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 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT EASTERN DISTRICT OF VIRGINIA ALEXANDRIA DIVISION ANAS ELHADY; ) OSAMA HUSSEIN AHMED; ) Case No. AHMAD IBRAHIM AL HALABI; ) Hon. MICHAEL EDMUND COLEMAN; ) WAEL HAKMEH; ) MURAT FRLJUCKIC; ) ADNAN KHALIL SHAOUT; ) COMPLAINT FOR INJUNCTIVE SALEEM ALI; ) AND DECLARATORY RELIEF SHAHIR ANWAR; ) SAMIR ANWAR; ) JOHN DOE NO. 1; ) JOHN DOE NO. 2; and, ) JOHN DOE NO. 3; ) ) Plaintiffs, ) ) v. ) ) CHRISTOPHER M. PIEHOTA, Director of the ) Terrorist Screening Center; in his official ) capacity; ) ) STEVEN MABEUS, Principal Deputy ) Director of the Terrorist Screening Center; ) in his official capacity; ) ) G. CLAYTON GRIGG, Deputy Director of ) Operations of the Terrorist Screening ) Center; in his official capacity; ) ) JAMES G. KENNEDY, Director, Transportation ) Security Redress (OTSR), Transportation ) Security Administration (TSA), United States ) Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and ) Director of the DHS Traveler Redress Inquiry ) Program (DHS TRIP); in his official capacity; ) ) MATTHEW G. OLSEN, Director of the ) National Counterterrorism Center, in ) his official capacity; ) ) Defendants. )

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Page 1: UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT COMPLAINT FOR … · 2 COMPLAINT FOR INJUNCTIVE AND DECLARATORY RELIEF Plaintiffs, Anas Elhady, Osama Hussein Ahmed, Ahmad Ibrahim Al Halabi, Michael

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UNITEDSTATESDISTRICTCOURTEASTERNDISTRICTOFVIRGINIA

ALEXANDRIADIVISIONANASELHADY; )OSAMAHUSSEINAHMED; ) CaseNo.AHMADIBRAHIMALHALABI; ) Hon.MICHAELEDMUNDCOLEMAN; )WAELHAKMEH; )MURATFRLJUCKIC; )ADNANKHALILSHAOUT; ) COMPLAINTFORINJUNCTIVESALEEMALI; ) ANDDECLARATORYRELIEFSHAHIRANWAR; )SAMIRANWAR; )JOHNDOENO.1; )JOHNDOENO.2;and, )JOHNDOENO.3; ) ) Plaintiffs, ) )v. ) )CHRISTOPHERM.PIEHOTA,Directorofthe )TerroristScreeningCenter;inhisofficial )capacity; ) )STEVENMABEUS,PrincipalDeputy )DirectoroftheTerroristScreeningCenter; )inhisofficialcapacity; ) )G.CLAYTONGRIGG,DeputyDirectorof )OperationsoftheTerroristScreening )Center;inhisofficialcapacity; ) )JAMESG.KENNEDY,Director,Transportation )SecurityRedress(OTSR),Transportation )SecurityAdministration(TSA),UnitedStates )DepartmentofHomelandSecurity(DHS),and )DirectoroftheDHSTravelerRedressInquiry )Program(DHSTRIP);inhisofficialcapacity; ) )MATTHEWG.OLSEN,Directorofthe ) NationalCounterterrorismCenter,in )hisofficialcapacity; ) ) Defendants. )

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COMPLAINTFORINJUNCTIVEANDDECLARATORYRELIEF

Plaintiffs, Anas Elhady, Osama Hussein Ahmed, Ahmad Ibrahim Al Halabi,

Michael Edmund Coleman, Wael Hakmeh, Murat Frljuckic, Adnan Khalil Shaout,

SaleemAli,ShahirAnwar,SamirAnwar,JohnDoeNo.1,JohnDoeNo.2,andJohnDoe

No.3forthemselvesandonbehalfofallotherssimilarlysituated,throughtheirattorneys,

Council on American‐Islamic Relations, Michigan (“CAIR‐MI”), The Law Office of Gadeir

Abbas,andAkeelandValentine,PLC,stateasfollows:

Introduction

1. Ourfederalgovernmentisimposinganinjusticeofhistoricproportionsupon

theAmericanswhohavefiledthisaction,aswellasthousandsofotherAmericans.Through

extra‐judicial and secretmeans, the federal government is ensnaring individuals into an

invisiblewebofconsequencesthatareimposedindefinitelyandwithoutrecourseasaresult

of the shockingly large federal watch list that now include hundreds of thousands of

individuals.

2. Indeed,many Americans, includingchildren,enduponthesesecret federal

watchlist–whichtheDefendantshavenamedtheTerroristScreeningDatabase(“TSDB”)–

basedonmereguesses,hunches,andconjectureandevensimplybasedonmattersofrace,

ethnicity,nationalorigin,religionortheexerciseoftheirconstitutionalrights.

3. These consequences include the inability to fly on airplanes, to go through

securitywithouthavingallscreenersreceiveamessagefortheremainderofalistee’slife

that she is a "known or suspected terrorist," to obtain licenses, to exercise their Second

Amendmentrighttoownafirearm,andtobefreefromtheunimaginableindignityandreal‐

life danger of having their own government communicate to hundreds of thousands of

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federalagents,privatecontractors,businesses, stateand localpolice, thecaptainsof sea‐

faringvessels,andforeigngovernmentsallacrosstheworldthattheyareaviolentmenace.

4. Andunfortunately,thefederalgovernmenthasdesigneditsfederalwatchlist

to be accountability‐free. Persons placed on the federal watch list have no means of

removing themselves or challenging the basis for their inclusion. Indeed, people on the

federalwatch listsonly learnoftheirplacementwhentheyfeel thewebofconsequences

burdeningtheirlivesandaspirations,andtheyneverlearnwhy.

5. Media accounts have made clear that the secret federal watch list is the

productofbigotryandmisguided,counterproductivezeal.Americansaredumpedontothe

watch list without being charged, convicted, or in some stomach‐churning cases, even

subjecttoanongoinginvestigation.

6. Instead, two recently leaked government documents and a governmental

report,whichincludetheMarch2013WatchlistingGuidance(Exhibit2),theDirectorateof

TerroristIdentities(DTI):StrategicAccomplishments2013(Exhibit3),andtheDepartment

of Justice's March 2014 Audit of the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Management of

TerroristWatchlist(Exhibit4)revealthatthecarethefederalgovernmenttakesincreating

its federal watch list is void of proper processing, which in turn results in life‐altering

consequencesthatflowfromtheseillegalactions.

7. Infact,uponinformationandbelief,Dearborn,acityoflessthan100,000and

aplaceArabAmericansandMuslimAmericanshavecalledhomeforgenerations,contains

the second highest concentration of Americans on the federal government's watch list.

Moreover,therehavebeenmorethan1.5millionnominationstothefederalwatchlistsince

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2009andthat,in2013forexample,theTerroristScreeningCenterconverted98.96percent

ofthosenominationsintowatchlistplacements.

8. Uponinformationandbelief,evidencealsoshowsthatthefederalgovernment

uses guilt‐by‐association presumptions to place family members and friends of listed

personsonthewatchlist.

9. Moreover,traveltoMuslimmajoritycountries—travelthatAmericanMuslims

areverylikelytoengagein—isalsoabasisforwatchlistplacement.

10. In 2009, the federal governmentmade 227,932 nominations to its federal

watchlist.In2013,thatnumbermorethandoubledatanalarminganddangerousrateto

468,749.

11. Recently,afederalcourtjudgeobservedinGuletMohamedv.EricR.Holder,Jr.,

etal.(UnitedStatesDistrictCourt,EasternDistrictofVirginia,CaseNo.11‐cv‐00050(2011)),

that“[a]showingofpastorongoingunlawfulconductdoesnotseemtoberequired,…But

the Court has little, if any, ability to articulate what information is viewed by TSC as

sufficiently‘derogatory’beyondthelabelsithasprovidedtheCourt.Insum,theNoFlyList

assumes that there are some American citizens who are simply too dangerous to be

permitted to fly, nomatter the level of pre‐flight screening or on‐flight surveillance and

restraint, even though those citizens cannot be legally arrested, detained, or otherwise

restrictedintheirmovementsorconduct.”SeeUnitedStatesDistrictCourt,EasternDistrict

ofVirginia,CaseNo.11‐cv‐00050(2011);Dkt.70at19;attachedasMemorandumOpinion

(Exhibit1).

12. Moreover,theCourtwentontofindthat“[i]nclusionontheNoFlyListalso

labels an American citizen a disloyal American who is capable of, and disposed toward

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committing,warcrimes,andonecaneasilyimaginethebroadrangeofconsequencesthat

mightbe visitedupon such aperson if that stigmatizingdesignationwereknownby the

generalpublic…TheprocessofnominationtotheNoFlyListisbasedonasuspectedlevelof

futuredangerousnessthatisnotnecessarilyrelatedtoanyunlawfulconduct.”SeeUnited

StatesDistrictCourt,EasternDistrictofVirginia,CaseNo.11‐cv‐00050(2011);Dkt.70at14,

17;attachedasMemorandumOpinion(Exhibit1).

Parties

13. PlaintiffYaseenKadura isa26yearoldUnitedStatesCitizenandaMuslim

residinginCookCounty,Illinois.Venueisproperbecauseasubstantialpartoftheeventsor

omissionsgivingrisetohisclaimsoccurredwithinthisdistrictwhichiswherethefederal

watchlistiscompiled.

14. PlaintiffOsamaHusseinAhmed isa24yearoldUnitedStatesCitizenanda

MuslimresidinginWayneCounty,Michigan.Venueisproperbecauseasubstantialpartof

theeventsoromissionsgivingrisetohisclaimsoccurredwithinthisdistrictwhichiswhere

thefederalwatchlistiscompiled.

15. Plaintiff Anas Elhady is a 22 year old United States Citizen and a Muslim

residinginWayneCounty,Michigan.Venueisproperbecauseasubstantialpartoftheevents

oromissionsgivingrisetohisclaimsoccurredwithinthisdistrictwhichiswherethefederal

watchlistiscompiled.

16. PlaintiffGuletMohamed isaUnitedStatesCitizenandaMuslimresiding in

Fairfax County, Virginia. Venue is proper because a substantial part of the events or

omissionsgivingrisetohisclaimsoccurredwithinthisdistrictwhichiswherethefederal

watchlistiscompiled.

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17. PlaintiffAhmadIbrahimAlHalabiisa37yearoldUnitedStatesCitizenanda

MuslimresidinginWayneCounty,Michigan.Venueisproperbecauseasubstantialpartof

theeventsoromissionsgivingrisetohisclaimsoccurredwithinthisdistrictwhichiswhere

thefederalwatchlistiscompiled.

18. PlaintiffMichaelEdmundColemanisa44yearoldUnitedStatesCitizenanda

MuslimresidinginWayneCounty,Michigan.Venueisproperbecauseasubstantialpartof

theeventsoromissionsgivingrisetohisclaimsoccurredwithinthisdistrictwhichiswhere

thefederalwatchlistiscompiled.

19. PlaintiffWaelHakmeh is a 37 year oldUnited States Citizen and aMuslim

residing inOaklandCounty,Michigan. Venue isproperbecausea substantialpartof the

eventsoromissionsgivingrisetohisclaimsoccurredwithinthisdistrictwhichiswherethe

federalwatchlistiscompiled.

20. Plaintiff Adnan Khalil Shaout is a 55 year old United States Citizen and a

Muslim residing in Jordan. Venue is proper because a substantial part of the events or

omissionsgivingrisetohisclaimsoccurredwithinthisdistrictwhichiswherethefederal

watchlistiscompiled.

21. PlaintiffSaleemAliisa43yearoldUnitedStatesCitizenandaMuslimresiding

inWayneCounty,Michigan. Venue isproperbecausea substantialpartof theeventsor

omissionsgivingrisetohisclaimsoccurredwithinthisdistrictwhichiswherethefederal

watchlistiscompiled.

22. Plaintiff Shahir Anwar is a 36 year oldUnited States Citizen and aMuslim

residing inMacombCounty,Michigan. Venue isproperbecauseasubstantialpartof the

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eventsoromissionsgivingrisetohisclaimsoccurredwithinthisdistrictwhichiswherethe

federalwatchlistiscompiled.

23. Plaintiff Samir Anwar is a 29 year old United States Citizen and aMuslim

residing inMacombCounty,Michigan. Venue isproperbecauseasubstantialpartof the

eventsoromissionsgivingrisetohisclaimsoccurredwithinthisdistrictwhichiswherethe

federalwatchlistiscompiled.

24. PlaintiffMariamJukakuisa32yearoldUnitedStatesCitizenandaMuslim

residinginAlamedaCounty,California. Venueisproperbecauseasubstantialpartofthe

eventsoromissionsgivingrisetohisclaimsoccurredwithinthisdistrictwhichiswherethe

federalwatchlistiscompiled.

25. PlaintiffMohammadHaydarisa34yearoldUnitedStatesCitizenandaMuslim

residinginAlamedaCounty,California. Venueisproperbecauseasubstantialpartofthe

eventsoromissionsgivingrisetohisclaimsoccurredwithinthisdistrictwhichiswherethe

federalwatchlistiscompiled.

26. Plaintiff JohnDoeNo.1 isa51yearoldUnitedStatesCitizenandaMuslim

residinginWashtenawCounty,Michigan.Venueisproperbecauseasubstantialpartofthe

eventsoromissionsgivingrisetohisclaimsoccurredwithinthisdistrictwhichiswherethe

federalwatchlistiscompiled.

27. Plaintiff JohnDoeNo.2 isa38yearoldUnitedStatesCitizenandaMuslim

residing inOaklandCounty,Michigan. Venue isproperbecausea substantialpartof the

eventsoromissionsgivingrisetohisclaimsoccurredwithinthisdistrictwhichiswherethe

federalwatchlistiscompiled.

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28. Plaintiff JohnDoeNo.3 isa55yearoldUnitedStatesCitizenandaMuslim

residinginWashtenawCounty,Michigan.Venueisproperbecauseasubstantialpartofthe

eventsoromissionsgivingrisetohisclaimsoccurredwithinthisdistrictwhichiswherethe

federalwatchlistiscompiled.

29. Defendant Christopher M. Piehota is the current Director of the Terrorist

Screening Center (“TSC”). Defendant Piehota was appointed in April, 2013. Defendant

Piehotadevelopsandmaintainsthefederalgovernment’sconsolidatedTerrorismScreening

Database(the“watchlist”),andacceptsnominationsofPlaintiffsandothersimilarlysituated

American citizens made to the federal watch list. Defendant Piehota also oversees the

dissemination of the stigmatizing label attached toPlaintiffs and other similarly situated

Americancitizensof“knownorsuspectedterrorists”tostateandlocalauthorities,foreign

governments, corporations, private contractors, gun sellers, the captains of sea‐faring

vessels,amongotherofficialandprivateentitiesandindividuals.DefendantPiehotaisbeing

suedinhisofficialcapacity,only.

30. Defendant Steven Mabeus is the current Principal Deputy Director of the

Terrorist Screening Center (“TSC”). DefendantMabeuswas appointed inOctober, 2013.

Defendant Mabeus develops and maintains the federal government’s consolidated

TerrorismScreeningDatabase(the“watchlist”),andacceptsnominationsofPlaintiffsand

othersimilarlysituatedAmericancitizensmadetothefederalwatchlist.DefendantMabeus

also oversees the disseminationof the stigmatizing label attached toPlaintiffs and other

similarly situatedAmericancitizensof “knownor suspected terrorists” to stateand local

authorities,foreigngovernments,corporations,privatecontractors,gunsellers,thecaptains

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ofsea‐faringvessels,amongotherofficialandprivateentitiesandindividuals. Defendant

Mabeusisbeingsuedinhisofficialcapacity,only.

31. DefendantG.ClaytonGriggisthecurrentDeputyDirectorofOperationsofthe

Terrorist Screening Center (“TSC”). Defendant Grigg began serving in September, 2013.

Defendant Grigg developed and maintained the federal government’s consolidated

TerrorismScreeningDatabase(the“watchlist”),andacceptednominationsofPlaintiffsand

othersimilarlysituatedAmericancitizensmadetothefederalwatchlist.DefendantGrigg

also oversaw the dissemination of the stigmatizing label attached to Plaintiffs and other

similarly situatedAmericancitizensof “knownor suspected terrorists” to stateand local

authorities,foreigngovernments,corporations,privatecontractors,gunsellers,thecaptains

ofsea‐faringvessels,amongotherofficialandprivateentitiesandindividuals. Defendant

Griggisbeingsuedinhisofficialcapacity,only.

32. Defendant James Kennedy is the Director of the Office of Transportation

Security Redress (OTSR), Transportation Security Administration (TSA), United States

DepartmentofHomelandSecurity(DHS).DefendantKennedyalsoservesastheDirectorof

the DHS Traveler Inquiry Program (DHS TRIP). Defendant Kennedy is responsible for

overseeing DHS TRIP, the administrative complaint process to challenge nominations of

PlaintiffsandothersimilarlysituatedAmericancitizensmadetothefederalwatchlist,and

coordinatingwithothergovernmentagencies,includingtheTerrorismScreeningCenter,to

resolvethecomplaint.DefendantKennedyisbeingsuedinhisofficialcapacity,only.

33. Defendant Matthew G. Olsen is Director of the National Counterterrorism

Center (“NCTC”). Defendant Olsen is responsible for Defendant the nominations that

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resultedintheplacementofPlaintiffsandothersimilarlysituatedAmericancitizensonthe

federalwatchlist.Olsenisbeingsuedinhisofficialcapacity,only.

JurisdictionandVenue

34. Under U.S. Const. Art. III §2, this Court has jurisdiction because the rights

soughttobeprotectedhereinaresecuredbytheUnitedStatesConstitution.Jurisdictionis

properpursuantto28U.S.C.§1331,Bivensv.SixUnknownNamedAgentsofFederalBureau

ofNarcotics, 403U.S.388 (1971),et seq., 5U.S.C. §702,5U.S.C. §706, theUnitedStates

Constitution,andfederalcommonlaw.

35. ThisactionseeksdeclaratoryreliefpursuanttotheDeclaratoryJudgmentAct,

28U.S.C.§§2201‐02,Rules57and65oftheFederalRulesofCivilProcedure,andpursuant

tothegeneral,legal,andequitablepowersofthisCourt.

36. Thisactionalsoseeksdamagespursuantto28U.S.C.§1343(a)(4)and28U.S.C.

§1357.

37. Asubstantialpartoftheunlawfulactsallegedhereinwerecommittedwithin

thejurisdictionoftheUnitedStatesDistrictCourtfortheEasternDistrictofVirginia.

38. Venue is proper under 42 U.S.C. § 1391(e) as to all Defendants because

DefendantsareofficersoremployeesofagenciesoftheUnitedStatessuedintheirindividual

capacities and because this judicial district is where a substantial part of the events or

omissionsgivingrisetotheclaimsoccurred.

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FactualBackground

TheFederalGovernment’sTerroristWatchList

39. InSeptember,2003,AttorneyGeneralJohnAshcroftestablishedtheTerrorist

ScreeningCenter(“TSC”)toconsolidatethegovernment’sapproachtoterrorismscreening.

TheTSC,whichisadministeredbytheFBI,developsandmaintainsthefederalgovernment’s

consolidatedTerrorismScreeningDatabase(the“watchlist”).TSC’sconsolidatedwatchlist

is the federal government’s master repository for suspected international and domestic

terroristrecordsusedforwatchlistrelatedscreening.

40. Thewatchlisthastwoprimarycomponents:theSelecteeListandtheNo‐Fly

List.PersonsontheSelecteeList,includingmanyofPlaintiffs,aresystematicallysubjectto

extrascreeningatairportsandlandbordercrossings,andoftenfind“SSSS”ontheirboarding

passesprintedbyairlineemployeeswhich ismarked to indicateapassenger’swatch list

status to airline employees and screeners. Persons on the No‐Fly List, including the

remainder of Plaintiffs, are prevented fromboarding flights that fly into, out of, or even

throughUnitedStatesairspace.

41. TSCdisseminates records from its terroristwatch list toothergovernment

agencies that in turn use those records to identify suspected terrorists. For example,

applicableTSCrecordsareprovidedtoTSAforusebyairlinesinpre‐screeningpassengers

andtoCBPforuseinscreeningtravelersenteringtheUnitedStatesbyland.

42. Uponinformationandbelief,TSCdisseminatedtherecordsofPlaintiffsfrom

itsterroristwatchlisttoothergovernmentagencies,includingtheTSAforusebyairlinesin

pre‐screeningPlaintiffs, andCBP foruse in screeningPlaintiffsuponentering theUnited

States.

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43. Uponinformationandbelief,Defendantsdisseminatedtherecordspertaining

toPlaintiffsfromitsterroristwatchlisttoforeigngovernmentswiththepurposeandhope

that those foreign governments will constrain the movement of the Plaintiffs in some

manner.

44. Uponinformationandbelief,Defendants’intentionindisseminatingwatchlist

records,includingthoseofPlaintiffsandsimilarlysituatedAmericancitizens,aswidelyas

possibleistoconstrainPlaintiffs’movements,notonlywithintheUnitedStates,butabroad

aswell.Forexample,somecountriesdetainindividualslistedonthefederalwatchlistwho

enter theirborders, question those individuals at thebehestofUnitedStatesofficials, or

altogetherpreventthoseindividualsfromevenenteringthosecountries.

45. Thus, while the TSC maintains and controls the database of suspected

terrorists,itisthefront‐lineagenciesliketheTSAthatcarryoutthescreeningfunction.In

thecontextofairtravel,whenindividualsmakeairlinereservationsandcheckinatairports,

the front‐line screening agency, like TSA and CBP, conducts a name‐based search of the

individual,includingeachofthePlaintiffs,todeterminewhetherheorsheisonawatchlist.

46. Whileagenciesthroughoutthefederalgovernmentutilizethefederalwatch

list to conduct screening, listed persons are subject to a comprehensive portfolio of

consequencesthatcoverlargeaspectsoftheirlives.

47. Indeed, the federal government disseminates its federal watch list to both

governmentauthoritiesandprivatecorporationsandindividualswiththepurposeandhope

that these entities and/or individuals will impose consequences on those individuals

Defendantshavelisted.

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48. Upon information and belief, the status of Plaintiffs and similarly situated

Americancitizensasknownorsuspectedterroristsonthefederalwatchlistdiminishesand

evenimperilstheirabilitytoaccessthefinancialsystem.

49. Bankshaveclosedthebankaccountsofindividualslistedonthefederalwatch

list and financial companieshavedeclined toallowsome listed individuals tomakewire

transfers.

50. Moreover, upon information and belief, the citizenship and green card

applicationsofPlaintiffsandsimilarlysituatedAmericancitizensaredelayed indefinitely

due toan “FBInamecheck”andnotadjudicated, therebydenyingPlaintiffsandsimilarly

situatedAmericancitizensof therights the flow fromcitizenship, including theability to

travel freely as a United States citizen and to sponsor for lawful permanent residency

immediaterelativeslivingabroad.

51. Amongtheentitiesandindividualsthatthefederalgovernmentdisseminates

its federal watch list are state and local authorities, foreign governments, corporations,

privatecontractors,gunsellers,thecaptainsofsea‐faringvessels,amongothers.

52. Upon information and belief, because the names of Plaintiffs and similarly

situated American citizens are included on the federal watch list, their names were

disseminated to state and local authorities, foreign governments, corporations, private

contractors,thecaptainsofsea‐faringvessels,amongotherofficialandprivateentitiesand

individuals.

53. Becausethefederalgovernmentdisseminatesitsfederalwatchlisttoforeign

governments, listedpersons, includingPlaintiffsandsimilarlysituatedAmericancitizens,

areoftennotallowedtoenterothernations.ThisisbecausetheUnitedStatesistellingother

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nations,withoutanymodicumofdueprocess,thatthousandsofitsowncitizensare“known

orsuspectedterrorists.”

54. Thefederalgovernmentdisseminatesitsfederalwatchlisttostateandlocal

policeofficers,includingPlaintiffs,whichallowsthoseofficerstoquerythenamesofpersons,

ifforexample,thelistedindividualispulledoverforroutinetrafficviolations.

55. Disseminatingthefederalwatchlisttostateandlocalpoliceofficerscreatesa

dangeroussituationinsofarasthefederalwatchlisteffectivelydirectsstateandlocalofficers

totreatthousandsofAmericans,includingPlaintiffs,chargedorconvictedwithnocrimeyet

listedasa“knownorsuspectedterrorist”andasextremelydangerous.

56. Withtheadventanddeploymentofautomaticlicenseplatereadersbypolice

departments across the country, local and state authorities have relied heavily upon a

driver’s watch list status as the basis of a traffic stop, including Plaintiffs and similarly

situatedAmericancitizens.

57. Beingonthefederalwatchlistcanpreventlistedpersons,includingPlaintiffs

andsimilarlysituatedAmericancitizens,frompurchasingagun.Forexample,NewJersey

passed a law in 2013 that banned persons on the federal watch list from owning guns.

Additionally, Connecticut is in the process of setting up an institutional mechanism to

preventindividualswhosenamesareincludedonthefederalwatchlist,suchasPlaintiffs,

frombeingabletobuyaguninthestateofConnecticut.

58. Accordingly,PlaintiffsandsimilarlysituatedAmericancitizensareunableto

purchasegunsinstatesthatbanpersonsonthefederalwatchlistfromowningguns.

59. Because the federal government conducts a security risk assessment that

includesqueryingthefederalwatchlistpriortoissuingalicensetocommercialdriversto

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transporthazardousmaterials,beingonthefederalwatchlistcanpreventlistedpersons,

including Plaintiffs and similarly situatedAmerican citizens, from obtaining or renewing

theirHazmatlicense.

60. Being on the federal watch list can also prevent listed persons, including

PlaintiffsandsimilarlysituatedAmericancitizens,fromaccompanyingminorsorpassengers

withdisabilitiestotheirgate,fromworkingatanairport,orworkingforanairlineinsofaras

listedpersonsarenotallowedtoenterso‐called“sterileareas”ofairports.

61. Beingonthefederalwatchlistcanalsoresultinthedenialorrevocationofa

FederalAviationAdministration(FAA)licenseofPlaintiffsandsimilarlysituatedAmerican

citizens.

62. AlthoughTSA,CBP,andotheragenciesmayusetherecordsprovidedbythe

TSC,itistheTSCthatmaintainsandcontrolsthedatabaseofsuspectedterrorists.

63. Two government entities, including the Unidentified FBI Agents and

UnidentifiedTSCAgentsemployedbythosegovernmententities,areprimarilyresponsible

for“nominating”individualsforinclusionintheterroristwatchlist—theNCTCandtheFBI.

TheNCTC,whichismanagedbytheOfficeoftheDirectorofNationalIntelligence,relieson

informationfromotherfederaldepartmentsandagencieswhenincludingallegedknownor

suspectedinternationalterroristsinitsTerroristIdentitiesDatamartEnvironment(“TIDE”)

database.TheNCTCreviewsTIDEentriesandrecommendsspecificentriestotheTSCfor

inclusioninthewatchlist.TIDEisthemainsourceofallinternationalterroristinformation

includedinthewatchlist.

64. TheFBI,includingtheUnidentifiedFBIAgents,inturn,nominatestothewatch

list individualswithwhat it characterizes as suspected ties to domestic terrorism. TSC,

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includingDefendantHealyandUnidentifiedTSCAgents,makesthefinaldecisiononwhether

anominatedindividualmeetstheminimumrequirementsforinclusionintothewatchlistas

aknownorsuspectedterrorist.TSCalsodecideswhichscreeningsystemswillreceivethe

informationaboutthatindividual.

65. DefendantHealyhastestifiedthatinevaluatingwhetheranindividualmeets

the criteria for inclusionon the consolidatedwatch list, theTSCdetermineswhether the

nominated individual is “reasonably suspected” of having possible links to terrorism.

AccordingtotheTSC,“reasonablesuspicionrequiresarticulablefactswhich,takentogether

withrationalinferences,reasonablywarrantthedeterminationthatanindividualisknown

orsuspectedtobeorhasbeenengagedinconductconstituting,inpreparationfor,inandof

orrelatedtoterrorismandterroristactivities.”

66. Defendantshavenotstatedpubliclywhatstandardsorcriteriaareappliedto

determinewhetheranAmericancitizenontheconsolidatedwatchlistwillbeplacedonthe

No‐FlyList,SelecteeList(“SSSS”)orotherlistthatisdistributedtotheTSA,CBPorother

screeningagencies.

67. The standards for watch list inclusion do not evince even internal logic.

Defendantsdefinea“suspectedterrorist”asan“individualwhoisreasonablysuspectedto

be,orhavebeen,engagedinconductconstituting,inpreparationfor,inaidof,orrelatedto

terrorismandterroristactivitiesbasedonarticulableandreasonablesuspicion.”Inother

words, Defendants place American citizens on the federal watch list based upon a

“reasonable suspicion” that they are “reasonably suspected” of nefarious activities. This

“reasonablesuspicion”basedona“reasonablesuspicion”standarddoesnotevencontain

internallogic.

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68. Thefederalgovernmentutilizesguilt‐by‐associationasabasisforwatchlist

inclusion.Forexample,theimmediaterelativeoflistedpersonscanbelistedwithoutany

derogatory information—other than the bonds of family. Nonetheless, such designation

suggeststhattheimmediaterelativeishimorherselfengagedinnefariousactivities.

69. Being a known associate—a friend, colleague, fellow community member,

etc.—ofalistedindividualcanalsoprovideabasisforwatchlistinclusion.

70. EvenifanAmericancitizenisacquittedofterrorismchargesorthosecharges

areotherwisedismissed,thefederalgovernmentretainsforitselftheauthoritytocontinue

toincludetheminthewatchlist.

71. Forreasonsunknown,Defendantsalsoplacewhattheycall“non‐investigatory

subjects”onthefederalwatchlist,Americancitizensthattheyhavechosennottoinvestigate.

72. Under these practices and standards, the number of records in the

consolidatedwatchlisthasswelled.Over1.5millionnominationstothewatchlisthavebeen

submittedbyfederalagenciessincefiscal2009.

73. In2013,DefendantTSCaccepted98.96percentofallnominationsmade.

74. Becauseoftheseloosestandardsandpractices,thefederalwatchlist’srateof

growthhasincreased.Infiscal2009,therewere227,932nominationstothewatchlist.In

fiscal2013,therewere468,749nominations.

75. Uponinformationandbelief,in2001,therewere16peoplewhothefederal

governmentsystematicallypreventedfromflying.In2013,thatnumberincreasedto47,000.

76. Once anAmerican citizenhasbeenplacedon thewatch list, the individual

remainsonthelistuntiltheagencythatsuppliedtheinitial informationinsupportofthe

nominationdeterminestheindividualshouldberemoved.

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77. A2007GAOreportfoundthatTSCrejectsonlyapproximatelyonepercentof

allnominationstothewatchlist.1Assuch,thewatchlistisgrowingatarateofapproximately

20,000entriesperyear.

78. AtaMarch10,2010SenateHomelandSecurityCommitteehearing,RusselE.

Travers,DeputyDirectoroftheNationalCounterterrorismCenter,statedthat“[t]heentire

federalgovernmentisleaningveryfarforwardonputtingpeopleonlist,”andthatthewatch

listis“gettingbigger,anditwillgetevenbigger.”

79. ThefederalwatchlistalsodisproportionatelytargetsAmericanMuslims.

80. Defendantshaveutilizedthewatchlist,notasatooltoenhanceaviationand

bordersecurity,butasabludgeontocoerceAmericanMuslimsintobecominginformantsor

forgoingtheexerciseoftheirrights,suchastherighttohaveanattorneypresentduringlaw

enforcementquestioning.

81. Public examplesof thisphenomenonabound. SeeLatifv.Holder,2014U.S.

Dist.LEXIS85450,*19(D.Or.June24,2014)(anFBIagenttoldStevenWashburnthathe

“wouldhelpremoveWashburn'snamefromtheNo‐FlyListifheagreedtospeaktotheFBI”);

Id.at*21‐22(FBIagentstoldIbraheimMashalthat“hisnamewouldberemovedfromthe

No‐Fly List and he would receive compensation if he helped the FBI by serving as an

informant.”):Idat*22‐23(FBIagentsofferedAmirMeshal“theopportunitytoserveasa

government informant in exchange for assistance in removinghisname from theNo‐Fly

List.”). SeealsoFikrev.FBI,2014U.S.Dist. LEXIS73174 (D.Or.May29,2014) (Emirati

officialstoldYonasFikrethathe“couldnottraveltotheUnitedStatesbyairbecauseheison

                                                            1 See United States Government Accountability Office Report to Congressional Requesters entitled Terrorist Watch List Screening:  Opportunities Exist to Enhance Management Oversight, Reduce Vulnerabilities in Agency Screening Processes, and Expand Use of the List, GAO‐08‐110, October 2007, at 22. 

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theNo‐FlyList”andanFBIagenttoldFikrethat“theFBIcouldtakestepstoremove[him]

fromtheNo‐FlyListifheagreedtobeaninformant.”);Tanveerv.Holder,et.al.,No.13‐cv‐

6951,Dkt.15(April22,2014)(NaveedShinwari “declinedtoactasan informant for the

FederalBureauofInvestigationandtospyon[his]ownAmericanMuslimcommunitiesand

otherinnocentpeople.”).

82. AlmostallpubliclyknowninstancesofAmericansbeingplacedonthewatch

listregardMuslimsorpersonswhocouldbemistakenforMuslims.

83. Additionally,governmentrecordsshowthatDearborn,Michigan—whichis40

percentArab—isdisproportionatelyrepresentedonthefederalwatchlist.Infact,Dearborn

isamongthetopfivecitiesinthecountry,alongsideChicago,Houston,NewYork,andSan

Diego,representedonthefederalwatchlist.

84. Defendants’ 2013WatchlistingGuidancealso indicates that “[t]ravel forno

knownlawfulorlegitimatepurposetoalocusofterroristactivity”canbeabasisforbeing

listed.Whilea“locusofTerroristActivity”isnotdefinedbythedocument,uponinformation

andbelief,itlikelyincludesanyplacewheremanyMuslimsreside.

85. Thefederalwatchlist’sinclusionstandardsaresopermissiveandpliableand

the selectee list's efficacy is at best fleetingly marginal that the inclusion standards

themselvesviolatePlaintiffsproceduralandsubstantivedueprocess.

86. Thefederalwatchlistdiminishes,ratherthanenhances,ournationalsecurity

becausethenumberofinnocentAmericansonthelistisbecomingsovoluminousthatthe

purposeofhavingalistissignificantlyunderminedasallarebeingtreatedasthesame.

87. Theconsequencesofbeingonthefederalwatchlistaremetedoutpublically.

Membersofthepubliccanwitnesstheextrascreeningtowhichindividualsonthefederal

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watchlistaresubject,includingbeingpulledoutoftheircaratgunpoint,beingorderedto

leave one's vehiclewith one's hands held above his/her head, among other stigmatizing

measures.

88. Inpractice,frontlinescreenersdisclosethestatusofindividualsonthefederal

watchlisttostateandlocalauthorities,aswellasairlineemployees.

89. Theoperationofthefederalwatchlistenlistsaircarrierstoassistthefederal

governmentintrackingthepassengeronthefederalwatchlist.

90. DefendantsapplythefederalwatchlistagainstMuslimAmericansinamanner

thatisdifferentfromhowitusesitslistagainstpeopleofotherfaithbackgrounds.

91. Defendantsuseimpermissibleandinaccuratereligiousprofilesincompiling

thefederalwatchlist.

92. Defendants who contributed to the placement of Plaintiffs and similarly

situatedAmericancitizensonthefederalwatchlistknewthattheiractionsviolatedclearly

establishedfederallaw.

93. Defendants knew at the time they acted unlawfully that Supreme Court

precedent required that,whenever a citizen is deprived of a liberty interest, the federal

governmentmustatleastprovidethedeprivedwithsomeformofnoticethatadeprivation

occurred.

InadequacyoftheDHSTravelerRedressInquiryProgramProcess

94. The government entities and individuals involved in the creation,

maintenance, support, modification and enforcement of the federal watch list, including

Defendants,havenotprovidedtravelers,includingPlaintiffsandsimilarlysituatedAmerican

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citizens,witha fairandeffectivemechanism throughwhich theycanchallenge theTSC’s

decisiontoplacethemontheterroristwatchlist.

95. An individual, including Plaintiffs and similarly situated American citizens,

whohasbeenpreventedorhinderedfromtravelbybeingplacedonthefederalwatchlist

has no clear avenue for redress, because no single government entity is responsible for

removinganindividualfromthelist.TheTSC,whichisadministeredbytheFBI,doesnot

acceptredressinquiriesfromthepublic,nordoesitdirectlyprovidefinaldispositionletters

to individuals on the selectee list, including Plaintiffs on the selectee list and similarly

situatedAmericancitizens,whohavesubmittedredressinquiries.TheNCTCwhichmanages

theTIDElistdoesnotacceptredressinquiriesfromthegeneralpublic.

96. Individualswhoseekredressafterhavingbeenincludedintheterroristwatch

list must submit an inquiry through the DHS Traveler Redress Inquiry Program (“DHS

TRIP”).DHSTRIPprovidesindividualswitha“RedressControlNumber.”

97. DHSTRIPistheonlyredress“process”availabletoindividualsincludedonthe

terroristwatchlist.

98. DHSTRIPsubmitstravelercomplaintstotheTSC,whichdetermineswhether

anyactionshouldbetaken. TheTSChasnotprovidedanypubliclyavailableinformation

abouthowitmakesthatdecision. TheTSC is the finalarbiterofwhetheran individual’s

nameisretainedonorremovedfromthewatchlist,includingthoseofPlaintiffsandsimilarly

situatedAmericancitizens.

99. TheTSCmakesadeterminationregardingaparticularindividual’sstatuson

thewatchlist,includingPlaintiffsandsimilarlysituatedAmericancitizens,andDHSinturn

respondstotheindividualwithastandardformletterthatneitherconfirmsnordeniesthe

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existenceofanyterroristwatchlistrecordsrelatingtotheindividual.Thelettersdonotset

forthanybasisforinclusioninaterroristwatchlist,donotstatewhetherthegovernment

hasresolvedthecomplaintatissue.

100. ThegovernmentdoesnotprovideanAmericancitizenwithanyopportunity

toconfront,ortorebut,thegroundsforhisorherpossibleinclusiononthewatchlist.As

such,DHSTRIPoffersnomeaningfulreviewofthewatchlistdesignationandineffectshields

theTSC’sactionswithrespecttotheindividualnominationsorclassesofnominationsfrom

meaningfulreviewbyanyindependentauthority.

101. Moreover,thegovernment’sowninternalauditsofthesystempointtoserious

flaws.Forexample,aMarch2008DOJOfficeoftheInspectorGeneralreportentitledAudit

oftheU.S.DepartmentofJusticeTerrorismWatchlistNominationProcessesfoundsignificant

problemswiththenominationandremovalprocess.

102. Thus,theonly“process”availabletosuchindividualsistosubmittheirnames

andotheridentifyinginformationtoagovernmententitythathasnoauthoritytoprovide

redressandtohopethatanunspecifiedgovernmentagencycorrectsanerrororchangesits

mind.

103. Asallegedbelow,eachofthePlaintiffsandsimilarlysituatedAmericancitizens

aredesignatedonthewatchlist.

PlaintiffAnasElhady

104. Mr.AnasElhadyisroutinelyreferredtosecondaryinspection,handcuffedand

detainedbyCBPat landbordercrossingswhenheattemptstore‐entertheUnitedStates

fromCanada.

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105. CBPofficersroutinelysubjecthimtoaprolongeddetentionandquestioning

forapproximatelyfourtotwelvehourseachtime.

106. Moreover, he is routinely asked questions about his religious beliefs and

practices,whatsectofIslamhebelongsto,whatmosquehepraysin,amongotherthings.

107. Moreover,everytimeMr.Elhadytravelsbyair,hisboardingpassisstamped

withthe“SSSS”designation,indicatingthathehasbeendesignatedasa“knownorsuspected

terrorist.”

108. Mr.ElhadyfiledaredressrequestthroughDHSTRIP.

109. OnMay11,2015,Mr.Elhadyreceivedaletterasdescribedinparagraph99

aboveandwasassignedaRedressControlNumber.

110. Shortly afterwards,Mr.Elhadywasagain referred to secondary inspection,

handcuffedanddetainedbyCBPattheborderstopattheAmbassadorBridgePortofEntry

inDetroit,Michigan,forapproximatelysixhourswhenheattemptedtore‐entertheUnited

StatesafterabriefvacationinCanada.

111. AftertheCBPofficersconfiscatedMr.Elhady’sjacketandshoes,theydetained

himinasmall,freezingcoldholdingcellwithbrightlights.

112. Afterseveralhours,Mr.Elhadyknockedonthedoorrepeatedlyandbegged

forsomeonetohelphim.Hispleasforhelpwereignored.

113. Afterwards,hisbodybeganshakinguncontrollablyandhefellunconscious.

114. CBPofficersfinallyopenedthedoorandwokehimup.

115. Mr.Elhadyrepeatedlybeggedforanambulancetotakehimtothehospital,but

hispleaswereignored.

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116. Finally,Mr.Elhadywastakentoanambulance,onlytobehandcuffedtothe

bedinsidetheambulance.

117. Mr.Elhadywastakentoalocalhospital,wherehewashandcuffedtoachair

inthewaitingroomofthehospital.

118. After being attended to by nurses and physicians, and prescribed the

medicationthatheneeded,Mr.Elhadywasagainhandcuffedtoachairinsideavehicleand

transportedbacktotheAmbassadorBridge.

119. OnDecember2,2015,FBISpecialAgentJoshAllencontactedMr.Elhadyand

informedhimthathisphonewasbeingtappedandthatallhiscallswerebeinglistenedtoby

theFBI.

120. Mr. Elhady’s boarding pass continues to be stamped with the “SSSS”

designationwhen travels by air, indicating that he has been designated as a “known or

suspectedterrorist.”

121. Additionally,everytimeMr.Elhadytravelsbyair,heisreferredtosecondary

inspectionandsubjectedtoprolongedsearchesandquestioning.

122. AtnotimewasMr.Elhadygivennoticeofthefactualbasisforhisplacement

onthefederalwatchlist,andatnotimewasheofferedameaningfulopportunitytocontest

hisdesignation.

123. Moreover, atno timewasMr.Elhadygivennoticeof thedeprivationofhis

libertyinterestsorviolationofhisconstitutionalrights.

124. Uponinformationandbelief,Mr.Elhadyremainsonthefederalwatchlist.

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125. Uponinformationandbelief,Mr.Elhady’snominationtothefederalwatchlist

was made based solely upon a hunch (based upon his race, ethnicity, national origin,

religiousaffiliation,orFirstAmendmentprotectedactivities).

PlaintiffOsamaHusseinAhmed

126. On or about February orMarch, 2011,Mr. Osama Ahmed appeared at the

DetroitMetropolitanAirport,uponreturninghomeonacommercialflightfromYemen.

127. Mr. Ahmed was escorted from the gate to an interrogation room and

interrogatedbyFBIagentsforapproximatelysixtosevenhours.

128. The FBI agents confiscated his USB drive that he hadwith him, and upon

informationandbelief,downloadedtheinformationfromhisUSBdrive.

129. Severaldayslater,FBIagents,includingSpecialAgentJoelKelso,appearedat

Mr.Ahmed’shome.

130. TheFBIagentstookhimtoanearbybd’sMongolianGrill,andattemptedto

recruitMr.AhmedintobecominganinformantinYemen.

131. TheFBIagentstriedtoenticeMr.Ahmed,whowasonly18yearsoldatthe

time, intobecomingan informantbyoffering to teachhimhowtoskydive,amongother

things.

132. SpecialAgentKelsoinformedMr.AhmedthathisnamewasontheNo‐FlyList,

andthatifhecooperated,hisnamewouldberemovedfromthelist.

133. OnApril29,2011,Mr.AhmedfiledacomplaintthroughDHSTRIP.

134. OnMay2,2011,Mr.Ahmed’sattorneyspokewithSpecialAgentKelsowho

informedheratthattimethattherewasnobasistoincludeMr.AhmedontheNo‐FlyList,

andthathewouldmakearrangementstoremovehisnamefromthefederalwatchlist.

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135. OnMay10,2011,SpecialAgentKelsoinformedhisattorneythatMr.Ahmed’s

namewasremovedfromtheNo‐FlyList.

136. AsaresultofbeingaddedtotheNo‐FlyList,Mr.Ahmedwasunabletoapply

foremploymentattheairportwherehisbrotherwasemployedatthetimeuntilhisname

wasremovedfromtheNo‐FlyList.

137. Uponinformationandbelief,Mr.Ahmed’snamewasaddedtotheNo‐FlyList

inordertoleveragehisstatusonthefederalwatchlisttoputpressureonMr.Ahmedtoact

asaninformantinYemen.

138. Onorabout2015,Mr.Ahmed’sboardingpassesarenowstampedwith the

“SSSS” designation, indicating that he has been once again designated as a “known or

suspectedterrorist.”

139. AtnotimewasMr.Ahmedgivennoticeofthefactualbasisforhisplacement

onthefederalwatchlist,andatnotimewasheofferedameaningfulopportunitytocontest

hisdesignation.

140. Moreover,atno timewasMr.Ahmedgivennoticeof thedeprivationofhis

libertyinterestsorviolationofhisconstitutionalrights.

141. Uponinformationandbelief,Mr.Ahmedremainsonthefederalwatchlist.

142. Uponinformationandbelief,Mr.Ahmed’snominationtothefederalwatchlist

was made based solely upon a hunch (based upon his race, ethnicity, national origin,

religiousaffiliation,orFirstAmendmentprotectedactivities).

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PlaintiffAhmadIbrahimAlHalabi

143. EverytimeMr.AhmadAlHalabitravelsbyair,since2004,hisboardingpass

isstampedwiththe“SSSS”designation,indicatingthathehasbeendesignatedasa“known

orsuspectedterrorist.”

144. Moreover,Mr.AlHalabi is frequentlyunable toboardhis flightsuntilhe is

“cleared”byDHStoboardtheflight,aprocessthatoftentimestakeshours.

145. Moreover, Mr. Al Halabi has missed his flights and incurred additional

expenses on multiple occasions after having been subjected to prolonged searches and

interrogations.

146. On June 25, 2014, Mr. Al Halabi was surrounded by armed CBP officers,

handcuffed in front of his children and detained in a freezing cold holding cell for

approximatelytwotothreehoursandinthewaitingareaforanotherthreetofourhoursat

theAmbassadorBridgeportofentryinDetroit,Michigan,whenheattemptedtore‐enterthe

UnitedStatesafterabriefvacationinCanada.

147. CBPofficersconfiscatedhisphone,anduponinformationandbelief,theCBP

officersdownloadedthedatafromhisphone.

148. Mr.AlHalabino longer travelsbyairnordoeshe travel toCanadaby land

unlessabsolutelynecessaryforbusinesspurposesinordertoavoidbeingsubjectedtothe

abovetreatment.

149. Mr.AlHalabifiledmultipleredressrequeststhroughDHSTRIP.

150. Mr.AlHalabireceivedmultiplelettersasdescribedinparagraph99aboveand

wasassignedmultipleRedressControlNumbers.

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151. AtnotimewasMr.AlHalabigivennoticeofthefactualbasisforhisplacement

onthefederalwatchlist,andatnotimewasheofferedameaningfulopportunitytocontest

hisdesignation.

152. Moreover,atnotimewasMr.AlHalabigivennoticeofthedeprivationofhis

libertyinterestsorviolationofhisconstitutionalrights.

153. Mr. Al Halabi’s boarding passes continue to be stamped with the “SSSS”

designationeverytimehetravelsbyair.

154. Additionally,everytimeMr.AlHalabitravelsbyair,heisreferredtosecondary

inspectionandsubjectedtoprolongedsearchesandquestioning.

155. Uponinformationandbelief,Mr.AlHalabiremainsonthefederalwatchlist.

156. Uponinformationandbelief,Mr.AlHalabi’snominationtothefederalwatch

listwasmadebasedsolelyuponahunch(baseduponhis race,ethnicity,nationalorigin,

religiousaffiliation,orFirstAmendmentprotectedactivities).

PlaintiffMichaelEdmundColeman

157. On or about May 2, 2015, Mr. Michael Edmund Coleman appeared at the

DetroitMetropolitan Airport, in order to board a commercial flight for his trip to Doha

InternationalAirport.

158. Mr. Coleman was unable to check in online or at a kiosk stationed at the

airport.

159. Heapproachedanairlinerepresentativetobecheckedinmanually,andafter

speakingonthephonewithaDHSrepresentativetoobtainclearancebeforehecouldfly,his

boarding pass was stamped with the “SSSS” designation, indicating that he has been

designatedasa“knownorsuspectedterrorist.”

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160. During Mr. Coleman’s flight connection at the Philadelphia International

Airport,Mr.Colemanwasunabletoboardhisnextflightuntilhewasonceagain“cleared”by

DHStoboardtheflight.

161. Mr.ColemanfiledaredressrequestthroughDHSTRIP.

162. Asofthedateofthisfiling,Mr.ColemanhasnotreceivedaresponsefromDHS,

norhashebeenassignedaRedressControlNumber.

163. Mr. Coleman’s boarding passes continue to be stamped with the “SSSS”

designationeverytimehetravelsbyair.

164. Additionally,everytimeMr.Colemantravelsbyair,heisreferredtosecondary

inspectionandsubjectedtoprolongedsearches,questioningandchemicaltesting.

165. Mr.Colemanisfrequentlyinterrogatedabouthisreligiousactivities.

166. AtnotimewasMr.Colemangivennoticeofthefactualbasisforhisplacement

onthefederalwatchlist,andatnotimewasheofferedameaningfulopportunitytocontest

hisdesignation.

167. Moreover,atnotimewasMr.Colemangivennoticeofthedeprivationofhis

libertyinterestsorviolationofhisconstitutionalrights.

168. Uponinformationandbelief,Mr.Colemanremainsonthefederalwatchlist.

169. Mr.ColemanlimitstravelsbyairandbylandtoCanadawhennecessaryfor

businesspurposesinordertoavoidbeingsubjectedtotheabovetreatment.

170. Uponinformationandbelief,Mr.Coleman’snominationtothefederalwatch

listwasmadebasedsolelyuponahunch(baseduponhis race,ethnicity,nationalorigin,

religiousaffiliation,orFirstAmendmentprotectedactivities).

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PlaintiffWaelHakmeh

171. On or about April, 2014, Mr. Wael Hakmeh appeared at Chicago O’Hare

InternationalAirportuponreturningonaflightfromabusinesstripinTurkey.

172. He was referred to secondary screening and subjected to a prolonged

interrogation.

173. Additionally, tothebestofhisrecollection, in June,2014,hisboardingpass

wasstampedwiththe“SSSS”designationforthefirsttime,indicatingthathewasdesignated

asa“knownorsuspectedterrorist.”

174. OnoraboutOctober,2014,Mr.Hakmehappearedtohavebeenremovedfrom

thewatchlist,ashisboardingpassforhisflightwasnotstampedwiththe“SSSS”designation.

175. However,sinceapproximatelyJanuary,2016,Mr.Hakmeh’sboardingpasses

arestampedwiththe“SSSS”designationeverytimehetravelsbyair.

176. Additionally,everytimeMr.Hakmehtravelsbyair,heisreferredtosecondary

inspectionandsubjectedtoprolongedsearchesandquestioning.

177. AtnotimewasMr.Hakmehgivennoticeofthefactualbasisforhisplacement

onthefederalwatchlist,andatnotimewasheofferedameaningfulopportunitytocontest

hisdesignation.

178. Moreover,atnotimewasMr.Hakmehgivennoticeofthedeprivationofhis

libertyinterestsorviolationofhisconstitutionalrights.

179. Uponinformationandbelief,Mr.Hakmehremainsonthefederalwatchlist.

180. Mr.HakmehnolongerconnectsthroughChicagoO’HareInternationalAirport

to DetroitMetropolitan Airportwhen returning home toMichigan from overseas travel.

Rather,Mr.HakmehdrivesfromChicagoO’HareInternationalAirportforapproximatelyfive

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hourstohishomeinWayneCounty,Michiganeachtimeinordertoavoidbeingsubjectedto

theabovetreatmentatmultipleairportsandriskarrivinglatetohisplaceofemployment.

181. Uponinformationandbelief,Mr.Hakmeh’snominationtothefederalwatch

listwasmadebasedsolelyuponahunch(baseduponhis race,ethnicity,nationalorigin,

religiousaffiliation,orFirstAmendmentprotectedactivities).

PlaintiffMuratFrljuckic

182. Onor aboutOctober, 2012,Mr.Murat Frljuckicwas referred to secondary

inspection,handcuffedanddetainedbyCBPattheborderstopattheBlueWaterBridgePort

ofEntryinPortHuron,Michigan,whenheattemptedtore‐entertheUnitedStatesaftera

briefvacationinCanada.

183. CBP officers subjected him to a prolonged detention and questioning for

approximatelythreetofourhours.

184. Similarly,onoraboutAugust,2014,Mr.Frljuckicwasreferredtosecondary

inspection,handcuffedanddetainedbyCBPattheborderstopattheBlueWaterBridgePort

ofEntryinPortHuron,Michigan,whenheattemptedtore‐entertheUnitedStatesaftera

briefvacationinMontenegro.

185. Moreover,everytimeMr.Frljuckictravelsbyair,sinceapproximatelyMarch

orApril,2012,hisboardingpassisstampedwiththe“SSSS”designation,indicatingthathe

hasbeendesignatedasa“knownorsuspectedterrorist.”

186. Mr.FrljuckicfiledaredressrequestthroughDHSTRIP.

187. Asofthedateofthisfiling,Mr.FrljuckichasnotreceivedaresponsefromDHS,

norhashebeenassignedaRedressControlNumber.

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188. Mr. Frljuckic’s boarding passes continue to be stamped with the “SSSS”

designationeverytimehetravelsbyair.

189. Additionally,everytimeMr.Frljuckictravelsbyair,heisreferredtosecondary

inspectionandsubjectedtoprolongedsearchesandquestioning.

190. AtnotimewasMr.Frljuckicgivennoticeofthefactualbasisforhisplacement

onthefederalwatchlist,andatnotimewasheofferedameaningfulopportunitytocontest

hisdesignation.

191. Moreover,atnotimewasMr.Frljuckicgivennoticeofthedeprivationofhis

libertyinterestsorviolationofhisconstitutionalrights.

192. Uponinformationandbelief,Mr.Frljuckicremainsonthefederalwatchlist.

193. Mr.FrljuckicnolongertravelsbyairnordoeshetraveltoCanadabylandin

ordertoavoidbeingsubjectedtotheabovetreatment.

194. Uponinformationandbelief,Mr.Frljuckic’snominationtothefederalwatch

listwasmadebasedsolelyuponahunch(baseduponhis race,ethnicity,nationalorigin,

religiousaffiliation,orFirstAmendmentprotectedactivities).

PlaintiffAdnanKhalilShaout

195. EverytimeMr.AdnanShaouttravelsbyair,since2004,hisboardingpassis

stampedwiththe“SSSS”designation,indicatingthathehasbeendesignatedasa“knownor

suspectedterrorist.”

196. Mr.Shaoutisfrequentlyinterrogatedabouthisreligiousbeliefsandaffiliation

withreligiousgroupsduringsecondaryinspections.

197. Moreover, Mr. Shaout is frequently unable to board his flights until he is

“cleared”byDHStoboardtheflight,aprocessthatoftentimestakeshours.

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198. Moreover,TSAagentsoftenconfiscatehislaptop,anduponinformationand

belief,downloadinformationfromhislaptop.

199. Onorabout,June23,2011,whileMr.Shaoutwassittingintheplanewaiting

for take‐off, despite having been thoroughly screened by TSA, TSA agents removed Mr.

Shaoutfromtheplaneandconductedanotherextensivepatdownandsearchofhispersonal

belongings.

200. TheentireflightwasdelayeduntiltheTSAagentscompletedthissearch.

201. Mr.ShaoutnolongertravelsbyairintheUnitedStatesinordertoavoidbeing

subjectedtotheabovetreatment.

202. Mr.ShaoutfiledaredressrequestthroughDHSTRIP.

203. OnNovember5,2015,Mr.Shaoutreceivedaletterasdescribedinparagraph

99aboveandwasassignedaRedressControlNumber.

204. Mr. Shaout’s boarding pass continues to be stamped with the “SSSS”

designationwhen travels by air, indicating that he has been designated as a “known or

suspectedterrorist.”

205. Additionally,everytimeMr.Shaouttravelsbyair,heisreferredtosecondary

inspectionandsubjectedtoprolongedsearchesandquestioning.

206. AtnotimewasMr.Shaoutgivennoticeofthefactualbasisforhisplacement

onthefederalwatchlist,andatnotimewasheofferedameaningfulopportunitytocontest

hisdesignation.

207. Moreover, atno timewasMr. Shaoutgivennoticeof thedeprivationofhis

libertyinterestsorviolationofhisconstitutionalrights.

208. Uponinformationandbelief,Mr.Shaoutremainsonthefederalwatchlist.

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209. Uponinformationandbelief,Mr.Shaout’snominationtothefederalwatchlist

was made based solely upon a hunch (based upon his race, ethnicity, national origin,

religiousaffiliation,orFirstAmendmentprotectedactivities).

210. Mr.Shaoutno longertravelsbyair inordertoavoidbeingsubjectedtothe

abovetreatment.

PlaintiffSaleemAli

211. On or about October, 2012, Mr. Saleem Ali was referred to secondary

inspection and detained by CBP at the border stop at the Ambassador Bridge, Detroit,

Michigan,whenheattemptedtore‐entertheUnitedStatesafterabriefvacationinCanada.

212. CBPofficersconfiscatedhistwophones,askedhimforhispasswordstoaccess

thetwophones,anduponinformationandbelief,theCBPofficersdownloadedthedatafrom

hisphones.

213. CBPofficerskepthisphonesanddidnotreturnthemuntilthefollowingday.

214. Moreover,everytimeMr.Alitravelsbyair,hisboardingpassisstampedwith

the “SSSS”designation, indicating thathehasbeendesignatedas a “knownor suspected

terrorist.”

215. Additionally, every timeMr. Ali travels by air, he is referred to secondary

inspectionandsubjectedtoprolongedsearchesandquestioning.

216. Mr.AlifiledaredressrequestthroughDHSTRIP.

217. Mr.Alireceivedaletterasdescribedinparagraph99aboveandwasassigned

aRedressControlNumber.

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218. AtnotimewasMr.Aligivennoticeofthefactualbasisforhisplacementonthe

federalwatch list,andatno timewasheofferedameaningfulopportunity tocontesthis

designation.

219. Moreover,atnotimewasMr.Aligivennoticeofthedeprivationofhisliberty

interestsorviolationofhisconstitutionalrights.

220. Uponinformationandbelief,Mr.Aliremainsonthefederalwatchlist.

221. Uponinformationandbelief,Mr.Ali’snominationtothefederalwatchlistwas

madebasedsolelyuponahunch(baseduponhisrace,ethnicity,nationalorigin,religious

affiliation,familialstatusorFirstAmendmentprotectedactivities).

PlaintiffShahirAnwar

222. Mr.ShahirAnwaristhebrotherofPlaintiffMr.SamirAnwar.

223. EverytimeMr.Anwartravelsbyair,since2014,hisboardingpassisstamped

withthe“SSSS”designation,indicatingthathehasbeendesignatedasa“knownorsuspected

terrorist.”

224. Additionally,everytimeMr.Anwartravelsbyair,heisreferredtosecondary

inspectionandsubjectedtoprolongedsearchesandquestioning.

225. Mr.AnwarfiledaredressrequestthroughDHSTRIP.

226. OnMarch23,2015,Mr.Anwarreceivedaletterasdescribedinparagraph99

aboveandwasassignedaRedressControlNumber.

227. Mr. Anwar’s boarding passes continue to be stamped with the “SSSS”

designationeverytimehetravelsbyair.

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228. AtnotimewasMr.Anwargivennoticeofthefactualbasisforhisplacement

onthefederalwatchlist,andatnotimewasheofferedameaningfulopportunitytocontest

hisdesignation.

229. Moreover, at no timewasMr.Anwar givennotice of thedeprivationof his

libertyinterestsorviolationofhisconstitutionalrights.

230. Uponinformationandbelief,Mr.Anwarremainsonthefederalwatchlist.

231. Mr.Anwarno longer travelsbyairnordoeshe travel toCanadaby land in

ordertoavoidbeingsubjectedtotheabovetreatmentorthetreatmentexperiencedbyhis

brother,PlaintiffSamirAnwar,describedbelow.

232. Uponinformationandbelief,Mr.Anwar’snominationtothefederalwatchlist

was made based solely upon a hunch (based upon his race, ethnicity, national origin,

religiousaffiliation,familialorFirstAmendmentprotectedactivities).

PlaintiffSamirAnwar

233. Mr.SamirAnwaristhebrotherofPlaintiffMr.ShahirAnwar.

234. EverytimeMr.Anwartravelsbyair,hisboardingpass isstampedwiththe

“SSSS” designation, indicating that he has been designated as a “known or suspected

terrorist.”

235. Mr.AnwarfiledaredressrequestthroughDHSTRIP.

236. OnAugust7,2014,Mr.Anwarreceivedaletterasdescribedinparagraph99

aboveandwasassignedaRedressControlNumber.

237. On or about February 22, 2015, Mr. Anwar was referred to secondary

inspectionanddetainedbyCBPattheborderstopattheBlueWaterBridgePortofEntryin

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PortHuron,Michigan,whenheattemptedtore‐entertheUnitedStatesafterabrieftripto

Canada.

238. Mr.AnwarhandedaCBPofficertheletterfromDHS,howevertheCBPofficer

responded that the letter does notmean anything and does not have any impact on the

situation.

239. CBPofficersconfiscatedhisphone,askedhimforhispasswordtoaccessthe

phone, and upon information and belief, the CBP officers downloaded the data from his

phone.

240. Moreover, Mr. Anwar was interrogated about his religious beliefs and

religiousaffiliations.

241. Mr. Anwar’s boarding pass continues to be stamped with the “SSSS”

designationwhen travels by air, indicating that he has been designated as a “known or

suspectedterrorist.”

242. Additionally,everytimeMr.Anwartravelsbyair,heisreferredtosecondary

inspectionandsubjectedtoprolongedsearchesandquestioning.

243. AtnotimewasMr.Anwargivennoticeofthefactualbasisforhisplacement

onthefederalwatchlist,andatnotimewasheofferedameaningfulopportunitytocontest

hisdesignation.

244. Moreover, at no timewasMr.Anwar givennotice of thedeprivationof his

libertyinterestsorviolationofhisconstitutionalrights.

245. Uponinformationandbelief,Mr.Anwarremainsonthefederalwatchlist.

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246. Uponinformationandbelief,Mr.Anwar’snominationtothefederalwatchlist

was made based solely upon a hunch (based upon his race, ethnicity, national origin,

religiousaffiliation,orFirstAmendmentprotectedactivities).

PlaintiffJohnDoeNo.1

247. OnoraboutJanuary,2015,Mr.JohnDoeNo.1’sboardingpassisstampedwith

the “SSSS”designation, indicating thathehasbeendesignatedas a “knownor suspected

terrorist.”

248. Additionally, every time Mr. Doe No. 1 returns to the United States from

internationaltravel,Mr.Doeissubjectedtoprolongeddetentionandquestioning.

249. Suddenly,shortlyafterMr.DoeNo.1wasdesignatedonthefederalwatchlist,

many of his individual and business bank accounts were closed without notice or an

explanationofthereasonswhytheywerebeingclosed,includingbankaccountsatJPMorgan

ChaseBank,TCFBankandPNCBank.

250. Upon information and belief, Unidentified TSC Agents disseminated the

stigmatizinglabelof“knownorsuspectedterrorist”attachedtoMr.DoeNo.1toJPMorgan

ChaseBank,TCFBankandPNCBank,andasaresult,hisbankaccountswereclosedwithout

notice.

251. Mr.DoeNo.1filedaredressrequestthroughDHSTRIP.

252. Asofthedateofthisfiling,Mr.DoeNo.1hasnotreceivedaresponsefrom

DHS,norhashebeenassignedaRedressControlNumber.

253. AtnotimewasMr.DoeNo.1givennoticeofthefactualbasisforhisplacement

onthefederalwatchlist,andatnotimewasheofferedameaningfulopportunitytocontest

hisdesignation.

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254. Moreover,atnotimewasMr.DoeNo.1givennoticeofthedeprivationofhis

libertyinterestsorviolationofhisconstitutionalrights.

255. Uponinformationandbelief,Mr.DoeNo.1remainsonthefederalwatchlist.

256. Uponinformationandbelief,Mr.Doe’sNo.1nominationtothefederalwatch

listwasmadebasedsolelyuponahunch(baseduponhis race,ethnicity,nationalorigin,

religiousaffiliation,orFirstAmendmentprotectedactivities).

PlaintiffJohnDoeNo.2

257. On or about May, 2010, Mr. John Doe No. 2 appeared at the Detroit

MetropolitanAirportuponreturningonaflightfromatriptoTurkey.

258. He was referred to secondary screening and subjected to a prolonged

interrogation.

259. Duringhisinterrogation,CBPofficersbeganlookingthroughpicturesonMr.

DoeNo.2’slaptopandaskedhimquestionsabouthisplaceofworship,thereligiousleader

athismosque,whetherMr.DoeNo.2knewanyonewhowasinvolvedinterroristactivities,

andwhetherhehadinformationaboutothercongregantsathisplaceofworship.

260. EverytimeMr.DoeNo.2travelsbyair,sincehisMay,2010trip,hisboarding

pass is stampedwith the “SSSS”designation, indicating thathehasbeendesignatedasa

“knownorsuspectedterrorist.”

261. Additionally, every time Mr. Doe No. 2 travels by air, he is referred to

secondaryinspectionandsubjectedtoprolongedsearchesandquestioning.

262. Mr.DoeNo.2filedaredressrequestthroughDHSTRIP.

263. OnJanuary19,2016,Mr.DoeNo.2receivedaletterasdescribedinparagraph

99aboveandwasassignedaRedressControlNumber.

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264. AtnotimewasMr.DoeNo.2givennoticeofthefactualbasisforhisplacement

onthefederalwatchlist,andatnotimewasheofferedameaningfulopportunitytocontest

hisdesignation.

265. Moreover,atnotimewasMr.DoeNo.2givennoticeofthedeprivationofhis

libertyinterestsorviolationofhisconstitutionalrights.

266. Asofthedateofthisfiling,itisunclearwhetherMr.DoeNo.2remainsonthe

federalwatchlist.

267. Uponinformationandbelief,Mr.DoeNo.2’snominationtothefederalwatch

listwasmadebasedsolelyuponahunch(baseduponhis race,ethnicity,nationalorigin,

religiousaffiliation,orFirstAmendmentprotectedactivities).

PlaintiffJohnDoeNo.3

268. EverytimeMr.JohnDoeNo.3travelsbyair,since2002,hisboardingpassis

stampedwiththe“SSSS”designation,indicatingthathehasbeendesignatedasa“knownor

suspectedterrorist.”

269. Infact,in2002,uponreturningfromaninternationalflight,Mr.DoeNo.3was

escortedoffoftheplanebyFBIagents,beforehewasinterrogatedandthreatenedbyagents

fromdifferentgovernmentagencies.

270. Mr.DoeNo.3isfrequentlyunabletoboardhisflightsuntilheis“cleared”by

DHStoboardtheflight,aprocessthatcantakehours.

271. Moreover,Mr.DoeNo. 3 is frequently called over the loud speakers at the

airportafterhehasalreadyreachedthegatepriortotakeofftogobacktosecurity,onlyto

bedetainedandsubjectedtofurtherprolongedinterrogationsandsearches.

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272. Additionally,TSAagentsconfiscatedhisphones,requestedhispasswords,and

uponinformationandbelief,downloadedinformationfromthem.

273. Onorabout2006,Mr.DoeNo.3’sJPMorganChaseBankwassuddenlyclosed

a fewdaysafterheopeneditwithoutnoticeoranexplanationofthereasonswhyitwas

beingclosed.

274. Upon information and belief, Unidentified TSC Agents disseminated the

stigmatizinglabelof“knownorsuspectedterrorist”attachedtoMr.DoeNo.3toJPMorgan

ChaseBank,andasaresult,hisbankaccountwasclosedwithoutnotice.

275. Mr.DoeNo. 3 lost lucrative employmentopportunities as a result of being

designatedasa“knownorsuspectedterrorist.”

276. Mr.DoeNo.3filedaredressrequestthroughDHSTRIP.

277. Asofthedateofthisfiling,Mr.DoeNo.3hasnotreceivedaresponsefrom

DHS,norhashebeenassignedaRedressControlNumber.

278. AtnotimewasMr.DoeNo.3givennoticeofthefactualbasisforhisplacement

onthefederalwatchlist,andatnotimewasheofferedameaningfulopportunitytocontest

hisdesignation.

279. Moreover,atnotimewasMr.DoeNo.3givennoticeofthedeprivationofhis

libertyinterestsorviolationofhisconstitutionalrights.

280. Uponinformationandbelief,Mr.DoeNo.3remainsonthefederalwatchlist.

281. Uponinformationandbelief,Mr.DoeNo.3’snominationtothefederalwatch

listwasmadebasedsolelyuponahunch(baseduponhis race,ethnicity,nationalorigin,

religiousaffiliation,orFirstAmendmentprotectedactivities).

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282. Mr.DoeNo. 3 limits travels by airwhennecessary in order to avoidbeing

subjectedtotheabovetreatment.

COUNTIFAILURETOPROVIDEPOST‐DEPRIVATIONNOTICEANDHEARINGINVIOLATIONOF

THEFIFTHAMENDMENTRIGHTTOPROCEDURALDUEPROCESS(Jurisdictionunder28U.S.C.§1331and5U.S.C.§702)

283. Theforegoingallegationsarereallegedandincorporatedherein.

284. EachofthePlaintiffsandothersimilarlysituatedAmericancitizenslearned

thatheorshewasplacedonthefederalwatchlistsubsequenttobeingaddedonthefederal

watchlistandsoughttochallengesuchplacement.

285. Defendants’actionsasdescribedabove inrefusingtoprovidePlaintiffsand

othersimilarlysituatedAmericancitizenswithanynoticeatallof theirplacementwhich

deprived Plaintiffs and other similarly situated American citizens of constitutionally

protectedlibertyinterests.

286. Defendants’ actions in nominating Plaintiffs and other similarly situated

American citizens to the federal watch list blatantly violate the requirement that

“’nominations’ must not be solely based on race, ethnicity, national origin, religious

affiliation,orFirstAmendmentprotectedactivities.”49U.S.C.§114(h)(3).

287. PlaintiffsandothersimilarlysituatedAmericancitizenshavealibertyinterest

intravelingfreefromunreasonableburdensthatarenotreasonablytailoredwithin,to,and

fromtheUnitedStates,throughlandbordercrossingsandoverU.S.airspace.

288. PlaintiffsandothersimilarlysituatedAmericancitizenshavearighttobefree

fromfalsegovernmentstigmatizationas individualswhoare“knownorsuspectedtobe”

terrorists,orwhoareotherwiseassociatedwithterroristactivity,whensuchharmarisesin

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conjunctionwiththeadditionalconsequencesthat followfrombeing listedaswellasthe

deprivation of their right to travel on the same terms as other travelers and/or the

deprivation of their liberty interest under the Fifth Amendment in travel free from

unreasonableburdens.

289. PlaintiffsandothersimilarlysituatedAmericancitizenshavealibertyinterest

innonattainder (ie: the interestagainstbeingsingledout forpunishmentwithout trial).

Defendants’actionshavesingledoutPlaintiffsandotherssimilarlysituatedforpunishments

thatinclude,butarenotlimitedto,inabilitytotravelbyairandunreasonableburdensplaced

upontravelingbyairtoandfromtheUnitedStates,overU.S.airspaceandatlandborder

crossings,andfalseassociationwithalistofindividualssuspectedofterrorism.

290. Plaintiffs and other similarly situated American citizens, having been

burdenedorpreventedfromboardingoncommercialflightsorenteringtheUnitedStatesat

landbordercrossings,havinghadtheirbankaccountsclosed,havingbeenpreventedfrom

making wire transfers at financial institutions, having had their citizenship applications

delayed indefinitely due to an “FBI name check,” having lost lucrative economic

opportunities and suffering from other forms of financial harm, and having sought to

challenge their placement on the federal watch list, are entitled to a constitutionally

adequate legal mechanism that affords them notice of the reasons and bases for their

placementonthefederalwatchlistandameaningfulopportunitytocontesttheircontinued

inclusiononthefederalwatchlist.Defendantshaveevenfailedtoprovidethemostbasic

ingredientofdueprocess,whichisnoticethatthegovernmenthasdeprivedapersonoftheir

protectedrights.

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291. Moreover,DefendantshaveofficiallyimposedonPlaintiffsandothersimilarly

situatedAmericancitizensthestigmatizinglabelof“knownorsuspectedterrorists”without

aconstitutionallyadequatelegalmechanism.

292. Further,DefendantsdisseminatedthestigmatizinglabelattachedtoPlaintiffs

andothersimilarlysituatedAmericancitizensof“knownorsuspectedterrorists”tostate

andlocalauthorities,foreigngovernments,corporations,privatecontractors,gunsellers,the

captainsofsea‐faringvessels,amongotherofficialandprivateentitiesandindividuals.

293. ByimposingonPlaintiffsandothersimilarlysituatedAmericancitizensthe

stigmatizinglabelof“knownorsuspectedterrorists”andbyfailingtoprovidePlaintiffsand

otherssimilarlysituatedwithaconstitutionallyadequatelegalmechanism,Defendantshave

deprivedPlaintiffsandothersimilarlysituatedAmericancitizensoftheirprotectedliberty

interests,includingbutnotlimitedtotheirlibertyinterestsintraveling,freedomfromfalse

stigmatization,andnonattainder,andthusviolatedtheconstitutionalrightsofPlaintiffsand

othersimilarlysituatedAmericancitizenswithoutaffordingthemdueprocessof lawand

will continue to do so into the future if Plaintiffs and other similarly situated American

citizensarenotaffordedthereliefdemandedbelow.

WHEREFORE, Plaintiffs request this Honorable Court grant declaratory and

injunctivereliefintheformdescribedinthePrayerforReliefbelow,plusallsuchotherrelief

thisCourtdeemsjustandproperincludingcostsandattorneys’feesincurredinthisaction.

COUNTIIDEPRIVATIONOFPROTECTEDLIBERTIESINVIOLATIONOFFIFTHAMENDMENT

RIGHTTOSUBSTANTIVEDUEPROCESS(Jurisdictionunder28U.S.C.§1331and5U.S.C.§702)

294. Theforegoingallegationsarereallegedandincorporatedherein.

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295. BecausePlaintiffsandothersimilarlysituatedAmericancitizenswerelisted

by Defendants in a manner not narrowly tailored to a compelling interest, Defendants’

actions as described above in including Plaintiffs and other similarly situated American

citizens on a watch list that unreasonably burdens or prevents them from boarding

commercialflightsorenteringtheUnitedStatesatlandbordercrossings,arearbitraryand

capricious,lackevenarationalrelationshiptoanylegitimategovernmentinterest,andhave

unduly deprived Plaintiffs of constitutionally protected rights, including their liberty

interestsintravel,freedomfromfalsestigmatization,andnonattainder.

296. Defendants’ actions in nominating Plaintiffs and other similarly situated

American citizens to the federal watch list blatantly violate the requirement that

“’nominations’ must not be solely based on race, ethnicity, national origin, religious

affiliation,orFirstAmendmentprotectedactivities.”49U.S.C.§114(h)(3).

297. By placing Plaintiffs and other similarly situated American citizens on the

federalwatchlist,Defendantshaveplacedanundueburdenontheirfundamentalrightof

movement.

298. By placing Plaintiffs and other similarly situated American citizens on the

federalwatchlist,DefendantshavetreatedPlaintiffslikesecond‐classcitizens.

299. Defendants’watchlistlacksacompellinginterestinsofarastheirtruepurpose

is to provide law enforcement with a tool to coerce American Muslims into becoming

informants.

300. Defendants’watch list are alsonotnarrowly tailored insofar as the federal

watchlistareentirelyanddemonstrablyineffectualandobviousalternativesexist.

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301. Defendants’actionsinplacingPlaintiffsandothersimilarlysituatedAmerican

citizensonthefederalwatchlist,officiallyimposingonPlaintiffsandothersimilarlysituated

American citizens the stigmatizing label of “known or suspected terrorists,” and

disseminating the stigmatizing label to state and local authorities, foreign governments,

corporations,privatecontractors,gunsellers,thecaptainsofsea‐faringvessels,amongother

official and private entities and individuals, without a constitutionally adequate legal

mechanism, are arbitrary and capricious, shock the conscience, violate the decencies of

civilized conduct and are so brutal and offensive that they do not comport with the

traditionalideasoffairplayanddecency.

302. Because Plaintiffs and other similarly situated American citizens have not

been charged with any crimes and are United States Citizens, Plaintiffs challenge their

placementandtheplacementofotherssimilarlysituatedAmericancitizensonthefederal

watchlistonabroad,as‐appliedbasis.

303. Plaintiffs’ substantive due process challenge is also facial, as there are no

circumstanceswheretheirplacementortheplacementofotherssimilarlysituatedonthe

federalwatchlistisnarrowlytailoredtoachieveanycompellinggovernmentinterest.

304. Defendants have thus violated Plaintiffs’ constitutional rights and the

constitutional rightsofothersimilarlysituatedAmericancitizenswithoutaffording them

dueprocessoflawandwillcontinuetodosointothefutureifPlaintiffsandothersimilarly

situatedAmericancitizensarenotaffordedthereliefdemandedbelow.

WHEREFORE, Plaintiffs request this Honorable Court grant declaratory and

injunctivereliefintheformdescribedinthePrayerforReliefbelow,plusallsuchotherrelief

thisCourtdeemsjustandproperincludingcostsandattorneys’feesincurredinthisaction.

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COUNTIIIUNLAWFULAGENCYACTIONINVIOLATIONOFTHEADMINISTRATIVEPROCEDURE

ACT,5U.S.C.§§702,706(Jurisdictionunder28U.S.C.§1331and5U.S.C.§702)

305. Theforegoingallegationsarereallegedandincorporatedherein.

306. Defendants’actionsinplacingPlaintiffsandothersimilarlysituatedAmerican

citizensonthefederalwatchlist,officiallyimposingonPlaintiffsandothersimilarlysituated

American citizens the stigmatizing label of “known or suspected terrorists,” and

disseminating the stigmatizing label to state and local authorities, foreign governments,

corporations,privatecontractors,gunsellers,thecaptainsofsea‐faringvessels,amongother

official and private entities and individuals, without a constitutionally adequate legal

mechanism,were and are arbitrary, capricious, an abuse of discretion, otherwise not in

accordancewithlaw,andcontrarytoconstitutionalrights,power,privilege,orimmunity,

andshouldbesetasideasunlawfulpursuantto5U.S.C.§706.

307. Defendants’ actions in nominating Plaintiffs and other similarly situated

American citizens to the federal watch list blatantly violate the requirement that

“’nominations’ must not be solely based on race, ethnicity, national origin, religious

affiliation,orFirstAmendmentprotectedactivities.”49U.S.C.§114(h)(3).

308. Defendants’failuretoprovidePlaintiffsandothersimilarlysituatedAmerican

citizens,whohadbeenunreasonablyburdenedordeniedboardingoncommercialflightsor

enteringtheUnitedStatesacrosstheborderandsoughttochallengetheirplacementonthe

federalwatchlist,withaconstitutionallyadequatemechanismthataffordsthemnoticeof

the reasons and bases for their placement on the federal watch list and a meaningful

opportunity to contest their continued inclusion on the federal watch list is arbitrary,

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capricious,anabuseofdiscretion,otherwisenot inaccordancewith law,andcontrary to

constitutional rights, power, privilege, or immunity, and should be set aside as unlawful

pursuantto5U.S.C.§706.

309. Because Plaintiffs and other similarly situated American citizens do not

presentasecuritythreattocommercialaviation,Defendants’actionsasdescribedabovein

includingPlaintiffsandothersimilarlysituatedAmericancitizensonthefederalwatchlist

thatunreasonablyburdensorpreventsthemfromboardingcommercialflightsorentering

the United States across the border, are arbitrary, capricious, an abuse of discretion,

otherwisenotinaccordancewithlaw,andcontrarytoconstitutionalrights,power,privilege,

orimmunity,andshouldbesetasideasunlawfulpursuantto5U.S.C.§706.

310. PlaintiffsandothersimilarlysituatedAmericancitizensarenotrequiredto

exhausttheDHSTRIPprocess,undertheholdinginDarbyv.Cisneros,509U.S.137(1993).

SeeUnitedStatesDistrictCourt,EasternDistrictofVirginia,CaseNo.11‐cv‐00050(2011);

Dkt.70at22;attachedasMemorandumOpinion(Exhibit4).

WHEREFORE, Plaintiffs request this Honorable Court grant declaratory and

injunctivereliefintheformdescribedinthePrayerforReliefbelow,plusallsuchotherrelief

thisCourtdeemsjustandproperincludingcostsandattorneys’feesincurredinthisaction.

COUNTIVVIOLATIONOFTHEFIFTHAMENDMENTTOTHEUNITEDSTATESCONSTITUTION

(Jurisdictionunder28U.S.C.§1331and5U.S.C.§702)(EqualProtection)

311. Theforegoingallegationsarereallegedandincorporatedherein.

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312. Defendants’actionsinplacingPlaintiffsandothersimilarlysituatedAmerican

citizensonthefederalwatchlist,officiallyimposingonPlaintiffsandothersimilarlysituated

American citizens the stigmatizing label of “known or suspected terrorists,” and

disseminating the stigmatizing label to state and local authorities, foreign governments,

corporations,privatecontractors,gunsellers,thecaptainsofsea‐faringvessels,amongother

official and private entities and individuals, without a constitutionally adequate legal

mechanismarediscriminatoryandconstituteanaction that targets religiousconduct for

distinctivetreatment.

313. Defendants’ actions in nominating Plaintiffs and other similarly situated

American citizens to the federal watch list blatantly violate the requirement that

“’nominations’ must not be solely based on race, ethnicity, national origin, religious

affiliation,orFirstAmendmentprotectedactivities.”49U.S.C.§114(h)(3).

314. By placing Plaintiffs and other similarly situated American citizens on the

federalwatchlist,DefendantshavetreatedPlaintiffsandothersimilarlysituatedAmerican

citizenslikesecond‐classcitizens.

315. Defendants’above‐describedactionsweremotivatedbythereligiousstatusof

Plaintiffs and other similarly situated American citizens and on the basis of the

constitutionally‐protectedfreeexerciseofreligionofPlaintiffsandothersimilarlysituated

Americancitizens.

316. Defendants’ above‐describedactionshavehadadiscriminatoryeffectupon

andhavedisparatelyimpactedPlaintiffsandothersimilarlysituatedAmericancitizenswho

areMuslimAmericantravelers,andnottravelersofotherfaiths.

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317. Defendants’above‐describedactions,policies,courseofconduct,orpatternof

practice that mandate or permit the above‐described treatment of Plaintiffs and other

similarlysituatedAmericancitizensdoesnotserveacompellingstateinterestoralegitimate

orpublicpurpose,noraretheytheleastrestrictivemeansornarrowlytailoredtoachieve

anysuchinterest.

WHEREFORE, Plaintiffs request this Honorable Court grant declaratory and

injunctivereliefintheformdescribedinthePrayerforReliefbelow,plusallsuchotherrelief

thisCourtdeemsjustandproperincludingcostsandattorneys’feesincurredinthisaction.

COUNTVVIOLATIONOFTHEUNITEDSTATESCONSTITUTION

(Non‐Delegation)

318. Theforegoingallegationsarereallegedandincorporatedherein.

319. CongresshasnotprovidedtheExecutiveBranchwith intelligibleprinciples

fromwhichtheExecutivecanimplementitswatchlistschemesregardingcivilaviationand

nationalsecurity.

320. The Executive branch’s assignment of the watch listing function to TSC

violatesCongress’directivethatTSAdeterminewhobelongsonfederalwatchlistsandthe

consequencesthatflowfrombeingonthoselists.

321. CongresshasnotdelegatedtoTSAtheauthoritytocreateaprocessthatcan

culminateintheremovalofindividualsfromtheTSDB.

322. Inthealternative,Congress’sdelegationtoTSAtocreatearedressprocessis

defectivebecausetheExecutiveBranchhasallocatedwatchlistauthorityinamannerthat

preventsTSAfromcreatingaredressprocess.

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51  

323. Asaresult,Defendantshaveillegallyactedbeyondtheirauthority.

WHEREFORE, Plaintiffs request this Honorable Court grant declaratory and

injunctivereliefintheformdescribedinthePrayerforReliefbelow,plusallsuchotherrelief

thisCourtdeemsjustandproperincludingcostsandattorneys’feesincurredinthisaction.

PrayerforRelief

WHEREFORE,Plaintiffsrespectfullyrequest:

1. AdeclaratoryjudgmentthatDefendants’policies,practices,andcustomsviolate

theFifthAmendment to theUnited StatesConstitutionand theAdministrative

ProcedureAct;

2. Aninjunctionthat:

a. requiresDefendantstoremedytheconstitutionalandstatutoryviolations

identifiedabove,includingtheremovalofPlaintiffsfromanywatchlistor

databasethatburdensorpreventsthemfromflyingorenteringtheUnited

Statesacrosstheborder;and,

b. requires Defendants to provide individuals designated on the federal

watchlistwithalegalmechanismthataffordsthemnoticeofthereasons

andbasesfortheirplacementonthefederalwatchlistandameaningful

opportunitytocontesttheircontinuedinclusiononthefederalwatchlist;

3. Atrialbyjury;

4. Anawardofattorneys’fees,costs,andexpensesofalllitigation,pursuantto28

U.S.C.§2412;and,

5. SuchotherandfurtherreliefastheCourtmaydeemjustandproper.

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52  

JURYDEMAND

NOWCOMEPlaintiffs,byandthroughtheirundersignedcounsel,andherebydemand

trialbyjuryoftheabove‐referencedcausesofaction.

Respectfullysubmitted,

THELAWOFFICEOFGADEIRABBASBY:/s/GadeirAbbasGADEIRI.ABBASAttorneyforPlaintiffs1155FStreetNW,Suite1050Washington,D.C.20004Telephone:(720)251‐0425Fax:(720)251‐0425Email:[email protected],notinD.C.PracticelimitedtofederalmattersCOUNCILONAMERICAN‐ISLAMICRELATIONS,MICHIGANBY: /s/LenaMasriLENAF.MASRI(P73461)AttorneyforPlaintiffsLegalDirector30201OrchardLakeRd.,Suite260FarmingtonHills,MI48334Phone:(248)559‐2247AKEEL&VALENTINE,PLLCBY: /s/ShereefAkeelSHEREEFH.AKEEL(P54345)AttorneyforPlaintiffs888W.BigBeaverRd.,Ste.910Troy,MI48084Phone:(248)269‐[email protected]

Dated:April5,2016