American Association of University Professors v. Rubio
Case Number: 1:25-cv-10685-WGY
Court: U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts
Clients: The Intercept and The Center for Investigative Reporting
Background: In March 2025, the American Association of University Professors, several local AAUP chapters, and the Middle East Studies Association filed a federal lawsuit alleging that the Trump administration has maintained an “ideological-deportation policy” that targets noncitizen students and faculty who participate in pro-Palestinian activism.
In August 2025, the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts held a trial on plaintiffs’ claims that the policy violates the First and Fifth Amendments, which involved a series of exhibits that were provisionally sealed from the public, including reports on student protesters prepared by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and documents that contain details about the government’s visa revocation policies and enforcement. The court relied heavily on the sealed exhibits in a ruling that concluded the policy violates the First Amendment.
On behalf of The Intercept and The Center for Investigative Reporting, attorneys from the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press and Klaris Law PLLC filed a motion to intervene in the case for the limited purpose of obtaining access to sealed judicial records. The motion argues that the public and press have a strong First Amendment and common-law right of access to the sealed records that cannot be overcome by a government interest in shielding them.
Quote: “[T]he particular documents sought here go to a critical issue of constitutional rights and may provide important information about what the government is doing in the realm of immigration enforcement.”
Co-counsel: Klaris Law PLLC
Filings:
2025-12-04: Motion to intervene and for access to judicial records
2025-12-04: Memorandum of law in support of motion to intervene and for access to judicial records