Impact Docket – 9/10/2025
Every week brings new proof that our democracy is being tested not by one decision, but by a steady drumbeat of power grabs. Institutions meant to safeguard rights are being bent, and long-standing norms pushed past their limits.
The question is whether we meet this moment with equal force. Lawyers and advocates have a unique role to play in stopping these attacks, and this week’s Impact Docket offers you ways to do just that.
🔴 The Moment We’re In: Retaliation and Resistance
Last week, the Trump administration unlawfully retaliated against FEMA employees who signed the “Katrina Declaration,” warning of risks to public safety. Within 36 hours, many were placed on indefinite leave—an act legal experts call a clear violation of whistleblower protections. As L4GG’s ED Traci Feit Love said to The Washington Post: “Retaliation against them is not just illegal, it’s a direct assault on the democratic principles that protect public servants.”
Meanwhile, the federal takeover of D.C.’s police has shown how quickly local self-governance can be seized, while immigrant communities face escalating ICE arrests and vanishing due process protections. At the same time, rulemaking is being weaponized—proposals to gut the EPA’s Endangerment Finding and strip PSLF eligibility are designed to weaken safeguards and punish civil society.
The throughline is clear: when truth-tellers are punished and checks are dismantled, democracy itself is on the line. That’s why we refuse to look away. This week’s Impact Docket offers concrete ways to defend the rule of law and stand with the communities most at risk.
⚡ URGENT ACTION
🏛️ Tell Congress: Stop the Federal Takeover of D.C.
📍 L4GG.org/DefendDC | 2 min
President Trump has unilaterally seized control of D.C.’s police department, without an emergency and without consent from the community, setting a dangerous precedent for unchecked federal power.
This isn’t just about D.C. It’s about preserving local self-governance, limiting executive overreach, and defending the rule of law in every city across the country.
Tell Congress: Support H.J.Res. 115 and reject this authoritarian power grab.
⚖️ Take Action: Defend Due Process
📍 tinyurl.com/toolkitallies | 10 min
Immigrant communities are facing escalating attacks—including mass ICE arrests, expanded mandatory detention, and widespread denial of bond hearings. Legal representation is rare, and due process protections are rapidly disappearing.
The Freedom to Fairness Coalition, of which L4GG is a proud member, is defending due process and demanding real solutions. Use this toolkit to raise your voice, using:
Shareable graphics and sample posts
Updated ICE detention data and stories
Hashtags and messaging for maximum impact
We’re advocating for the Fairness to Freedom Act, which guarantees universal legal representation in deportation proceedings and helps keep families together. Speak out and tag your members of Congress today and beyond!
🛠️ LONG-TERM ENGAGEMENT
📝 Volunteer Interest Form: Detention Bridge Project
L4GG is building a nationwide volunteer network to support detained immigrants in underserved immigration detention centers—and we’re asking for your input as we shape the next phase of this project. Our project will combat immigration detention's information black box and legal desert crisis by mobilizing remote pro bono attorneys to serve vulnerable detainees who currently lack basic due process protections and support potential litigation on their behalf. We're looking for attorneys to help remotely or in person with:
Know-Your-Rights trainings for detainees
Parole preparation and advocacy
Documentation of detention conditions for future litigation
Our initial focus is on facilities in South Texas and the East Coast, with plans to expand nationally. If you're open to volunteering or supporting this work, fill out the form and help us build a legal lifeline to the people who need it most!
📅 Constitution Day Events for the Rule of Law
On Wednesday, September 17, 2025, legal organizations nationwide are holding events to commemorate Constitution Day.
Constitution Day 2025 is a national day of action that calls on lawyers and the communities we serve to stand up for our founding principles. These nonpartisan events will also kick off a year-long campaign to educate, engage, and equip people—lawyers and non-lawyers alike—to defend the rule of law and strengthen constitutional democracy.
📍Attend a local event near you, or:
💻 Join this virtual event, hosted by the Task Force for American Democracy.
📄 Volunteer Interest Form: Help Asylum Seekers Apply for Work Permits
Asylum seekers need stability—and a work permit is a vital step toward rebuilding their lives. That’s why L4GG is seeking experienced immigration attorneys to volunteer at upcoming NYC-based clinics this October.
We’re looking for attorneys to review and provide feedback on draft work permit applications at in-person clinics hosted at Manhattan law firms on Oct 17, Oct 28, Oct 29, and Oct 30.
If you're an immigration attorney in the NYC region who is comfortable reviewing work permits, and are ready to make a meaningful difference, fill out our interest form to get involved!
🛑 EPA Comment Trainings: Stop the Endangerment Finding Repeal
📍 L4GG.org/EPAComment | 5-10 hours
Last chance! Join our final comment training on September 15 at 1 PM ET to learn how to submit a powerful public comment against the proposed repeal of the Environmental Protection Agency’s Endangerment Finding, the legal foundation for regulating climate pollution.
This proposal would gut the EPA’s power to combat climate change, endangering our health, environment, and future.
✅ No prior experience needed—just 5–10 hours of your time
✅ Step-by-step guidance to write a legally grounded comment
✅ Templates, citations, and talking points
✅ Breakout Q&A rooms for anyone needing support post-training
This proposal affects everyone. Your voice is needed to fight back. Register today and help protect our planet.
🛡️Submit a Public Comment: Protect Public Service Loan Forgiveness
The Trump administration is trying to strip Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) eligibility from entire categories of employers—including nonprofits and public agencies doing work in immigrant rights, gender-affirming care, and racial equity.
L4GG is a proud member of the PSLF Coalition, which created a toolkit to help you submit your own customized public comment before the September 17 deadline.
Your voice matters. Public comments are a powerful legal tool to influence final rules and build a record of public opposition. Use the toolkit and these talking points to:
Submit a compelling and unique public comment
Lift up the legal and personal impact of the proposed rule
Share the guidance with your networks to encourage broad participation
We’ll be back in two weeks with more ways to take action—but the work doesn’t stop here.
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