Case: Doe v. Mullin

3:26-cv-03988 | U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California

Filed Date: May 4, 2026

Case Ongoing

Clearinghouse coding in progress

Case Summary

(This summary is temporary while we research the case.) On February 4, 2026, DHS issued an administrative summons to Google LLC - without any court involvement - demanding broad categories of information associated with the Gmail account linked to Plaintiff "Doe's" social media presence, including account records, location information, and activity logs covering the period September 1, 2025 through February 4, 2026. Google notified Doe of the summons on February 9, 2026, and he objected on Febr…

(This summary is temporary while we research the case.)

On February 4, 2026, DHS issued an administrative summons to Google LLC - without any court involvement - demanding broad categories of information associated with the Gmail account linked to Plaintiff "Doe's" social media presence, including account records, location information, and activity logs covering the period September 1, 2025 through February 4, 2026. Google notified Doe of the summons on February 9, 2026, and he objected on February 16, 2026, though Google had neither complied nor committed to withholding compliance indefinitely.

Doe filed this complaint on May 4, 2026, against Markwayne Mullin in his official capacity as Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The complaint alleged that DHS acted under the purported authority of § 1509, which authorizes summonses only in connection with customs law violations, none of which applied to Doe. The complaint further alleged that the summons was part of a broader pattern by the Trump administration of using § 1509 to unmask anonymous social media critics of its immigration policies, and sought declaratory and injunctive relief, as well as attorneys' fees and costs.

This case is ongoing.

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/73289446/parties/doe-v-mullin/

Judge(s)

Cousins, Nathanael M. (California)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Snow, Jacob Adam (California)

Judge(s)

Cousins, Nathanael M. (California)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Snow, Jacob Adam (California)

Attorney Contact Information via CourtListener

Documents in the Clearinghouse

Documents in this case

1 3:26-cv-03988	Complaint for Declaratory and Injunctive Relief	May 4, 2026	May 4, 2026 Complaint

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Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/73289446/doe-v-mullin/

Last updated May 11, 2026, 4:09 p.m.

ECF Number	Date	Description	Link
1	May 4, 2026	COMPLAINT against Markwayne Mullin ( Filing fee $ 405, receipt number ACANDC-21939088.). Injunction against the US government/official or APA vacatur requested. Filed by John Doe. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit A)(Snow, Jacob) (Filed on 5/4/2026) (Entered: 05/04/2026) 1 Exhibit A View on RECAP	Clearinghouse
2	May 4, 2026	MOTION to Proceed Pseudonymously filed by John Doe. Responses due by 5/18/2026. Replies due by 5/26/2026. (Attachments: # 1 Declaration of John Doe, # 2 Proposed Order)(Snow, Jacob) (Filed on 5/4/2026) (Entered: 05/04/2026) 1 Declaration of John Doe View on RECAP 2 Proposed Order View on PACER	RECAP
3	May 4, 2026	Administrative Motion to File Under Seal filed by John Doe. (Attachments: # 1 Declaration of Michael Perloff, # 2 Proposed Order, # 3 Exhibit A (Sealed))(Snow, Jacob) (Filed on 5/4/2026) (Entered: 05/04/2026)	RECAP
4	May 4, 2026	Pro Hac Vice	RECAP
5	May 4, 2026	Proposed Summons	RECAP
7	May 5, 2026	Initial Case Management Scheduling Order with ADR Deadlines	RECAP
	May 5, 2026	~Util - Case Assigned by Intake
	May 5, 2026	Remark
8	May 7, 2026	Order on Motion for Pro Hac Vice	RECAP