Case Name in Immigration Case - Unavailable

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26cv1756-LL-BJW
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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
JIANFENG LI,
Petitioner,
v.
KRISTI NOEM, Secretary of the U.S.
Department of Homeland Security, et al.,
Respondents.
Case No.: 26cv1756-LL-BJW
ORDER DENYING PETITIONER’S
EX PARTE MOTION FOR LEAVE
TO PROCEED UNDER
PSEUDONYM
[ECF No. 3]
On March 21, 2026, Petitioner filed an Ex Parte Motion requesting permission to
litigate this action under a pseudonym. ECF No. 3.
In the Ninth Circuit, “a party may preserve his or her anonymity in judicial
proceedings in special circumstances when the party’s need for anonymity outweighs
prejudice to the opposing party and the public's interest in knowing the party’s identity.”
Does I thru XXIII v. Advanced Textile Corp., 214 F.3d 1058, 1068 (9th Cir. 2000). In
making this determination, courts consider the following factors: “(1) the severity of the
threatened harm, (2) the reasonableness of the anonymous party’s fears, and (3) the
anonymous party’s vulnerability to such retaliation.” Id. (citations omitted). “The court
must also determine the precise prejudice at each stage of the proceedings to the opposing
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party, and whether proceedings may be structured so as to mitigate that prejudice.” Id.
“Finally, the court must decide whether the public’s interest in the case would be best
served by requiring that the litigants reveal their identities.” Id.
Petitioner contends that his identity must be concealed because disclosure “could
subject him to retaliation within detention facilities, adverse treatment by other detainees,
or targeting by third parties.” ECF No. 3 at 2–3. He further argues that this action
“necessarily involves disclosure of sensitive personal information, including immigration
history, detention circumstances, and potentially protected claims or fear-based facts.” Id.
at 3. Petitioner also contends that there would be no prejudice to Respondents because they
are federal officials and agencies who already know his true identity. Id.
The Court does not find it appropriate to allow Petitioner to proceed under a
pseudonym at this stage of the proceedings. Petitioner alleges harms that are vague and
speculative, with no specific reasons as to why Petitioner would be targeted for harm or
adverse treatment in detention facilities apart from his status as a Chinese citizen seeking
asylum. However, the Court agrees that Petitioner’s asylum application contains sensitive
personal information. To mitigate the risk of disclosing this sensitive information, the
Court will allow Petitioner’s asylum application to be sealed, identified as “Tab A” in his
Motion for Ex Parte Application for Temporary Restraining Order [ECF No. 2 at 11–35].
In order to enable the Court to seal Tab A, Petitioner’s counsel must (1) correctly
file an amended Ex Parte Application for Temporary Restraining Order for public viewing
that uploads each exhibit as a separate attachment and redacts Tab A; (2) file a motion to
seal Tab A; and (3) lodge the unredacted Tab A under the appropriate event as explained
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in 	the 	electronic 	filing 	policies 	and 	procedures 	manual. 	Electronic 	Case 	Filing
Administrative Policies and Procedures Manual, § 2(j)-(k) (January 16, 2026), available
at https://www.casd.uscourts.gov/rules/local-rules.aspx.
Accordingly, the Court DENIES Petitioner’s Ex Parte Motion to proceed under a
pseudonym.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
Dated: March 23, 2026
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