Civil Rights, Immigration Services Groups Seek Emergency Relief To Halt Unlawful DHS Grant Freeze

Plaintiffs Ask the Court to Stop Federal Funding Freeze and Restore Funding While Case Proceeds
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For Immediate Release
Contact
Aleisha Flores (771)-233-8202 aflores@advancingjustice-aajc.org

Washington, DC— Today, a coalition of civil rights and immigration services organizations filed a motion for a temporary restraining order1 to immediately block the Trump-Vance administration’s unlawful freeze on Department of Homeland Security (DHS) grant funding. The motion, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland, seeks emergency relief to prevent further harm to communities impacted by the freeze and to ensure that Congress’s directives are followed.

The request for a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction comes as immigrant-serving nonprofit organizations across the country face layoffs, program cuts, and other devastating consequences as a result of DHS’s decision to freeze all immigration grants—even though Congress had already awarded and funded them, and the executive branch lacks the authority to halt the grants without Congressional action. These grants have long supported English language education, legal services, and naturalization assistance for lawful permanent residents on their path to U.S. citizenship.

This motion follows a suit2 filed by Democracy Forward, Asian Americans Advancing Justice – AAJC, and LatinoJustice PRLDEF earlier this month.

“The administration’s funding freeze is an abuse of power that defies the Constitution and harms people trying to become U.S. citizens,” said Skye Perryman, President and CEO of Democracy Forward. “Freezing lawfully awarded, congressionally funded grants without warning or justification is not only illegal—it’s a deliberate attack on programs that help people build more stable, secure lives. We are using every legal tool available to stop this federal funding freeze and ensure accountability.”

“Freezing funding for immigrant-serving organizations undermines the rule of law and the value that immigrants provide to our country. The path to U.S. citizenship can be long and complicated. The implementation of this freeze is not only unlawful but pauses critical services that help immigrants, including lawful permanent residents, navigate the naturalization process with legal assistance, eligibility screenings, or English and civic education,” said John C. Yang, President and Executive Director of Asian Americans Advancing Justice – AAJC. "Attacks on our immigrant communities are attacks on all Americans, and we will continue the fight to ensure that everyone feels safe and maximize access to opportunities that allow them to thrive.”

"Plaintiffs are seeking to safeguard their ability to provide community members with access to vital naturalization programs that support their path to citizenship," said Lourdes Rosado, President and General Counsel of LatinoJustice PRLDEF. "This administration must uphold the law and respect Congress’s allocation of resources. We will not back down in holding them accountable and ensuring communities receive the support they deserve."

The motion challenges DHS’s implementation of an unpublished memorandum issued by Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem following President Trump’s January executive order “Protecting the American People Against Invasion.” The memorandum directed DHS to immediately freeze all immigration-related grants without regard to legality, past performance, or community need. Organizations affected by the freeze received no advance notice, no opportunity to respond, and no information on when—or if—funding would resume.

As a result, critical programs have been halted. Plaintiffs report being forced to lay off staff, cancel classes, and turn away clients seeking help with naturalization. The harm has been particularly critical in low-income and refugee communities.

Plaintiffs include Solutions in Hometown Connections, Central American Resource Center, Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights, Community Center for Immigrants Incorporated, English Skills Learning Center, Michigan Organizing Project, D/B/A Michigan United, HIAS Pennsylvania, Instituto del Progreso Latino, and Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota.

The complaint can be found here3, and the motion for a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction can be found here1.

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Links

  1. https://democracyforward.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/DHS-TRO-PI-Mtn.pdf
  2. https://democracyforward.org/updates/funding-freeze-031725/
  3. https://democracyforward.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/DHS-NGO-Funding-Case-Complaint.pdf

Asian Americans Advancing Justice – AAJC has a mission to advance the civil and human rights of Asian Americans and to build and promote a fair and equitable society for all. 

Democracy Forward is a national legal organization that advances democracy and social progress through litigation, policy, public education, and regulatory engagement. For more information, please visit www.democracyforward.org.