Legal advocacy groups raised alarms on Saturday after U.S. President Donald Trump threatened new measures against attorneys and law firms that file immigration lawsuits and other cases against his administration, which he considers unethical.
In a memorandum sent late Friday to U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, Trump accused lawyers of fueling “rampant fraud and meritless claims” within the immigration system. He directed the Justice Department to seek sanctions against attorneys for professional misconduct.
The directive also targeted law firms involved in lawsuits against the administration, which Trump labeled “baseless partisan” cases. He instructed Bondi to refer such firms to the White House for potential revocation of security clearances and termination of any federal contracts they had worked on.
Ben Wizner, a senior attorney at the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), condemned the move as an effort to “chill and intimidate” legal professionals who challenge Trump’s policies. He noted that courts have been one of the few institutions standing against Trump’s agenda and stressed that they cannot function without lawyers presenting cases before them.
The ACLU has been actively litigating against the administration, including cases involving the deportation of alleged Venezuelan gang members.
Since the beginning of Trump’s second term, over 100 lawsuits have been filed against his administration over immigration, transgender rights, and other issues. Legal advocacy organizations, along with at least 12 major law firms, have been involved in these legal battles.
White House spokesperson Taylor Rogers defended the president’s actions, stating, “President Trump is delivering on his promise to ensure the judicial system is no longer weaponized against the American people.”
The Justice Department has not yet commented on the memorandum, which instructed Bondi to assess lawyers and firms that have filed cases against the government over the past eight years.
Keker, Van Nest & Peters, a law firm currently collaborating with the ACLU on an immigrant rights lawsuit, strongly condemned the president’s directive, calling it “inexcusable and despicable” for Trump to target attorneys based on their clients or legal work challenging federal policies.
Other leading law firms representing clients in cases against Trump’s administration, including Hogan Lovells, Jenner & Block, Perkins Coie, and WilmerHale, did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
This month, Trump issued executive orders suspending the security clearances of lawyers from Perkins Coie and Paul Weiss, restricting their access to government facilities, officials, and federal contracting opportunities.
Last month, he also revoked security clearances for attorneys at Covington & Burling, citing the firm’s past work for his political and legal opponents.
On Saturday, Keker called for law firms to sign a joint court brief in support of Perkins Coie’s lawsuit challenging the executive order against it.
Paul Weiss reached an agreement with Trump on Thursday to have its order rescinded, agreeing to provide $40 million in pro bono legal work aligned with the administration’s initiatives, including support for veterans and combating antisemitism.
Lawyers are required to adhere to professional ethics rules, which mandate thorough investigation before filing lawsuits and prohibit misleading the courts. While courts oversee disciplinary actions for legal misconduct, federal prosecutors can pursue criminal charges against attorneys when necessary.
Notably, some lawyers associated with Trump have faced professional discipline over their efforts to challenge Democrat Joe Biden’s 2020 presidential election victory.
Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, who served as Trump’s attorney, was disbarred in both New York and Washington, D.C., over false claims regarding the 2020 election results.
Lawyers for Civil Rights, an advocacy group suing the administration over deportations, called Trump’s threats of sanctions hypocritical. In a statement to Reuters, the organization accused Trump and his allies of repeatedly disregarding the rule of law.
