LA Joins Suit Challenging Trump's Travel Ban

LOS ANGELES, CA — The city of Los Angeles is making its opposition to President Trump's travel ban official by joining an amicus brief in Darweesh v. Trump.

City leaders announced the move Friday. Los Angeles is aligning itself with New York and other municipalities opposing the travel ban in court on the grounds that it violates the due process rights of valid visa holders and imposes a de facto religious test on immigrants.

"Los Angeles continues to be at the forefront in the battle to uphold basic constitutional values that protect all our residents," said City Attorney Mike Feuer. "I'm proud our office is standing up for fundamental rights with this broad coalition of cities. We offer a unique and significant perspective in support of the court's injunction."

The Darweesh named in the suit is Hameed Darwish, an Iraqi who worked for the U.S. military and whose life is at risk as a result, according to the American Civil Liberties Union. He had a valid visa to enter the United States but was nonetheless detained when he arrived in late January.

The state of California has also joined an Amicus brief in the case.

"This case challenges President Trump’s Muslim ban. The lead plaintiffs have been detained by the U.S. government and threatened with deportation even though they have valid visas to enter the United States. One plaintiff, Hameed Darweesh, an Iraqi husband and father of three, worked for the U.S. military and his life was in danger in Iraq due to that relationship," according to the ACLU. "The other plaintiff’s wife and son were threatened because of their perceived ties to the United States. U.S. Customs and Border Protection detained both men in JFK Airport in New York as they entered the country."

Although the lawsuit has been most widely attributed to the ACLU, it was also filed by the Urban Justice Center, the National Immigration Law Center and the Jerome N. Frank Legal Services Organization at Yale University. And now, New York's attorney general wants to add his name to the list.

Related:

• Chaos at LAX: Hundreds Protest Trump's Immigration Ban
• L.A. City Council to Investigate President Donald Trump's Immigrant Ban's Effect on LAX
• NY Attorney General Joins ACLU Lawsuit Against Trump's 'Muslim Ban': Read It Here

City News Service and Patch staffer Simone Wilson contributed to this report.

Photo by Simone Wilson