News & Resources
In April 2018, we filed a class action lawsuit challenging the mass denial of refugee applications of nearly 90 Iranians of persecuted minority faiths who had traveled to Vienna at the invitation of the U.S. government to be processed under the Lautenberg Amendment, a special law that facilitates refugee resettlement. The denials stranded class members away from family members in the United States.
The case alleges that the government violated the law by failing to describe the basis of the denials and by changing policies for this historically successful program.
In July 2018, the court vacated the denials and ordered the government to disclose individualized reasons for the denials, which led to 16 applicants being permitted to reunite with their families in the United States. Following discovery, we continue to advance the claim that vetting changes that led to the mass denials were unlawful.
On February 10, 2022, the court approved a settlement we reached with the government that will automatically reopen class members’ refugee applications and allow them to be reassessed under fair security vetting procedures. Under the settlement, the U.S. government will make best efforts to re-process these applications within three months.
Latham & Watkins LLP is co-counsel in this litigation.
Follow the Case
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April 18, 2018 | Complaint
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April 20, 2018 | Plaintiffs’ motion for partial summary judgment
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May 18, 2018 | Plaintiffs’ amended motion for class certification
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June 4, 2018 | Defendants’ opposition to Plaintiffs’ motion for partial summary judgment
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June 4, 2018 | Defendants’ opposition to Plaintiffs’ motion for class certification
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June 11, 2018 | Plaintiffs’ reply in support of their motion for partial summary judgment
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June 11, 2018 | Plaintiffs’ reply in support of their motion for class certification
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July 10, 2018 | Court order granting Plaintiffs’ motions for partial summary judgment and class certification
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July 2, 2020 | First amended complaint
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July 16, 2020 | Defendants’ motion to dismiss
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August 13, 2020 | Plaintiffs’ opposition to Defendants’ motion to dismiss
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September 2, 2020 | Defendants’ reply in support of their motion to dismiss
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March 31, 2021 | Court order granting in part and denying in part Defendants’ motion to dismiss
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November 18, 2021 | Motion for preliminary approval of proposed settlement agreement
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November 18, 2021 | Proposed settlement agreement and select exhibits
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January 26, 2022 | Motion for final approval of proposed settlement agreement
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January 26, 2022 | Proposed settlement agreement and select exhibits
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February 10, 2022 | Order granting motion for final approval of class settlement and judgment
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Court docket available here
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After Lawsuit Win, First Iranian Refugees Travel from Austria to the U.S.
2/21/2019
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Press Release: District Court Sides With Iranian Refugees Unlawfully Denied Asylum
7/11/2018
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Press Release: Groups File Class Action Challenge to Unprecedented Mass Denials of Iranian Refugees in the Lautenberg-Specter Program
4/19/2018
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Press Release: IRAP Statement on the Denial of U.S. Asylum for Iranians in the Lautenberg Program
2/21/2018
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