Washington, D.C. – A judge on the District Court for the District of Columbia ruled today to allow the Trump-Vance administration’s “Somali Fast-Track Policy” to continue advancing immigration cases that target Somali nationals in a manner that undermines access to counsel and a fair hearing.
The policy places Somali immigrants on a separate, nationality-based docket and forces their cases forward on an accelerated schedule, often giving attorneys only weeks to prepare asylum claims that typically require months or years. In the opinion, the judge noted that “the unrebutted record does suggest some form of coordinated effort directed only at nondetained Somali aliens.”
The lawsuit was brought by Hines Immigration Law, PLLC, and The Advocates for Human Rights, represented by Democracy Forward.
Attorneys have reported and plaintiffs’ statistics showed that at least two-thirds of non-detained Somali cases have been fast-tracked under the policy, while non-Somali cases proceed normally, demonstrating that the policy targets a single community and disrupts the ability of legal providers to represent their clients effectively. The decision noted that this evidence was not rebutted by the administration.
Plaintiffs issued the following joint statement:
“We are deeply disappointed that the court declined to block this discriminatory policy. The Somali Fast-Track Policy singles out one nationality and forces people through rushed immigration proceedings that make it nearly impossible to secure counsel or fairly present asylum claims. The stakes in these cases could not be higher; people are seeking protection from persecution, and the law guarantees them a fair process.
“By allowing this policy to continue, Somali asylum seekers remain at risk of being pushed through a system that denies them the time and support needed to navigate complex legal proceedings. We will continue to fight to ensure that no one is denied due process based on where they come from and to hold the Trump-Vance administration accountable for policies that undermine fairness and put lives at risk.”
The case is Hines Immigration Law PLLC v. Executive Office for Immigration Review, et al. The legal team at Democracy Forward includes Jyoti Jasrasaria, Michael Torcello, Yenisey Rodriguez, and Robin Thurston.
Read the order here and the motion for emergency relief here.
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Democracy Forward is a national legal organization that advances democracy and social progress through litigation, policy, public education, and regulatory engagement. For more information, please visit www.democracyforward.org.
