Trump Travel Ban: ACLU Of Maryland Sues For Records On Implementation

BALTIMORE, MD — The Maryland chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union is one of 13 chapters nationwide that are suing the federal government demanding records related to the implementation of travel rules limiting immigration from six predominantly Muslim countries. The lawsuits were filed in federal district courts around the country.

The Maryland chapter says the suits target the United States Customs and Border Protection's implementation of the executive order. The ACLU says it resorted to the suits after seeking the records since Feb. 2 and not receiving adequate responses. In particular, the Maryland ACLU says it wants records related to the travel ban actions at Baltimore Washington International Airport, Dulles International Airport, Philadelphia International Airport and Pittsburgh International Airport. (SIGN UP: Get Patch’s daily newsletter and real-time news alerts, or like us on Facebook. Or, if you have an iPhone, download the free Patch app.)

Lawsuits were filed by ACLU chapters in Tucson, Atlanta, Baltimore, Boston, Chicago, Detroit, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, Portland, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle, and Tampa. The Maryland ACLU says that each lawsuit seeks local information regarding how federal officials implemented the executive orders at certain airports and ports of entry, including Baltimore and BWI, in the midst of rapidly developing and sometimes-conflicting government guidance.

"It is unacceptable for the Trump administration to ignore the public's right to know how immigration agents handled the implementation of the Muslim bans," said Susan Goering, executive director of the ACLU of Maryland. "Marylanders showed up in the thousands at the Dulles and BWI Marshall airports to protest the first executive order and they continue to be deeply concerned about federal anti-immigrant and anti-Muslim policies and how they affect people here in our state and across the country."



The ACLU first sought this information through FOIA requests submitted to CBP on February 2. Since the government has failed to substantively respond, the ACLU is now suing, leaders said.

"CBP has a long history of ignoring its obligations under the federal Freedom of Information Act - a law that was enacted to ensure that Americans have timely access to information of pressing public concern. The public has a right to know how federal immigration officials have handled the implementation of the Muslim bans, especially after multiple federal courts have blocked various aspects of these executive orders," said Mitra Ebadolahi, Border Litigation Project Staff Attorney with the ACLU of San Diego and Imperial Counties.

Among the records being sought are:

• The total number of individuals who remain detained or subject to secondary screening, extended questioning, an enforcement examination, or consideration for a waiver;
• The total number of individuals who have been detained or subjected to secondary screening, extended questioning, an enforcement examination, or consideration for a waiver for any length of time;
• Records containing the "guidance" that was "provided to DHS field personnel" shortly after President Trump signed the Executive Order;
• Records that show the number of individuals who have arrived at the airport since January 27 with valid visas or green cards who subsequently agreed voluntarily to return, and the number of individuals who have been removed from the airport since January 27; and
• Records concerning the number of individuals who have been removed from January 27 to date.

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