Latif v. Holder

969 F. Supp. 2d 1293, 2013 WL 4592515, 2013 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 122533
CourtDistrict Court, D. Oregon
DecidedAugust 28, 2013
DocketNo. 3:10-CV-00750-BR
StatusPublished
Cited by9 cases

This text of 969 F. Supp. 2d 1293 (Latif v. Holder) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, D. Oregon primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Latif v. Holder, 969 F. Supp. 2d 1293, 2013 WL 4592515, 2013 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 122533 (D. Or. 2013).

Opinion

OPINION AND ORDER

BROWN, District Judge.

This matter comes before the Court on Defendants’ Motion (# 85) for Partial Summary Judgment and Plaintiffs’ Cross-Motion (# 91) for Partial Summary Judgment. The parties seek summary judgment on Plaintiffs’ claims for procedural due process under the Fifth Amendment of the United States Constitution1 and the Administrative Procedures Act (APA), 5 U.S.C. § 706, in which Plaintiffs challenge the adequacy of Defendants’ redress procedures for persons on the United States government’s “No Fly List.” The Constitution Project (TCP) filed an Amicus Curiae Brief (# 99) in Support of Plaintiffs’ Cross-Motion.

The Court heard oral argument on June 21, 2013. At the conclusion of oral argument the Court requested Defendants to submit additional briefing as to whether any appellate courts have issued opinions on the merits of a challenge brought by a plaintiff who sought review of a final agency decision received through the Department of Homeland Security Traveler Redress Inquiry Program (DHS TRIP). Defendants filed their Notice of Response (# 107) to the Court’s Inquiry During Summary Judgment Hearing on July 3, 2013. The Court took the Cross-Motions under advisement on July 3, 2013.

For the reasons that follow, the Court GRANTS in part Plaintiffs’ Cross-Motion (# 91) as to Plaintiffs’ liberty interests in international air travel and reputation and DENIES in part Defendants’ Motion (# 85) as to the same issues. The Court, however, DEFERS ruling on the remaining parts of the pending Motions for the reasons set out herein and directs the par[1296]*1296ties to submit supplemental briefing in light of the Court’s rulings.

PLAINTIFFS’ CLAIMS

Plaintiffs are citizens and lawful permanent residents of the United States (including four veterans of the United States Armed Forces) who were not allowed to board flights to or from the United States or over United States air space. Plaintiffs believe they were denied boarding because they are on a government watch list known as the “No Fly List.” Plaintiffs allege some of them have been told by federal and/or local government officials that they are on the No Fly List. Each Plaintiff has submitted applications for redress through DHS TRIP. Despite Plaintiffs’ requests to officials and agencies for explanations as to why they were not permitted to board flights, none has been provided and Plaintiffs do not know whether they will be permitted to fly in the future.

In their Third Amended Complaint Plaintiffs allege Defendants have violated Plaintiffs’ Fifth Amendment right to procedural due process because Defendants have not given Plaintiffs any post-deprivation notice nor any meaningful opportunity to contest their continued inclusion on the No Fly List. Plaintiffs also assert Defendants’ actions have been arbitrary and capricious and constitute “unlawful agency action” in violation of the APA. Plaintiffs seek a declaratory judgment that Defendants’ policies, practices, and customs violate the Fifth Amendment of the United States Constitution and the APA and an injunction requiring Defendants (1) to remedy such violations, including removal of Plaintiffs’ names from any watch list or database that prevents them from flying; (2) to provide Plaintiffs with notice of the reasons and bases for Plaintiffs’ inclusion on the No Fly List; and (3) to provide Plaintiffs with the opportunity to contest such inclusion.

PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

Plaintiffs filed this action on June 30, 2010. On May 3, 2011, 2011 WL 1667471, this Court issued an Order (# 69) granting Defendants’ Motion (#43) to Dismiss for failure to join the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) as an indispensable party and for lack of subject-matter jurisdiction on the ground that the relief sought by Plaintiffs could only come from the appellate' court in accordance with 49 U.S.C. § 46110(a). Plaintiffs appealed the Court’s order to the Ninth Circuit. Latif v. Holder, 686 F.3d 1122 (9th Cir.2012).

On July 26, 2012, the Ninth Circuit issued an opinion in which it reversed this Court’s decision, holding “the district court ... has original jurisdiction over Plaintiffs’ claim that the government failed to afford them an adequate opportunity to contest their apparent inclusion on the List.” 686 F.3d at 1130. The Court also held “49 U.S.C. § 46110 presents no barrier to adding TSA as an indispensable party.” Id. The Ninth Circuit issued its mandate on November 19, 2012, remanding the matter to this Court.

As noted, the parties filed Cross-Motions for Partial Summary Judgment, and the Court heard oral argument on June 21, 2013.

BACKGROUND

The following facts are undisputed unless otherwise noted:

I. The No Fly List

The Terrorist Screening Center (TSC), which is administered by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), develops and maintains the federal government’s consolidated Terrorist Screening Database [1297]*1297(TSDB or sometimes referred to as the watch list). The No Fly List is a subset of the TSDB.

TSC provides the No Fly List to TSA, a component of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), for use in pre-screening airline passengers. TSC accepts nominations for inclusion in the TSDB, which are generally accepted by TSC because of a “reasonable suspicion” that the individuals are known or suspected terrorists based on the totality of the information reviewed. The federal government does not release its minimum, substantive, derogatory criteria for placement on the No Fly List nor the “Watchlisting Guidance” created for internal use by intelligence and law-enforcement communities.

II. DHS TRIP Redress Process

DHS TRIP is the mechanism available for individuals to seek redress for any travel-related screening issues experienced at airports or while crossing United States borders; ie., denial of or delayed airline boarding, denial of or delayed entry into or exit from the United States, or continuous referral for additional (secondary) screening. DHS TRIP allows travelers who have faced such difficulties to submit a “Traveler Inquiry Form” online, by email, or by regular mail. The form prompts travelers to describe their complaint, to produce documentation relating to the issue, and to provide identification and their contact information.

If the traveler is an exact or near match to an identity within the TDSB, DHS TRIP deems the complaint to be TSDBrelated and the traveler’s complaint is forwarded to TSC Redress for further review. Upon receipt of the complaint, TSC Redress reviews the available information, including the information and documentation provided by the traveler, and determines (1) whether the traveler is an exact match to an identity in the TSDB and (2) if an exact match, whether the traveler should continue to be in the TSDB. In making this determination, TSC coordinates with the agency that originally nominated the individual to be included in the TSDB.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
969 F. Supp. 2d 1293, 2013 WL 4592515, 2013 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 122533, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/latif-v-holder-ord-2013.