Ferguson
Ferguson
Ferguson
13 Plaintiffs,
FIRST AMENDED COMPLAINT
14 v. FOR DECLARATORY AND
INJUNCTIVE RELIEF
15 DONALD TRUMP, in his official
capacity as President of the United
16 States; U.S. DEPARTMENT OF
HOMELAND SECURITY; JOHN F.
17 KELLY, in his official capacity as
Secretary of the Department of
18 Homeland Security; TOM SHANNON,
in his official capacity as Acting
19 Secretary of State; and the UNITED
STATES OF AMERICA,
20
Defendants.
21
I. INTRODUCTION
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1. The States of Washington and Minnesota (States) bring this action to protect
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the Statesincluding their residents, employers, and educational institutionsagainst illegal
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actions of the President and the federal government. The Presidents Executive Order of
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January 27, 2017 (the Executive Order), is separating families, harming thousands of the
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1 States residents, damaging the States economies, hurting State-based companies, and
2 undermining both States sovereign interest in remaining a welcoming place for immigrants
3 and refugees. The Court should invalidate the portions of the Executive Order challenged here.
7 1391(e)(1). Defendants are United States agencies or officers sued in their official capacities.
8 The State of Washington is a resident of this judicial district and a substantial part of the events
9 or omissions giving rise to this First Amended Complaint occurred within the Western District
10 of Washington.
11 4. The States bring this action to redress harms to their proprietary interests and
12 their interests as parens patriae, as well as under their authority pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 702 and
13 42 U.S.C. 2000bb-1(a).
14 III. PARTIES
17 Governor is responsible for overseeing the operations of the State of Washington and ensuring
19 6. The Attorney General is the chief legal adviser to the State of Washington. The
20 Attorney Generals powers and duties include acting in federal court on matters of public
21 concern.
22 7. Washington has declared that practices that discriminate against any of its
23 inhabitants because of race, creed, color, or national origin are matters of public concern that
24 threaten the rights and proper privileges of the State and harm the public welfare, health, and
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2 residents, including protecting its residents from harms to their physical or economic health, is
3 a quasi-sovereign interest.
4 9. Washington also has an interest in ensuring that its residents are not excluded
5 from the benefits that flow from participation in the federal system, including the rights and
8 health, safety, and well-being extends to all of Washingtons residents, including individuals
10 11. According to the most current American Community Survey data from the U.S.
11 Census Bureau, as of 2015, approximately 7,280 non-citizen immigrants from Iran, Iraq, Syria,
12 Somalia, Sudan, Libya, and Yemen reside in Washington1,409 Iranian immigrants, 2,275
13 Iraqi immigrants, 360 Libyan immigrants, 2,883 Somalian immigrants, 165 Sudanese
16 Washingtons technology industry are immigrants, and many of those immigrant workers are
20 13. The technology industry relies heavily on the H-1B visa program, through
21 which highly skilled workers like software engineers are permitted to work in the United
22 States. Washington ranks ninth in the U.S. by number of applications for high-tech visas.
24 of H-1B visa holders and employs nearly 5,000 people through the program. Other
1 14. The market for highly skilled workers and leaders in the technology industry is
2 extremely competitive. Changes to U.S. immigration policy that restrict the flow of people may
3 inhibit these companies ability to adequately staff their research and development efforts and
4 recruit talent from overseas. If recruiting efforts are less successful, these companies abilities
5 to develop and deliver successful products and services may be adversely affected.
7 workers. At least 76 employees at Microsoft are citizens of Iran, Iraq, Syria, Somalia, Sudan,
8 Libya, or Yemen and hold U.S. temporary work visas. There may be other employees with
9 permanent-resident status or green cards. These employees may be banned from re-entering the
10 U.S. if they travel overseas or to the companys offices in Vancouver, British Columbia.
11 16. Seattle-based company Amazon also employs workers from every corner of the
12 world. Amazons employees, dependents of employees, and candidates for employment with
13 Amazon have been impacted by the Executive Order that is the subject of this First Amended
14 Complaint. Amazon has advised such employees currently in the United States to refrain from
17 business. At the time of the filing of the Complaint, Expedia had approximately 1,000
18 customers with existing flight reservations in or out of the United States who hold passports
19 from Iran, Iraq, Syria, Somalia, Sudan, Libya, or Yemen. The Executive Order will restrict
20 business, increase business costs, and impact current employees and customers.
22 that, as part of their religious beliefs and/or mission, provide services to refugees and
25 (Sea-Tac Airport) one day after President Trump issued the Executive Order that is the
1 20. An unknown number of Washington residents from the affected countries may
2 have been prevented from, or may now be prevented from, traveling to Washington through
3 air, land, and sea ports of entry across the United States. It is unknown how many additional
4 Washington residents will reach United States ports across the country and be prevented from
6 21. As a result of the Executive Order, Washington residents have been separated
7 from their families. One Somali refugee, who has lived in Seattle for 12 years, went to Sea-Tac
8 Airport to pick up her husband who was flying from Somalia through Vienna, but never saw
9 him before he was sent back on a flight to Vienna. Another individual who was detained is
10 related to a Sea-Tac Airport worker. A third detainee, the sister of a blind Iraqi man who lives
12 22. Other Washington residents will be unable to travel to Canada to visit family.
13 An Iraqi-born software engineer, who works in Facebooks Seattle office and was in Canada
14 watching his little brother perform in a high school play, received a phone call from his
15 immigration attorney shortly before the Executive Order took effect, advising him to rush back
17 23. Still other Washington residents will be prevented from being reunited with
18 family members. One Syrian family who recently resettled in Seattle is waiting for an older
19 child still in a refugee camp who was set to arrive next week, but for the Executive Order.
22 25. In 2015, travelers from the Middle East spent approximately $96 million in
23 Washington. This spending generated more than $6 million in State tax revenue and more than
25 26. Washington also has a proprietary interest in securing the best possible
26 employees. Washington agencies and institutions of higher education (including the University
1 of Washington and Washington State University) employ a number of people from the affected
2 countries who are here on visas and will be affected by the Executive Order. These employees
4 27. Washington expends time and funds to sponsor H-1B employees. Washington
5 wastes that time and money, and loses the value of employee labor, if employees are not able
7 28. The University of Washington and Washington State University are the two
8 largest public universities in the State. More than 95 students from Iran, Iraq, Syria, Somalia,
9 Sudan, Libya, and Yemen attend the University of Washington, based in Seattle. More than
10 135 students from those countries attend Washington State University, based in Pullman.
11 Affected students also attend Washington colleges, community colleges, and technical
12 colleges.
13 29. The Executive Order prohibits these students from traveling abroad for research
14 or scholarship, and may cause some to leave the universities. Future students from these
15 countries may be prevented from enrolling. These harms damage the educational mission of
18 30. Lori Swanson is the chief legal officer of the State of Minnesota. Her powers
19 and duties include filing lawsuits in federal court on behalf of the State of Minnesota.
20 31. The Executive Order has had immediate and significant effects in Minnesota.
21 According to the American Community Survey data from the U.S. Census Bureau, as of 2015,
22 over 400,000 of Minnesotas approximately 5.4 million residents were born outside the United
23 States, including more than 30,000 from Somalia, Sudan, Iran, Iraq, Syria, and Yemen. These
24 Minnesotans now face considerable uncertainty about whether they may travel overseas or
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1 32. The Executive Order is also harming Minnesotas educational institutions. For
2 example, at the University of Minnesota, the States largest public research university,
3 immigrants have been a vital part of the Universitys student body, faculty and staff, research,
4 scholarship, and innovation. Currently, across the five campuses, there are approximately 120
5 students and international scholars from Iran, Iraq, Syria, Somalia, Sudan, Libya, or
6 Yemen. These individuals are now restricted from traveling outside the United States for
7 research and academic collaborations or other personal reasons, since they have no reasonable
8 expectation of being able to return to continue their studies. Several of these individuals were
9 anticipating the arrival of their families for various reasons this spring, among them the
10 celebration of graduations, which may no longer be possible due to the Executive Order.
11 33. The University of Minnesota student-body, faculty, and staff also includes
12 refugees who have expressed concern about reunifying with family members. Others who
13 immigrated to the United States years ago and still maintain close ties to families and friends in
16 St. Paul, Minnesota, the executive order has negatively affected students from Syria and Libya,
17 as well as domestic students from Somalia, who may be unable to visit family and friends or
19 35. Minnesotas businesses and economy are also impacted. For example, the Mayo
20 Clinic, an internationally-known healthcare institution that treats patients who travel to it for
21 healthcare services from around the world, has publicly stated that approximately 80 staff,
23 36. Many travel plans to and from Minnesota have been disrupted. For example, a
24 4-year-old Somali girl, who was separated from her mother and two sisters shortly after being
25 born in a refugee camp in Uganda, was scheduled to arrive on January 30, 2017. Her mother
26 had received visas for herself and her other two daughters, but she was pregnant when they
1 were approved, so her newborn was not covered. She was told that her whole family would
2 have to start the visa process over if she tried to get one for her youngest daughter or she could
3 move to the United States and apply for reunification which would take less than one year.
4 Four years later, the youngest daughter finally received a visa to come to the United States.
5 The young girl was at the airport in Uganda on January 30, 2017, ready to board the plane, but
7 DEFENDANTS
8 37. Defendant Donald Trump is the President of the United States, and issued the
9 January 27, 2017, Executive Order on which Defendants rely for authority to detain, remove,
10 or refuse admission to non-citizen immigrants from Iran, Iraq, Syria, Somalia, Sudan, Libya,
11 and Yemen who are traveling or returning to the States via air, land, and sea ports across the
12 United States, including Sea-Tac Airport and Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport. He is
15 agency responsible for implementing and enforcing the Immigration and Nationality Act
16 (INA). DHS is a Department of the Executive Branch of the U.S. Government, and is an
17 agency within the meaning of 5 U.S.C. 552(f). The U.S. Customs and Border Protection is an
18 Operational and Support Component agency within DHS. The U.S. Customs and Border
19 Protection is responsible for detaining and/or removing non-citizen immigrants from Iran, Iraq,
20 Syria, Somalia, Sudan, Libya, and Yemen arriving at air, land, and sea ports across the United
23 Security. He is responsible for implementing and enforcing the INA, and oversees the U.S.
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1 40. Defendant Tom Shannon is the Acting Secretary of State. The Secretary of State
2 has authority to determine and implement certain visa procedures for non-citizens. He is sued
4 41. Defendant the United States of America includes all government agencies and
5 departments responsible for the implementation of the INA and responsible for the admission,
6 detention, removal of non-citizen immigrants from Iran, Iraq, Syria, Somalia, Sudan, Libya,
7 and Yemen who are traveling to or returning to the States via air, land, and sea ports across the
8 United States, including Sea-Tac Airport and Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport.
9 IV. ALLEGATIONS
10 42. Prior to his election, Donald Trump campaigned on the promise that he would
12 43. On December 7, 2015, candidate Trump issued a press release calling for a
13 total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States. As of the date of this
14 filing, the press release remains available on Trumps campaign website and is attached hereto
15 as Exhibit 1.
16 44. In defending his decision shortly thereafter, candidate Trump compared the
17 Muslim ban to former President Franklin Roosevelts decision to intern Japanese Americans
18 during World War II, and stated, This is a president highly respected by all, [Roosevelt] did
19 the same thing. A media report of this interview is attached hereto as Exhibit 2.
20 45. On June 14, 2016, candidate Trump reiterated his promise to ban all Muslims
21 entering this country until we as a nation are in a position to properly and perfectly screen
22 those people coming into our country. A transcript of this speech is attached hereto as Exhibit
23 3.
24 46. Asked during a July 24, 2016, interview about whether he was backing off on
25 his Muslim ban[], candidate Trump stated, I actually dont think its a pull-back. In fact, you
26 could say its an expansion. A transcript of this interview is attached hereto as Exhibit 4.
1 47. In a foreign policy speech delivered on August 15, 2016, candidate Trump
2 noted that the United States could not adequate[ly] screen[] immigrants because it admits
3 about 100,000 permanent immigrants from the Middle East every year. Trump proposed
4 creating an ideological screening test for immigration applicants, which would screen out any
5 who have hostile attitudes towards our country or its principles or who believe that Sharia
6 law should supplant American law. During the speech, he referred to his proposal as
7 extreme, extreme vetting. A copy of the prepared remarks is attached hereto as Exhibit 5. A
10 48. On January 20, 2017, Donald Trump was inaugurated as the President of the
11 United States. In his first television interview as President, he again referred to his plan for
13 49. On January 27, 2017, one week after being sworn in, President Trump signed an
14 executive order entitled, Protecting the Nation from Foreign Terrorist Entry into the United
15 States. The Executive Order directs a series of changes to the manner in which non-citizens
16 may seek and obtain entry to the United States. The Executive Order is attached hereto as
17 Exhibit 7.
18 50. Section 3(c) of the Executive Order proclaims that entry of immigrants and
20 Nationality Act, 8 U.S.C. 1187(a)(12), i.e., Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and
21 Yemen, would be detrimental to the interests of the United States. The Executive Order
22 suspend[s] entry into the United States, as immigrants and nonimmigrants, of such persons for
24 51. Sections 5(a)(b) of the Executive Order suspend the U.S. Refugee Admissions
25 Program in its entirety for 120 days and then, upon its resumption, direct the Secretary of State
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1 to prioritize refugees who claim religious-based persecution, provided that the religion of the
3 52. Section 5(c) of the Executive Order proclaims that entry of Syrian refugees is
4 detrimental to the interests of the United States and suspends their entry indefinitely.
5 53. In a January 27, 2017, interview with the Christian Broadcasting Network,
6 President Trump confirmed his intent to prioritize Christians in the Middle East for admission
8 54. During a signing ceremony for the Executive Order on January 27, 2017,
9 President Trump stated that the purpose of the Executive Order was to establish[] new vetting
10 measures to keep radical Islamic terrorists out of the United States of America. He continued,
11 We dont want them here. A media report of these statements is attached hereto as Exhibit 9.
12 55. That same day, a Deputy Assistant Secretary for Visa Services at the U.S.
14 exceptions, provisionally revoke[d] all valid nonimmigrant and immigrant visas of nationals
15 of Iraq, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen. The letter is attached hereto as
16 Exhibit 10.
17 56. Also that day, the U.S. Department of State and some U.S. embassies and
18 consulates abroad posted a notice online advising immigrant visa applicants that visa issuance
19 had been suspended and visa interviews cancelled. The online notice is attached hereto as
20 Exhibit 11. A copy of the notice posted in the U.S. embassy in Iraq is attached hereto as
21 Exhibit 12.
22 57. On January 28, 2017, a spokeswoman for DHS stated that lawful permanent
23 residents, or green card holders, would be barred from entry pursuant to the Executive Order.
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1 58. On January 29, 2017, DHS reversed its decision through a statement by
2 Secretary Kelly that purported to exempt lawful permanent residents from the Executive Order.
4 59. Two days later, however, on January 31, 2017, the U.S. Customs and Border
5 Protection, a DHS sub-agency, issued a statement entitled Protecting the Nation from Foreign
6 Terrorist Entry into the United States. Although it repeated Secretary Kellys earlier
7 statement, it also confirmed in its Questions and Answers section that the Executive Order
8 applies to lawful permanent residents and that their entry would depend on receipt of a
9 national interest waiver[] consistent with the provisions of the Executive Order. The
11 60. On January 29, 2017, President Trump issued a statement defending the
12 Executive Order, stating [t]his is not a Muslim ban. The statement is attached hereto as
13 Exhibit 16.
14 61. President Trumps statement conflicts with the statement made by his
15 cybersecurity advisor the day before. In an interview with Fox News on January 28, 2017,
16 Rudolph Giuliani confirmed that the Executive Order was crafted to be a legal ban on
17 Muslims. Specifically, Giuliani stated that Trump asked him for a Muslim ban and instructed
18 Giuliani to put a commission together to show [Trump] the right way to do it legally. A
19 media report of Giulianis statements is attached hereto as Exhibit 17. A video of Giulianis
1 64. Sections 3 and 5 of the Executive Order, together with statements made by
2 Defendants concerning their intent and application, target individuals for discriminatory
3 treatment based on their country of origin and/or religion, without lawful justification.
4 65. The Executive Order was motivated by animus and a desire to harm a particular
5 group.
6 66. The discriminatory terms and application of the Executive Order are arbitrary
8 67. Through their actions above, Defendants have violated the equal protection
10 68. Defendants violation causes ongoing harm to the States and their residents.
1 75. The Due Process Clause of the Fifth Amendment prohibits the federal
2 government from depriving individuals of their liberty interests without due process of law.
3 76. Where Congress has granted statutory rights and authorized procedures
4 applicable to arriving and present non-citizens, minimum due process rights attach to those
5 statutory rights.
6 77. Sections 3 and 5 of the Executive Order conflict with the statutory rights and
8 Defendants have violated the procedural due process guarantees of the Fifth Amendment.
9 78. Defendants violation causes ongoing harm to the States and their residents.
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1 84. The Immigration and Nationality Act, 8 U.S.C. 1158 and 1231(b)(3), entitles
2 certain non-citizens arriving at the States ports of entry to apply for asylum and withholding
3 of removal.
5 nonimmigrant entry into the States by individuals from seven countries and forecloses their
7 86. Defendants violation causes ongoing harm to the States and their residents.
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1 92. The Religious Freedom Restoration Act, 42 U.S.C. 2000bb-1(a), prohibits the
2 federal government from substantially burdening the exercise of religion, even if the burden
5 burdens on the exercise of religion by non-citizen immigrants by, for example, preventing
6 them from exercising their religion while in detention, returning to their religious communities
7 in the States, and/or taking upcoming, planned religious travel abroad. Such burdens on
9 94. Sections 3 and 5 of the Executive Order also will result in substantial burdens
12 95. Defendants violation causes ongoing harm to the States and their residents.
16 107. The Tenth Amendment reserves all powers not enumerated in the Constitution
17 to the states and prohibits the federal government from commandeering state legislative
18 processes.
19 108. The Tenth Amendment prohibits the federal government from directly
21 109. Sections 3 and 5 of the Executive Order, together with statements made by
22 Defendants concerning their intent and application, target individuals for discriminatory
23 treatment based on their country of origin and/or religion, without lawful justification.
24 110. The States and their employers, housing providers, and businesses have long
25 been prohibited by their States laws from discriminating against people based on national
1 111. The Executive Order effectively mandates that the States engage in
2 discrimination based on national origin and/or religion, thereby rescinding the States historic
4 112. Through their actions above, Defendants have violated the Tenth Amendment.
8 a. Declare that Sections 3(c), 5(a)(c), and 5(e) of the Executive Order are
10 States;
12 (c), and 5(e) of the Executive Order, including at all United States
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