Opinion ID: 786761
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Claims and Procedural History

Text: 15 Wong and Tien Tao brought this damages action against the INS officials 9 for constitutional violations under Bivens v. Six Unknown Named Agents of Federal Bureau of Narcotics, 403 U.S. 388, 91 S.Ct. 1999, 29 L.Ed.2d 619 (1971), and against the INS officials and the United States for violations of RFRA. 10 Wong and Tien Tao claim that: (1) the INS officials violated their rights under the First and Fifth Amendments to practice their religion and associate with others in the practice of their religion; and (2) the INS officials and the United States substantially burdened their exercise of religion in violation of RFRA. Wong also challenges her treatment while in INS detention, contending that the INS officials violated her right under the Fourth and Fifth Amendments to be free of unreasonable searches and seizures and her rights to liberty, due process, and equal protection of the laws under the Fifth Amendment. 16 Although the factual predicate for some of these claims is unclear, the first amended complaint, construed broadly, challenges on constitutional and RFRA grounds the following alleged actions of the INS officers: refusing to grant Wong permission to depart the United States to fulfill her religious obligations; revoking her parole status without first deciding her new adjustment of status petition; failing during her detention to provide her with a translator, information about her rights, information about how to contact her attorney, and access to her followers; subjecting Wong to strip searches; interfering with Wong's practice of her faith through denial of vegetarian meals while in detention; excluding Wong from the United States and interfering with her duties as a religious leader; discriminating against Wong and Tien Tao on the basis of their religious practices, beliefs, and association; and discriminating against Wong on the basis of her race and/or national origin. 17 The INS officials and the United States filed a motion to dismiss for lack of subject matter jurisdiction, failure to state a claim, and qualified immunity. After a thorough and careful analysis, the magistrate judge recommended the denial of the motion to dismiss in a report of her findings and recommendations, which was adopted in full by the district court.