Habeas Dockets

Habeas Dockets, the flagship project of IJTI, is a searchable database of federal habeas corpus case documents restricted under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 5.2(c).

We believe that in a democratic society, access to primary legal materials in cases of profound public importance should be swift, comprehensive, and unhindered by outdated procedural hurdles.

The Problem: FRCP 5.2(c) Limits Online Access to Immigration-Related Case Documents

Unlike most federal court documents, which are publicly available online via the PACER system, immigration-related case documents are restricted from remote public view by FRCP 5.2(c). Non-parties can only access these (technically public) documents by physically visiting a courthouse in the district that the case was filed in.

Originally designed to protect the privacy of vulnerable petitioners, this rule severely curtails timely access for journalists, researchers, attorneys and advocates who might want to help, and the general public. The result: Potential abuses of government power are happening largely out of the public view.

Our Solution

Habeas Dockets coordinates a nationwide network of attorneys, advocates, and civic-minded members of the public to visit courthouses around the country, lawfully retrieve these documents, and make them available online. All documents undergo review for authenticity and to ensure no sensitive personal information is inadvertently included.

Learn more about the database and our process for accessing, reviewing, and publishing case documents.

Our Impact

Since launching in 2025, Habeas Dockets is the only public archive of its kind. Attorneys read documents on the site to understand how the law was applied in prior cases. Journalists use our database to report on patterns of due process violations. Researchers use our documents and reports to understand what is happening at scale.

As of March 2026, we have tracked over 30,000 cases nationwide, made available over 12,000 case documents, and helped countless immigration attorneys prepare urgent habeas cases on behalf of their clients. Everything on the site is free to access (and always will be).

None of this work is possible without the efforts of our nationwide network of volunteers and our funders. Learn more about supporting Habeas Dockets as a volunteer or donor.