FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 9, 2025
Contact: Lauren Regan, Marianne Dugan, CLDC
(541) 687-9180
info@cldc.org
Eugene, Oregon — On December 9, 2025, Chloe Longworth and Anna Lardner filed a Motion for Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) and Preliminary Injunction (PI), asking the Oregon federal court in Eugene to immediately stop the Trump regime and Department of Homeland Security agents from continuing to violate the First Amendment rights of human rights activists opposed to the administration’s immigration policies and practices, and to enjoin enforcement of unconstitutional new regulations. The initiating complaint was filed on December 5th.
Plaintiffs and other local human rights activists have been routinely exercising their lawful rights to assemble on traditional public forums on and adjacent to federal property. They provide legal information to immigrants who arrive for ICE appointments and monitor whether they are detained or are allowed to leave. They hold signs, sing songs, give speeches and chant, record federal agents performing public duties in public places, and use megaphones to express their opposition to the federal government – fundamental rights within American democracy.
As part of a concerted government attack upon people who object to their current policies and practices, and choose to show up and make their voices heard, DHS and other federal agents are routinely threatening and arresting people for constitutionally-protected activity. The seemingly random nature of federal threats and enforcement is intended to make no one feel safe to exercise their rights – a hallmark of an authoritarian regime.
“If even one person decides that they can’t exercise their constitutional rights to protest this regime and its policies as a result of these vague regulations and the illegal way DHS is implementing them, that is the epitome of ‘chilling first amendment rights,’ which is not tolerated in this country. Immediate court action is needed to put a stop to the government’s intentional attack on those who dissent.” Lauren Regan, attorney with Civil Liberties Defense Center representing the plaintiffs.
Plaintiff Anna Lardner explained, “Every day, people who want to show up and protest ICE and the regime ask me, ‘Are we allowed to protest around the building?’ — They just want to stand on the corner and hold signs and they are afraid to do so. I respond by reminding them that we still have First Amendment rights and we need to show courage and continue to exercise them even in the face of federal intimidation, or we’ll lose them forever.”
This lawsuit seeks a court ruling on the constitutionality of the regime’s current tactics on federal property and adjacent to it, and on the constitutionality of the new federal regulations. The new rules were hastily implemented to crack down on those who oppose current government actions, and are being used as justification for the arrests and threats for crimes such as “failure to preserve federal property” (standing on grass), “disorderly conduct – unusual noise” (for using a megaphone on a public sidewalk), and “failure to comply” (for taking photos 30 feet from DHS agents while standing at a railing). In addition, plaintiffs seek an injunction order against Defendants – an immediate court order barring the continued implementation and enforcement of these patently unconstitutional regulations.
In general, a court ruling is issued quickly when a motion for TRO and PI is filed. Stay tuned for more!
CLDC is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Eugene, Oregon.
For more information, interviews, or further statements, please contact CLDC at 541.687.9180, info@cldc.org, or visit www.cldc.org.
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