPI CENTER FOR JUSTICE; WASHINGTON LAWYERS' COMMITTEE FOR CIVIL RIGHTS AND URBAN AFFAIRS; TECHNOLOGY COMPANIES; FRED T. KOREMATSU CENTER FOR LAW & EQUALITY; JAY HIRABAYASHI; HOLLY YASUI; KAREN KOREMATSU; CIVIL RIGHTS ORGANIZATIONS; NATIONAL BAR ASSOCIATIONS OF COLOR; FOUNDATION FOR THE CHILDREN OF IRAN; IRANIAN ALLIANCES ACROSS BORDERS; MASSACHUSETTS TECHNOLOGY LEADERSHIP COUNCIL; EPISCOPAL BISHOPS; IMMIGRATION LAW SCHOLARS & CLINICIANS ON STATUTORY CLAIMS; FORMER FEDERAL IMMIGRATION & HOMELAND SECURITY OFFICIALS; CONSTITUTIONAL LAW SCHOLARS; MEDICAL INSTITUTIONS; ADVOCACY ORGANIZATIONS; INDIVIDUAL PHYSICIANS; TAHIRIH JUSTICE CENTER; ASIAN PACIFIC INSTITUTE ON GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE; CASA DE ESPERANZA; NATIONAL DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HOTLINE; INTERFAITH GROUP OF RELIGIOUS & INTERRELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS; OXFAM AMERICA, INC.; CONSTITUTIONAL LAW PROFESSORS; AMERICAN JEWISH COMMITTEE; MUSLIM RIGHTS, PROFESSIONAL & PUBLIC HEALTH ORGANIZATIONS; CATO INSTITUTE; NATIONAL ASSIAN PACIFIC AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION; ASSOCIATION OF ART MUSEUM DIRECTORS; AMERICAN ALLIANCE OF MUSEUMS; COLLEGE ART ASSOCIATION; 94 ART MUSEUMS; AMERICAN PROFESSIONAL SOCIETY ON THE ABUSE OF CHILDREN; ADVOCATES FOR HUMAN RIGHTS; ASIAN LAW ALLIANCE; ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICAN NETWORK OF OREGON; CASA; COMMUNITY REFUGEE & IMMIGRATION SERVICES; INTEGRATED REFUGEE & IMMIGRANT SERVICES; IMMIGRANT LAW CENTER OF MINNESOTA; SOUTHEAST ASIA RESOURCE ACTION CENTER; IMMIGRANT RIGHTS CLINIC OF WASHINGTON; SQUARE LEGAL SERVICES, INC.; AIRPORT ATTORNEYS COALITION, Amici Supporting Appellees.

United States Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit.

Decided: May 25, 2017.


Attorney(s) appearing for the Case

ARGUED: Jeffrey Bryan Wall , UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, Washington, D.C., for Appellants.

Omar C. Jadwat , AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION, New York, New York, for Appellees.

ON BRIEF: Edwin S. Kneedler , Deputy Solicitor General, Chad A. Readler , Acting Assistant Attorney General, August E. Flentje , Special Counsel to the Assistant Attorney General, Douglas N. Letter , Sharon Swingle , H. Thomas Byron III , Lowell V. Sturgill, Jr. , Civil Division, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, Washington, D.C.; Rod J. Rosenstein , United States Attorney, OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES ATTORNEY, Baltimore, Maryland, for Appellants.

Justin B. Cox , Atlanta, Georgia, Karen C. Tumlin , Nicholas Espiritu , Melissa S. Keaney , Esther Sung , Marielena Hincapié , NATIONAL IMMIGRATION LAW CENTER, Los Angeles, California; Lee Gelernt , Hina Shamsi , Hugh Handeyside , Sarah L. Mehta , Spencer E. Amdur , New York, New York, Cecillia D. Wang , Cody H. Wofsy , San Francisco, California, David Cole , Daniel Mach , Heather L. Weaver , AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION FOUNDATION, Washington, D.C.; David Rocah , Deborah A. Jeon , Sonia Kumar , Nicholas Taichi Steiner , AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION FOUNDATION OF MARYLAND, Baltimore, Maryland, for Appellees.

Ken Paxton , Attorney General, Jeffrey C. Mateer , First Assistant Attorney General, Scott A. Keller , Solicitor General, J. Campbell Barker , Deputy Solicitor General, Ari Cuenin , Assistant Solicitor General, OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF TEXAS, Austin, Texas; Steven T. Marshall , Attorney General, OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF ALABAMA, Montgomery, Alabama; Mark Brnovich , Attorney General, OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF ARIZONA, Phoenix, Arizona; Leslie Rutledge , Attorney General, OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF ARKANSAS, Little Rock, Arkansas; Pamela Jo Bondi , Attorney General, OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF FLORIDA, Tallahassee, Florida; Derek Schmidt , Attorney General, OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF KANSAS, Topeka, Kansas; Jeff Landry , Attorney General, OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF LOUISIANA, Baton Rouge, Louisiana; Tim Fox , Attorney General, OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF MONTANA, Helena, Montana; Mike Hunter , Attorney General, OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF OKLAHOMA, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; Alan Wilson , Attorney General, OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF SOUTH CAROLINA, Columbia, South Carolina; Marty J. Jackley , Attorney General, OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF SOUTH DAKOTA, Pierre, South Dakota; Patrick Morrisey , Attorney General, OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF WEST VIRGINIA, Charleston, West Virginia; Phil Bryant , Governor, OFFICE OF GOVERNOR PHIL BRYANT, Jackson, Mississippi, for Amici States of Texas, Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Kansas, Louisiana, Montana, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, West Virginia, and Governor Phil Bryant of the State of Mississippi.

Robert D. Fram , Alexandra P. Grayner , Kathryn Bi , San Francisco, California, Kevin B. Collins , William E. Zapf , Ligia M. Markman , Karun Tilak , Michael Baker , Andrew Guy , COVINGTON & BURLING LLP, Washington, D.C., for Amicus Interfaith Coalition.

Thomas J. Perrelli , Lindsay C. Harrison , Erica L. Ross , Tassity S. Johnson , JENNER & BLOCK LLP, Washington, D.C., for Amicus Colleges and Universities.

Jay Alan Sekulow , Stuart J. Roth , Colby M. May , Andrew J. Ekonomou , Jordon Sekulow , Craig L. Parshall , Matthew R. Clark , Benjamin P. Sisney , Washington, D.C., Edward L. White, III , Erik M. Zimmerman , Ann Arbor, Michigan, Francis J. Manion , Geoffrey R. Surtees , AMERICAN CENTER FOR LAW AND JUSTICE, New Hope, Kentucky, for Amicus American Center for Law and Justice.

Kimberly S. Hermann , SOUTHEASTERN LEGAL FOUNDATION, Marietta, Georgia; William S. Consovoy , CONSOVOY McCARTHY PARK PLLC, Arlington, Virginia, for Amicus Southeastern Legal Foundation.

Kenneth A. Klukowski , AMERICAN CIVIL RIGHTS UNION, Alexandria, Virginia, for Amicus American Civil Rights Union.

Joseph W. Miller , UNITED STATES JUSTICE FOUNDATION, Ramona, California, for Amicus U. S. Justice Foundation.

Michael Boos , Washington, D.C., for Amici Citizens United and Citizens United Foundation.

William J. Olson , Herbert W. Titus , Jeremiah L. Morgan , Robert J. Olson , WILLIAM J. OLSON, P.C., Vienna, Virginia, for Amici U.S. Justice Foundation, Citizens United, Citizens United Foundation, English First Foundation, English First, Public Advocate of the United States, Gun Owners Foundation, Gun Owners of America, Conservative Legal Defense and Education Fund, U.S. Border Control Foundation, and Policy Analysis Center.

Christopher J. Hajec , Michael M. Hethmon , Elizabeth A. Hohenstein , Mark S. Venezia , IMMIGRATION REFORM LAW INSTITUTE, Washington, D.C., for Amicus Immigration Reform Law Institute.

Terrance Nolan , General Counsel and Secretary, NEW YORK UNIVERSITY, New York, New York; Steven E. Obus , Seth D. Fiur , Tiffany M. Woo , PROSKAUER ROSE LLP, New York, New York, for Amicus New York University.

Victor Williams, AMERICA FIRST LAWYERS ASSOCIATION, Bethesda, Maryland, Amicus Pro Se.

Richard D. Bernstein , WILLKIE FARR & GALLAGHER LLP, Washington, D.C., for Amicus T.A. Harold Hongju Koh, Hope Metcalf, Rule of Law Clinic, YALE LAW SCHOOL, New Haven, Connecticut; William J. Murphy , John J. Connolly , ZUCKERMAN SPAEDER LLP, Baltimore, Maryland; Jonathan M. Freiman , Tahlia Townsend, WIGGIN AND DANA LLP, New Haven, Connecticut, for Amicus Former National Security Officials.

Amir H. Ali , RODERICK & SOLANGE MACARTHUR JUSTICE CENTER, Washington, D.C., for Amicus The Roderick and Solange MacArthur Justice Center.

Elisabeth C. Frost , Amanda R. Callais , Washington, D.C., Joseph M. McMillan , Michelle L. Maley , PERKINS COIE LLP, Seattle, Washington; Aaron X. Fellmeth , ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY SANDRA DAY O'CONNOR COLLEGE OF LAW, Phoenix, Arizona; Jonathan Hafetz , SETON HALL UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF LAW, Newark, New Jersey, for Amici International Law Scholars and Non-Governmental Organizations.

Neal Kumar Katyal , Colleen Roh Sinzdak , Mitchell P. Reich , Elizabeth Hagerty , Washington, D.C., Sara Solow , Alexander B. Bowerman , Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Thomas P. Schmidt , HOGAN LOVELLS US LLP, New York, New York, for Amicus Dr. Ismail Elshikh.

David E. Mills , Alyssa T. Saunders , COOLEY LLP, Washington, D.C.; John B. Harris , Jeremy Goldman , Caren Decter , Jessica Smith , Rayna Lopyan , Lily Landsman-Roos , Lakendra Barajas , FRANKFURT KURNIT KLEIN & SELZ, P.C., New York, New York, for Amici Anti-Defamation League, Jewish Council for Public Affairs, Union for Reform Judaism, Central Conference of American Rabbis, and Women of Reform Judaism.

Doron F. Ezickson , Washington, D.C., Steven M. Freeman , Lauren A. Jones , Melissa Garlick , Michael Lieberman , ANTI-DEFAMATION LEAGUE, New York, New York, for Amicus Anti-Defamation League.

David Bohm , DANNA McKINTRICK, P.C., St. Louis, Missouri, for Amicus Jewish Council for Public Affairs.

Ryan P. Poscablo , Brian Neff , Eliberty Lopez , New York, New York, Nick Kahlon , RILEY SAFER HOLMES & CANCILA, LLP, Chicago, Illinois; Edward N. Siskel , Corporation Counsel, Benna Ruth Solomon , Deputy Corporation Counsel, CITY OF CHICAGO, Chicago, Illinois, for Amicus City of Chicago.

Zachary W. Carter , Corporation Counsel, CITY OF NEW YORK, New York, New York, for Amicus Mayor and City Council of New York.

Sozi Pedro Tulante , City Solicitor, CITY OF PHILADELPHIA LAW DEPARTMENT, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, for Amicus City of Philadelphia.

Anne L. Morgan , City Attorney, CITY OF AUSTIN LAW DEPARTMENT, Austin, Texas, for Amicus City of Austin.

Eugene L. O'Flaherty , Corporation Counsel, CITY OF BOSTON, Boston, Massachusetts, for Amici City of Boston and Mayor Martin J. Walsh.

G. Nicholas Herman , General Counsel, THE BROUGH LAW FIRM, PLLC, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, for Amicus Town of Carrboro.

Matthew T. Jerzyk , City Solicitor, OFFICE OF THE CITY SOLICITOR, Central Falls, Rhode Island, for Amicus James A. Diossa.

Kimberly M. Foxx , States Attorney for Cook County, Office of the States Attorney, Chicago, Illinois, for Amicus Cook County, Illinois.

Michael N. Feuer , City Attorney, CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE FOR THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES, Los Angeles, California, for Amicus City of Los Angeles.

Gregory L. Thomas , City Attorney, CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, Gary, Indiana, for Amicus City of Gary.

Eleanor M. Dilkes , City Attorney, CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, Iowa City, Iowa, for Amicus City of Iowa City.

Aaron O. Lavine , City Attorney, CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, Ithaca, New York, for Amicus Svante L. Myrick.

Jeremy Farrell , Corporation Counsel, JERSEY CITY LAW DEPARTMENT, Jersey City, New Jersey, for Amicus City of Jersey City.

Michael P. May , City Attorney, CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, Madison, Wisconsin, for Amicus City of Madison.

Susan L. Segal , City Attorney, CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, Minneapolis, Minnesota, for Amicus City of Minneapolis.

Marc P. Hansen , County Attorney, COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, Rockville, Maryland, for Amicus Montgomery County.

John Rose, Jr. , Corporation Counsel, CITY OF NEW HAVEN, New Haven, Connecticut, for Amici City of New Haven and Mayor Toni N. Harp.

Barbara J. Parker , City Attorney, CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, Oakland, California, for Amicus Oakland.

Tracy Reeve , City Attorney, CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, Portland, Oregon, for Amicus Portland.

Jeffrey Dana , City Solicitor, OFFICE OF THE CITY SOLICITOR, Providence, Rhode Island, for Amici City of Providence and Mayor Jorge O. Elorza.

Michael A. Garvin , City Counselor, CITY OF ST. LOUIS LAW DEPARTMENT, St Louis, Missouri, for City of St. Louis.

Samuel J. Clark , City Attorney, CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, Saint Paul, Minnesota, for Amicus City of Saint Paul.

Dennis J. Herrera , City Attorney, CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, San Francisco, California, for Amici City and County of San Francisco.

Richard Doyle , City Attorney, CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, San José, California, for Amicus City of San José.

James R. Williams , County Counsel, OFFICE OF THE COUNTY COUNSEL, San José, California, for Amicus Santa Clara County.

Joseph Lawrence , Interim City Attorney, CITY OF SANTA MONICA, Santa Monica, California, for Amicus City of Santa Monica.

Peter S. Holmes , Seattle City Attorney, CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, Seattle, Washington, for Amicus City of Seattle.

Michael M. Lorge , Corporation Counsel, VILLAGE OF SKOKIE, Skokie, Illinois, for Amicus Village of Skokie.

Cristal Brisco , Corporation Counsel, CITY OF SOUTH BEND DEPARTMENT OF LAW, South Bend Indiana, for Amicus South Bend.

Michael Rankin , City Attorney, CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, Tucson, Arizona, for Amicus City of Tucson.

Michael Jenkins , JENKINS & HOGIN, LLP, Manhattan Beach, California, for Amicus West Hollywood.

Sidney S. Rosdeitcher , Aidan Synnott , Erin J. Morgan , Arianna Markel , Jared S. Stein , New York, New York; Linda A. Klein , President, AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION, Chicago, Illinois, for Amicus American Bar Association.

Amy Briggs , John W. McGuinness , Sirena Castillo , Matthew Bottomly , Olufunmilayo Showole , Ketakee Kane , Benjamin G. Shatz , MANATT, PHELPS & PHILLIPS, LLP, Los Angeles, California, for Amici Muslim Justice League, Muslim Public Affairs Council, Islamic Circle of North America, Council on American-Islamic Relations, California, and Asian Americans Advancing Justice-Asian Law Caucus.

Mark R. Herring , Attorney General, Stuart A. Raphael , Solicitor General, Trevor S. Cox , Deputy Solicitor General, Matthew R. McGuire , Assistant Attorney General, OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF VIRGINIA, Richmond, Virginia; Brian E. Frosh , Attorney General, Steven M. Sullivan , Solicitor General, OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF MARYLAND, Baltimore, Maryland; Xavier Becerra , Attorney General, OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF CALIFORNIA, Sacramento, California; Ellen F. Rosenblum , Attorney General, OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF OREGON, Salem, Oregon; George Jepson , Attorney General, OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF CONNECTICUT, Hartford, Connecticut; Matthew P. Denn , Attorney General, OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF DELAWARE, Wilmington, Delaware; Lisa Madigan , Attorney General, OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF ILLINOIS, Chicago, Illinois; Tom Miller , Attorney General, OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF IOWA, Des Moines, Iowa; Janet T. Mills , Attorney General, OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF MAINE, Augusta, Maine; Maura Healey , Attorney General, OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF MASSACHUSETTS, Boston, Massachusetts; Hector Balderas , Attorney General, OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF NEW MEXICO, Santa Fe, New Mexico; Eric T. Schneiderman , Attorney General, OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF NEW YORK, New York, New York; Josh Stein , Attorney General, OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF NORTH CAROLINA, Raleigh, North Carolina; Peter F. Kilmartin , Attorney General, OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF RHODE ISLAND, Providence, Rhode Island; Thomas J. Donovan, Jr. , Attorney General, OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF VERMONT, Montpelier, Vermont; Robert W. Ferguson , Attorney General, OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF WASHINGTON, Olympia, Washington; Karl A. Racine , Attorney General, OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, Washington, D.C., for Amici Commonwealth of Virginia, States of Maryland, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington, and the District of Columbia.

Katherine K. Huang , Carlos A. Singer , HUANG YBARRA SINGER & MAY LLP, Los Angeles, California, for Amicus History Professors and Scholars.

Charles Roth , NATIONAL IMMIGRANT JUSTICE CENTER, Chicago, Illinois; Robert N. Hochman , Nathaniel C. Love , SIDLEY AUSTIN LLP, Chicago, Illinois, for Amicus National Immigrant Justice Center.

Gail Pendleton , ASISTA, Suffield, Connecticut, for Amicus ASISTA.

Linda A. Seabrook , General Counsel, FUTURES WITHOUT VIOLENCE, Washington, D.C., for Amicus Futures Without Violence.

Carmen Maria Rey , SANCTUARY FOR FAMILIES CENTER FOR BATTERED WOMEN'S LEGAL SERVICES, New York, New York, for Amicus Sanctuary for Families.

Jennie Santos-Bourne , AMERICAN FOR IMMIGRANT JUSTICE, Miami, Florida, for Amicus Americans for Immigrant Justice.

Amily K. McCool , NORTH CAROLINA COALITION AGAINST DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, Durham, North Carolina, for Amicus North Carolina Coalition Against Domestic Violence.

Peter Karanjia , Jason Harrow , Washington, D.C., Victor A. Kovner , DAVIS WRIGHT TREMAINE LLP, New York, New York; Elizabeth B. Wydra , Brianne J. Gorod , David H. Gans , CONSTITUTIONAL ACCOUNTABILITY CENTER, Washington, D.C.; Raymond H. Brescia , Associate Professor of Law, ALBANY LAW SCHOOL, Albany, New York, for Amicus 165 Members of Congress.

Lynne Bernabei , Alan R. Kabat , BERNABEI & KABAT, PLLC, Washington, D.C.; Ted G. Dane , Thomas P. Clancy , MUNGER, TOLLES & OLSON LLP, Los Angeles, California, for Amici Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, Center for Reproductive Rights, Southern Coalition for Social Justice, National Center for Lesbian Rights, Judge David L. Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law, Chicago Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, Mississippi Center for Justice, and The Washington Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs.

Andrew J. Pincus , Paul W. Hughes , MAYER BROWN LLP, Washington, D.C., for Amicus Technology Companies.

Robert S. Chang , Fred T. Korematsu Center for Law and Equality, SEATTLE UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF LAW, Seattle, Washington; Eric Yamamoto , Fred T. Korematsu Professor of Law and Social Justice, UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII WILLIAM S. RICHARDSON SCHOOL OF LAW, Honolulu, Hawaii; Pratik A. Shah , Martine E. Cicconi , Washington, D.C., Jessica M. Weisel , Los Angeles, California, Robert A. Johnson , Alice Hsu , AKIN GUMP STRAUSS HAUER & FELD LLP, New York, New York, for Amici The Fred T. Korematsu Center for Law and Equality, Jay Hirabayashi, Holly Yasui, Karen Korematsu, Civil Rights Organizations, and National Bar Associations of Color.

Kevin P. Martin , Nicholas K. Mitrokostas , William B. Brady , Joshua M. Daniels , Alicia Rubio , Eileen L. Morrison , GOODWIN PROCTER LLP, Boston, Massachusetts, for Amici The Foundation for the Children of Iran and Iranian Alliances Across Borders.

Nicole G. Berner , Claire Prestel , Deborah L. Smith , Leo Gertner , SERVICE EMPLOYEES INTERNATIONAL UNION, Washington, D.C.; Steve W. Berman , HAGENS BERMAN SOBOL SHAPIRO LLP, Seattle, Washington, for Amicus Service Employees International Union.

Judith Rivlin , AMERICAN FEDERATION OF STATE, COUNTY AND MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES, Washington, D.C., for Amicus American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees.

David J. Strom , Channing M. Cooper , AMERICAN FEDERATION OF TEACHERS, Washington, D.C., for American Federation of Teachers.

Eli Glasser , Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Michael J. Gottlieb , Joshua Riley , Isra Bhatty , J. Wells Harrell , Cain Norris , Aaron E. Nathan , BOIES SCHILLER FLEXNER LLP, Washington, D.C., for Amicus Former Federal Immigration and Homeland Security Officials.

Michael R. Scott , Amit D. Ranade , Lisa J. Chaiet Rahman , HILLIS CLARK MARTIN & PETERSON P.S., Seattle, Washington, for Amicus Episcopal Bishops.

Joshua Matz , ROBBINS, RUSSELL, ENGLERT, ORSECK, UNTEREINER & SAUBER LLP, Washington, D.C., for Amicus Constitutional Law Scholars.

Scott L. Winkelman , Luke van Houwelingen , Avi Rutschman , Justin Kingsolver , CROWELL & MORING LLP, Washington, D.C., for Amici Tahirih Justice Center, The Asian Pacific Institute on Gender-Based Violence, Casa De Esperanza, and The National Domestic Violence Hotline.

Jennifer K. Brown , Amanda Aikman , New York, New York, Bradley D. Wine , Sandeep N. Nandivada , McLean, Virginia, Marc A. Hearron , Washington, D.C., Purvi G. Patel , MORRISON & FOERSTER LLP, Los Angeles, California, for Amicus Interfaith Group of Religious and Interreligious Organizations.

Christopher Mortweet , Menlo Park, California, Richard P. Bress , Elana Nightingale Dawson , Alexandra P. Shechtel , LATHAM & WATKINS LLP, Washington, D.C., for Amicus Oxfam America, Inc.

Kristi L. Graunke , Gillian Gillers , SOUTHERN POVERTY LAW CENTER, Atlanta, Georgia; Richard B. Katskee , Eric Rothschild , Andrew L. Nellis , Kelly M. Percival , Bradley Girard , AMERICANS UNITED FOR SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE, Washington, D.C., for Amici Members of the Clergy, The Riverside Church in the City of New York, Americans United for Separation of Church and State, Bend the Arc, A Jewish Partnership for Justice, and The Southern Poverty Law Center.

Catherine Y. Kim , UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA, Chapel Hill, North Carolina; Judith Resnik , YALE LAW SCHOOL, New Haven, Connecticut; Fred A. Rowley, Jr. , John L. Schwab , Los Angeles, California, Aaron D. Pennekamp , MUNGER, TOLLES & OLSON, LLP, San Francisco, California, for Amicus Constitutional Law Professors.

Marc D. Stern , AMERICAN JEWISH COMMITTEE, New York, New York; Adam S. Lurie , Vijaya R. Palaniswamy , Caitlin K. Potratz , Sean M. Solomon , LINKLATERS LLP, Washington, D.C., for Amicus The American Jewish Committee.

Daniel Braun , Peter Jaffe , Lauren Kaplin , Washington, D.C., David Y. Livshiz , Karen Wiswall , FRESHFIELDS BRUCKHAUS DERINGER US LLP, New York, New York, for Amicus Cato Institute.

Farhana Khera , Johnathan J. Smith , Aziz Huq , MUSLIM ADVOCATES, Oakland, California; Robert A. DeRise , Washington, D.C., Anton Ware , ARNOLD & PORTER KAYE SCHOLER LLP, San Francisco, California, for Amicus Muslim Rights, Professional and Public Health Organizations.

Avi Gesser , Kelsey Clark , Joseph Garmon , Alex Messiter , Jennifer Prevete , Ilan Stein , DAVIS POLK & WARDWELL LLP, New York, New York, for Amici The Association of Art Museum Directors, The American Alliance of Museums, The College Art Association, and 94 Art Museums.

Mary Kelly Persyn , PERSYN LAW & POLICY, San Francisco, California, for Amicus American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children.

Alina Das , WASHINGTON SQUARE LEGAL SERVICES, New York, New York, for Amici Advocates for Human Rights, Asian Law Alliance, Asian Pacific American Network of Oregon, CASA, Community Refugee & Immigration Services, Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota, Immigrant Rights Clinic of Washington Square Legal Services, Inc., Integrated Refugee and Immigrant Services, and The Southeast Asia Resource Action Center.

Michael B. Roberts , Karen Lee Lust , Kristin C. Davis , REED SMITH LLP, Washington, D.C.; Sirine Shebaya , Washington, D.C.; Mirriam Seddiq , SEDDIQ LAW FIRM, Upper Marlboro, Maryland, for Amicus Airport Attorneys Coalition.

Yolanda C. Rondon , AMERICAN-ARAB ANTI-DISCRIMINATION COMMITTEE, Washington, D.C., for Amicus American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee.

Gare A. Smith , Michael B. Keating , Kristyn M. DeFilipp , Christopher E. Hart , Daniel L. McFadden , FOLEY HOAG LLP, Washington, D.C., for Amicus Massachusetts Technology Leadership Council, Inc.

Tina R. Matsuoka , Navdeep Singh , Meredith S.H. Higashi , Rachana Pathak , Albert Giang , NATIONAL ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION, Washington, D.C.; Joshua David Rogaczewski , James W. Kim , Philip J. Levine , McDERMOTT WILL & EMERY LLP, Washington, D.C., for Amicus National Asian Pacific American Bar Association.

Fatma E. Marouf , Professor of Law, Director, Immigrant Rights Clinic, TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF LAW, Fort Worth, Texas, for Amicus Immigration Law Scholars and Clinicians on Statutory Claims.

Manvin S. Mayell , Gregory J. Wallance , Steven G. Tepper , Jessica Heller , Colleen Lima , G. Alex Sinha , Thomas A. Bird , ARNOLD & PORTER KAYE SCHOLER LLP, New York, New York, for Amici Medical Institutions, Advocacy Organizations, and Individual Physicians.

Karla McKanders , Civil Rights Clinic, Darin Johnson , Visiting Professor, HOWARD UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF LAW, Washington, D.C., for Amicus University Professors and Higher Education Associations.

Affirmed in part, vacated in part by published opinion. Chief Judge Gregory wrote the opinion, in which Judges Motz, King, Wynn, Diaz, Floyd, and Harris joined in full. Judge Traxler wrote an opinion concurring in the judgment. Judge Keenan wrote an opinion concurring in part and concurring in the judgment, in which Judge Thacker joined except as to Part II.A.i. Judge Wynn wrote a concurring opinion. Judge Thacker wrote a concurring opinion. Judge Niemeyer wrote a dissenting opinion, in which Judges Shedd and Agee joined. Judge Shedd wrote a dissenting opinion, in which Judges Niemeyer and Agee joined. Judge Agee wrote a dissenting opinion, in which Judges Niemeyer and Shedd joined.


The question for this Court, distilled to its essential form, is whether the Constitution, as the Supreme Court declared in Ex parte Milligan, 71 U.S. (4 Wall.) 2, 120 (1866), remains "a law for rulers and people, equally in war and in peace." And if so, whether it protects Plaintiffs'...

Let's get started

Leagle.com

Welcome to the leading source of independent legal reporting
Sign on now to see your case.
Or view more than 10 million decisions and orders.

  • Updated daily.
  • Uncompromising quality.
  • Complete, Accurate, Current.

Listed below are the cases that are cited in this Featured Case. Click the citation to see the full text of the cited case. Citations are also linked in the body of the Featured Case.

Cited Cases

  • No Cases Found

Listed below are those cases in which this Featured Case is cited. Click on the case name to see the full text of the citing case.

Citing Cases