Opinion ID: 2605
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: The Panel's Majority Opinion

Text: The panel affirms the judgment of the district court as explained by the majority opinion. The majority concludes that (1) the allegations set forth in Arar's complaint are sufficient, at this early stage of the litigation, to establish personal jurisdiction over defendants not resident in New York, but (2) Arar has not established federal subject-matter jurisdiction over his claim for declaratory relief. Ante at 163-64, 192-93. It concludes further that (3) Arar's allegations do not state a claim against the defendants for damages under the TVPA, and (4) we cannot provide Arar with a judicially created cause of action for damages under the Fifth Amendment, pursuant to the Bivens doctrine. Id. at 163-64, 192-93. Finally, having decided to dismiss the complaint on these grounds, the majority does not reach the question of whether the INA or the state-secrets privilege foreclose Arar's pursuit of this litigation. Id. at 191-92. I agree with the majority's conclusions as to personal jurisdiction, Arar's request for a declaratory judgment, and his claim under the TVPA. Unlike the majority, however, I conclude that Arar adequately pleads violations of his constitutional rights and is entitled to proceed with his claims for monetary damages under Bivens. Finally, as Arar and the defendants agree, were the complaint reinstated and this matter remanded, as I think it should be, the district court could then consider the defendants' assertion of the state-secrets privilege [15] in the first instance, and limit discovery as is necessary to meet legitimate national security and related concerns.