Hamama v. Adducci

342 F. Supp. 3d 751
Procedural entryThis page is a short order in Hamama v. Adducci. Read the opinion of the Court — 258 F. Supp. 3d 828
District Court, E.D. Michigan·Decided September 24, 2018·No. Case No. 17-cv-11910·Published

Opinion

SECOND OPINION & ORDER DENYING RESPONDENTS' MOTION TO DISMISS (Dkt. 135), AND GRANTING PETITIONERS' AMENDED MOTION TO CERTIFY CLASS (Dkt. 139)

MARK A. GOLDSMITH, United States District Judge *756On January 2, 2018, the Court entered an opinion and order denying in part Respondents' (the "Government's") motion to dismiss, and granting in part Petitioners' amended motion to certify class (Dkt. 191). The Court deferred ruling on certain counts in the Second Amended Petition (Dkt. 118) and deferred ruling on certification of the primary class. The Second Amended Petition sets forth claims pertaining to detention (Counts IV-VI), as well as those based on removal (Counts I-II), transfer and right to counsel (Count III), and an access-to-files claim (Count VII). The Court denied the Government's motion to dismiss with respect to Counts IV-VI, but deferred ruling on the other counts. See 1/2/2018 Op. at 45, PageID.5362. In a July 9, 2018 Joint Statement of Issues, Petitioners agreed to voluntarily dismiss Counts III and VII.1 Therefore, the only outstanding claims are a statutory claim alleging a right to access the immigration courts prior to removal (Count I), and a due process claim alleging the same (Count II). For the reasons set forth below, the Court denies the Government's motion to dismiss and grants Petitioners' motion to certify the primary class.

I. BACKGROUND

As recited in the Court's prior opinions, this case arises out of the arrest and detention of Iraqi nationals who are or were subject to long-standing final orders of removal. See, e.g., Hamama v. Adducci, 261 F.Supp.3d 820 (E.D. Mich. 2017). In June 2017, agents from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement ("ICE"), a division of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security ("DHS"), began arresting hundreds of these Iraqi nationals, the majority of whom are Chaldean Christians who would face persecution, torture, and possibly death if returned to Iraq. The initial round-up took place in Michigan, snaring approximately 114 individuals. Am. Hab. Pet. ¶ 5 (Dkt. 118). The number has since swelled to over 300, many of whom are still in Michigan detention facilities, with others scattered to various detention facilities throughout the country. Id. ¶¶ 5, 7, 12.

The vast majority of these individuals were ordered removed to Iraq years ago (some decades ago), because of criminal offenses they committed while in the United States. Id. ¶ 2. All of the detainees served their sentences and were released long ago, under orders of supervision because Iraq refused to accept repatriation. Id. According to Petitioners, they lived *757peaceably in their respective communities under the orders of supervision - a point the Government does not contest. Id.

While the detainees were scheduled for imminent removal following their arrests, this Court enjoined their removal in a July 24, 2017 ruling. See Hamama, 261 F.Supp.3d at 841-842. In its ruling, the Court held that while the REAL ID Act, 8 U.S.C. § 1252, prohibits habeas actions that arise out of the Attorney General's decision to execute orders of removal, the act was unconstitutional, as applied, because it suspended Petitioners' habeas rights. While the REAL ID Act provides an alternative to habeas actions (an administrative challenge in immigration courts, followed by a petition for review in the courts of appeals), the Court held that the circumstances of this case effectively foreclosed access to this alternative prior to removal.

Having concluded that the Court had jurisdiction to rule on Petitioners' habeas claims, the Court determined that Petitioners were entitled to a preliminary injunction enjoining their removal until they had a meaningful opportunity to challenge the continued validity of their orders of removal - under the Convention Against Torture ("CAT"), Dec. 10, 1984, 23 I.L.M. 1027, 1465 U.N.T.S. 85, as implemented by 8 C.F.R. § 208.18 and other authorities - in immigration courts and, if necessary, the courts of appeals.

II. STANDARDS OF DECISION

"To survive a motion to dismiss, a complaint must contain sufficient factual matter, accepted as true, to 'state a claim to relief that is plausible on its face.' A claim has facial plausibility when the plaintiff pleads factual content that allows the court to draw the reasonable inference that the defendant is liable for the misconduct alleged." Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678, 129 S.Ct. 1937, 173 L.Ed.2d 868 (2009) (quoting Bell Atl. Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 570, 127 S.Ct. 1955, 167 L.Ed.2d 929 (2007) ). "[T]he tenet that a court must accept as true all of the allegations contained in a complaint is inapplicable to legal conclusions. Threadbare recitals of the elements of a cause of action, supported by mere conclusory statements, do not suffice." Id.

With regard to class certification, "Rule 23 does not set forth a mere pleading standard." Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. v. Dukes, 564 U.S. 338, 350, 131 S.Ct. 2541, 180 L.Ed.2d 374 (2011). Rather, "[a] party seeking class certification must affirmatively demonstrate his compliance with the Rule ... [S]ometimes it may be necessary for the court to probe behind the pleadings before coming to rest on the certification question." Id. (quotation marks omitted).

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Hamama v. Adducci, 342 F. Supp. 3d 751 (E.D. Mich. 2018).

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Hamama v. Adducci
258 F. Supp. 3d 828 (E.D. Michigan, 2017)