By Gonzalez Olivieri, on Immigration Updates
A former immigration judge filed a lawsuit alleging she was wrongfully fired by the Trump administration based on protected characteristics. Tania Nemer contended that the Department of Justice terminated her in February 2025 due to her gender, dual citizenship with Lebanon, immigrant heritage, and Democratic political affiliation, violating Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the First Amendment. The Justice Department's Equal Employment Opportunity office had dismissed her initial discrimination complaint, asserting that employment protections did not apply because of the president's Article II removal authority.
Nemer's lawsuit challenges the government's position that Article II constitutional power supersedes civil rights statutes, asserting that Title VII remains applicable to federal employment discrimination regardless of presidential removal authority. Nemer, who received the highest possible performance ratings before her termination, seeks reinstatement and back pay through the federal litigation pending in Washington, D.C. The lawsuit raises significant implications for federal employment law, as the administration's position would potentially allow discrimination against federal workers based on sex, national origin, and political affiliation.
For more information on this, and other immigration matters, contact the attorneys at Gonzalez Olivieri LLC today.
Reference:
Nemer v. United States Dep't of Justice, Complaint for Declaratory and Injunctive Relief (D.D.C. Dec. 1, 2025).
