Maria Mora-Villalpando v. USCIS, No. 18-0655, 2018 WL 3536754 (W.D. Wash. July 23, 2018) (Robart, J.)

Maria Mora-Villalpando v. USCIS, No. 18-0655, 2018 WL 3536754 (W.D. Wash. July 23, 2018) (Robart, J.)

Re:  Request for records pertaining to immigration enforcement actions taken against the plaintiff and other immigration rights activists

Disposition:  Denying defendants' motion to strike portions of the amended complaint

• Litigation Considerations, Pleadings:  The court denies the defendant's motion to strike paragraphs of the plaintiff's complaint containing "allegations about the importance of freedom of speech," "allegations regarding her own activism against ICE practices and her removal proceedings," and allegations about the targeting of other immigrant activists by the defendant.  The court holds that "[i]n light of the showing [the plaintiff] must make regarding exemptions 6 and 7(C), Defendants fail to satisfy their burden of showing that the challenged paragraphs have 'no possible relationship to the controversy.'" Additionally, the court finds that "[t]he challenged assertions are also relevant to [the plaintiff's] entitlement to attorney's fees."