Al Haramain Islamic Foundation, Inc. v. United States Department of the Treasury
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Full Opinion
ORDER
The opinion filed September 23, 2011 [660 F.3d 1019], is amended as follows:
On slip opinion page 18093 [660 F.3d at 1048], line 5, add the following footnote after “unreasonable seizures”:
In its petition for rehearing, OFAC raises interesting arguments about issues that we need not, and do not, decide. We address only the facts of this case: OFAC’s seizure of assets as a result of its designation order of a United States entity located within the United States. We do not address the requirements under the Fourth Amendment for other situations including, for example, designations of foreign entities or designations by executive order. We also make clear that our holding concerns OFAC’s original designation order only; we do not address whether a warrant is required for subsequent orders. Finally, we note that a designation order need not specify all details of every asset to meet the Fourth Amendment’s particularity requirement. Cf. United States v. Petti, 973 F.2d 1441, 1444-45 (9th Cir.1992) (holding that a “‘roving’ wiretap surveillance” warrant meets the Fourth Amendment’s particularity requirement).
With these amendments, the panel has voted to deny the petition for rehearing. Judges Thomas and Graber have voted to deny the petition for rehearing en banc, and Judge Nelson has so recommended.
The full court has been advised of the petition for rehearing en banc, and no judge of the court has requested a vote on it.
The petition for rehearing and petition for rehearing en banc are DENIED. No further petitions for rehearing or petitions for rehearing en bane shall be entertained.
OPINION
Plaintiff Al Haramain Islamic Foundation, Oregon (“AHIF-Oregon”), is a nonprofit organization, incorporated in Oregon, whose stated purpose is to promote greater understanding of Islam. The United States government suspected AHIF-Oregon of supporting terrorism. In 2004, the Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”), a part of the United States Department of the Treasury, froze AHIFOregon’s assets and designated AHIF-Oregon as a “specially designated global terrorist” pursuant to Executive Order (“EO”) No. 13,224. President George W. Bush had issued EO 13,224 pursuant to the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (“IEEPA”), 50 U.S.C. §§ 1701-1707, in the wake of the events of September 11, 2001.
AHIF-Oregon eventually filed this action, asserting that OFAC has violated a variety of its statutory and constitutional rights. Plaintiff Multicultural Association of Southern Oregon, which the government has not accused of supporting terrorism, challenges certain laws that bar it from providing services to designated entities such as AHIF-Oregon. With the exception of one claim not at issue on appeal, the district court granted summary judgment to OFAC.
On appeal, we affirm in part, reverse in part, and remand. We affirm the district court’s ruling that substantial evidence supports OFAC’s redesignation of AHIFOregon as a specially designated global terrorist, and we affirm the district court’s rejection of AHIF-Oregon’s due process claims. We reverse the district court’s rejection of AHIF-Oregon’s Fourth Amendment claim and remand for the district court to determine what judicial relief, if any, is available. Finally, we re
FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY
AHIF-Oregon incorporated as a nonprofit public benefit corporation under Oregon law in 1999. AHIF-Oregon describes itself as “an Oregon non-profit charitable organization that seeks to promote greater understanding of the Islamic religion through operating prayer houses, distributing religious publications, and engaging in other charitable activities.” It maintains headquarters in Ashland, Oregon, where it formerly owned and operated a prayer house. Its primary activities appear to have taken place in Oregon, though it also was a partial owner of a prayer house in Springfield, Missouri, and conducted some activities there and abroad.
AHIF-Oregon is not the only organization with the name “Al Haramain Islamic Foundation.” At the time of its incorporation, organizations with that name existed in dozens of other countries. One of the largest, if not the largest, was AHIFSaudi Arabia, which had an annual budget of between $30 million and $80 million. Like AHIF-Oregon, AHIF-Saudi Arabia described itself as a charitable organization. AHIF-Saudi Arabia dissolved in June 2004.
The two organizations, AHIF-Oregon and AHIF-Saudi Arabia, shared some leaders in common. In particular, Saudi nationals Aqeel Al-Aqil and Solimán AIButhe
Shortly after the events of September 11, 2001, President Bush exercised his authority under the IEEPA by issuing EO 13,224. 66 Fed.Reg. 49,079 (Sept. 23, 2001). Under the IEEPA, the President may, in specified ways, “deal with any unusual and extraordinary threat, which has its source in whole or substantial part outside the United States, to the national security, foreign policy, or economy of the United States, if the President declares a national emergency with respect to such threat.” 50 U.S.C. § 1701(a). Relevant here, the President may
(B) investigate, block during the pendency of an investigation, regulate, direct and compel, nullify, void, prevent or prohibit, any acquisition, holding, withholding, use, transfer, withdrawal, transportation, importation or exportation of, or dealing in, or exercising any right, power, or privilege with respect to, or transactions involving, any property in which any foreign country or a national thereof has any interest by any person, or with respect to any property, subject to the jurisdiction of the United States[.]
Id. § 1702(a)(1)(B). A person who violates the IEEPA is subject to civil penalties and, for willful violations, criminal penalties, including a fine up to $1 million and
In the Executive Order, the President declared that the “September 11, 2001, acts ... constitute an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security, foreign policy, and economy of the United States.” EO 13,224 pmbl. The Order “blocked” “all property and interests in property” of 27 persons designated by the Order, and it delegated to the specified agency head the authority to designate other persons with substantial connections to terrorist activities and organizations. Id. § 1. Specifically, Section 1 of the Order states that
all property and interests in property of the following persons that are in the United States or that hereafter come within the United States, or that hereafter come within the possession or control of United States persons are blocked:
(a) foreign persons listed in the Annex to this order;
(b) foreign persons determined by the Secretary of State, in consultation with the Secretary of the Treasury and the Attorney General, to have committed, or to pose a significant risk of committing, acts of terrorism that threaten the security of U.S. nationals or the national security, foreign policy, or economy of the United States;
(c) persons determined by the Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the Secretary of State and the Attorney General, to be owned or controlled by, or to act for or on behalf of those persons listed in the Annex to this order or those persons determined to be subject to subsection 1(b), 1(c), or 1(d)(1) of this order;
(d) except as provided in section 5 of this order and after such consultation, if any, with foreign authorities as the Secretary of State, in consultation with the Secretary of the Treasury and the Attorney General, deems appropriate in the exercise of [her] discretion, persons determined by the Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the Secretary of State and the Attorney General;
(i) to assist in, sponsor, or provide financial, material, or technological support for, or financial or other services to or in support of, such acts of terrorism or those persons listed in the Annex to this order or determined to be subject to this order; or
(ii) to be otherwise associated with those persons listed in the Annex to this order or those persons determined to be subject to subsection 1(b), 1(c), or l(d)(i) of this order.
The 27 persons and entities specifically listed in the Annex did not include Al-Aqil, Al-Buthe, or any AHIF organization.
In the years following the issuance of EO 13,224, OFAC periodically designated new persons and entities.
On February 18, 2004, federal and state officials executed a search warrant at AHIF-Oregon’s Ashland office. The search warrant concerned investigations into possible criminal violations of tax, banking, and money-laundering laws. Agents found, among other things, photographs and other documents related to violence in Chechnya.
The next day, February 19, 2004, OFAC issued a press release stating that it had blocked AHIF-Oregon’s assets pending an investigation concerning the potential designation of AHIF-Oregon under EO 13,-224.
In the months following that press release, OFAC and AHIF-Oregon exchanged voluminous documents on a range of topics. At the request of OFAC, AHIF-Oregon submitted a copy of a Koran that AHIF-Oregon previously had distributed to prisoners and others. The Koran was the only item specifically requested by OFAC.
The bulk of the exchange concerned AHIF-Oregon’s possible connections to Chechen terrorism in Russia. The dispute centers on a donation in 2000 by AHIFOregon to AHIF-Saudi Arabia of more than $150,000. AHIF-Oregon concedes that it made the donation but strenuously argues that it was intended to be used, and in fact was used, for humanitarian relief in Chechnya. The donation originated from an Egyptian national who apparently wished to funnel the money through AHIF-Oregon. AHIF-Oregon received the funds and then transferred them to AHIF-Saudi Arabia.
In June 2004, while OF AC’s investigation of AHIF-Oregon continued, two important events occurred. First, AHIFSaudi Arabia dissolved. OFAC had not designated AHIF-Saudi Arabia under EO 13,224 or otherwise as a terrorist organization. Second, OFAC designated Al-Aqil as a specially designated global terrorist. At the time, though, Al-Aqil no longer had an official connection to AHIF-Oregon; he had resigned from AHIF-Oregon’s board in March 2003.
On September 9, 2004, OFAC issued a press release declaring that it had designated AHIF-Oregon. The press release also stated that OFAC had designated Al-Buthe, even though OFAC had not advised Al-Buthe of any investigation of him. The press release read, in part:
The investigation shows direct links between the U.S. branch and Usama bin Laden. In addition, the affidavit alleges the U.S. branch of [AHIF] criminally violated tax laws and engaged in other money laundering offenses. Informa*974 tion shows that individuals associated with the branch tried to conceal the movement of funds intended for Chechnya by omitting them from tax returns and miseharacterizing their use, which they claimed was for the purchase of a prayer house in Springfield, Missouri.
Other information available to the U.S. shows that funds that were donated to [AHIF-Oregon] with the intention of supporting Chechen refugees were diverted to support mujahideen, as well as Chechen leaders affiliated with the al Qaida network.
One week later, on September 16, 2004, OFAC sent a letter to AHIF-Oregon entitled “BLOCKING NOTICE.” The letter provided: “You are hereby notified that pursuant to [Executive Order No. 13,224] and under the authorities granted by IEE-PA, OFAC has determined that [AHIFOregon] is an entity that falls within the criteria for designation set forth in the Order at § 1(c), (d). Accordingly, [AHIFOregon] is hereby designated as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist pursuant to the Order.” The letter described the legal consequences of the designation, including the blocking of all assets, and warned the organization of the civil and criminal penalties for violations of the IEEPA. The letter concluded that AHIF-Oregon could request administrative reconsideration pursuant to 31 C.F.R. § 501.807.
In early 2005, AHIF-Oregon submitted additional documents for the administrative record and requested administrative reconsideration. In the letter, AHIF-Oregon asserted that it had no connection to terrorism and provided a detailed explanation concerning certain subjects, including the Chechen donation. In the many months following its request for administrative reconsideration, AHIF-Oregon repeatedly sought both an explanation for the designation and a final determination of its request for administrative reconsideration. Like AHIF-Oregon, Al-Buthe requested administrative reconsideration of OFAC’s designation of him.
Having received no response to its 2005 request for administrative reconsideration, AHIF-Oregon filed this action in August 2007. AHIF-Oregon brought a substantive challenge to the designation and several procedural challenges. As to the latter, AHIF-Oregon argued that OFAC’s use of classified information violated its due process rights, that OFAC’s refusal to provide reasons for the investigation and designation violated its due process rights, and that OFAC’s failure to obtain a warrant before seizing its assets violated the Fourth Amendment.
Three months after AHIF-Oregon filed its complaint, in November 2007, OFAC sent a letter to AHIF-Oregon and Al-Buthe notifying them of OFAC’s provisional intent to “redesignate” them and offering a final chance to submit documentation. The parties again exchanged many documents, including nearly 1,000 pages of material submitted by AHIF-Oregon.
On February 6, 2008, OFAC sent AHIF-Oregon and Al-Buthe a letter stating that, “after a thorough investigation and review of the evidence in the record regarding AHIF-Oregon and Mr. Al-Buthe, OFAC has determined that AHIFOregon and Mr. Al-Buthe continue to meet the criteria for designation.” The letter specified three reasons for redesignating AHIF-Oregon: “(1) being owned or controlled by [designated persons] Aqeel Al-Aqil and Al-Buthe, (2) acting for or on behalf of [designated persons] Al-Aqil and Al-Buthe, and (3) supporting and operating as a branch office of AHIF, an international charity that employed its branch offices to provide financial, material, and other services and support to al Qaida and other [designated persons].”
In a memorandum dated the same day, OFAC explained, in more detail, its rea
AH[I]F-Oregon should be determined to be subject to Executive Order 18,224 for the following reasons: [1] AH[I]F-Oregon has been owned or controlled by, or has acted for or on behalf of Al-Aqil; [2] AH[I]F-Oregon has been owned or controlled by, or has acted for or on behalf of Al-Buthe; [3] As a branch of the Saudi charity Al-Haramain Islamic Foundation, AH[I]F-Oregon has acted for or on behalf of, or has assisted in, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or financial or other services to or in support of A1 Qaida and other [designated persons].
(Emphasis omitted.) Four months later, on June 19, 2008, OFAC designated “the world-wide organization of AHIF.”
In this action, the district court granted summary judgment to OFAC on all of AHIF-Oregon’s claims. The court held that substantial evidence did not support OFAC’s determination that Al-Aqil owned or controlled AHIF-Oregon at the time of redesignation. But the court found that substantial evidence did support OFAC’s other two reasons: that Al-Buthe owned or controlled AHIF-Oregon and that AHIF-Oregon supported designated persons as a branch office of AHIF-Saudi Arabia.
With respect to the procedural challenges, the district court rejected AHIFOregon’s argument that OFAC cannot rely on classified information in making its designation determinations. The district court next held that OFAC violated AHIF-Oregon’s procedural due process rights by failing to provide notice and a meaningful opportunity to respond. But the district court held that the violation was harmless because, even if AHIF-Oregon properly had been informed of OFAC’s reasons for suspicion, AHIF-Oregon could not have avoided the redesignation. Finally, the district court held that the blocking of assets is a “seizure” for purposes of the Fourth Amendment. But the court held that OFAC’s actions fell within the “special needs” exception to the warrant requirement.
The second named plaintiff in this action is Multicultural Association of Southern Oregon (“MCASO”). MCASO describes itself as “an Oregon public benefit corporation with members, incorporated in 1995 and operating in Medford, [Oregon, as] a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization.” “MCA-SO’s objectives include serving as a catalyst in the southern Oregon community to promote understanding and appreciation between cultures in order to reduce racism, promote and support multicultural education, and provide forums for problem solving related to intercultural differences.” Before the designation of AHIFOregon, MCASO had co-sponsored events with AHIF-Oregon. MCASO alleged that it would continue to co-sponsor events and conduct other activities in coordination with AHIF-Oregon, were it not for AHIFOregon’s designation. MCASO asserts that EO 13,224 and its implementing regulations are unconstitutionally vague and overbroad and that they violate MCASO’s First and Fifth Amendment rights by prohibiting it from working with AHIF-Oregon.
AHIF-Oregon and MCASO timely appeal.
STANDARDS OF REVIEW
We review de novo the district court’s decision on cross-motions for summary judgment. Trunk v. City of San Diego, 629 F.3d 1099, 1105 (9th Cir.2011). “We review de novo questions of law, including constitutional rulings, resolved on summary judgment.” Nader v. Cronin, 620 F.3d 1214, 1216 (9th Cir.2010) (per curiam), cert. denied, — U.S.—, 131 S.Ct. 1844, 179 L.Ed.2d 772 (2011). We review for clear error the district court’s factual findings. Sapp v. Kimbrell, 623 F.3d 813, 821 (9th Cir.2010).
The judicial review provisions of the Administrative Procedure Act (“APA”), 5 U.S.C. § 706(2)(A), govern challenges to OFAC’s designation decisions. See Alaska Dep’t of Envtl. Conservation v. EPA 540 U.S. 461, 496-97 & n. 18, 124 S.Ct. 983, 157 L.Ed.2d 967 (2004) (holding that, when considering an agency action as to which the statute does not specify the standard of review, the courts of appeals must proceed pursuant to the APA’s general standard of review for agency actions in 5 U.S.C. § 706(2)(A)); see also Vigil v. Leavitt, 381 F.3d 826, 833 (9th Cir.2004) (describing Alaska Dep’t of Envtl. Conservation’s application); accord Holy Land Found. for Relief & Dev. v. Ashcroft, 333 F.3d 156, 162 (D.C.Cir.2003). Accordingly, we may set aside OFAC’s designation only if it is “arbitrary, capricious, an abuse of discretion, or otherwise not in accordance with law.” 5 U.S.C. § 706(2)(A). Under that standard, we review for substantial evidence the agency’s factual findings. Alaska Dep’t of Health & Soc. Servs. v. Ctrs. for Medicare & Medic-aid Servs., 424 F.3d 931, 937 (9th Cir.2005).
DISCUSSION
A. Substantive Challenge to the Redesignation
OFAC supported its 2008 redesignation of AHIF-Oregon on three grounds: (1) that AHIF-Oregon is owned or controlled by Al-Aqil; (2) that AHIF-Oregon is owned or controlled by AI-Buthe; and (3) that AHIF-Oregon provided support to al Qaida and other designated persons as a branch office of AHIF-Saudi Arabia. AHIF-Oregon argues under the APA that substantial evidence does not support those reasons. Like the district court, we conclude that substantial evidence supports the last two reasons, but not the first. We address them in turn, below.
Before doing so, however, we note that AHIF-Oregon also describes its APA challenge in two other ways. First, AHIFOregon argues that OFAC reached its decision without affording AHIF-Oregon a meaningful opportunity to respond and thus violated the APA. We occasionally have held that an agency’s prejudicial procedural failure violates the APA and, accordingly, have remanded to the agency for reconsideration. See, e.g., Asarco, Inc. v. EPA 616 F.2d 1153, 1162 (9th Cir.1980) (citing Bowman Transp., Inc. v. Ark.-Best Freight Sys., Inc., 419 U.S. 281, 288 n. 4, 95 S.Ct. 438, 42 L.Ed.2d 447 (1974)). But the genesis of that rule appears to be the Due Process Clause, rather than a separate statutory grant of procedural rights. See Bowman Transp., 419 U.S. at 288 n. 4, 95 S.Ct. 438 (“Indeed, the Due Process Clause forbids an agency to use evidence in a way that forecloses an opportunity to offer a contrary presentation.”). In any event, AHIF-Oregon does not argue with any specificity that its procedural objections under the APA are any different from its identical objections under the Due Process Clause. We address its due pro
Second, AHIF-Oregon argues that OFAC lacked “authorization” to redesignate AHIF-Oregon. We disagree. The regulations clearly contemplate administrative reconsideration, 31 C.F.R. § 501.807; indeed, OFAC issued its redesignation decision at AHIF-Oregon’s specific request under the regulations. Just as OFAC has authority to designate an entity, it likewise has the authority to respond to that entity’s request for reconsideration, including with updated reasons.
It appears that AHIF-Oregon’s primary point is that OFAC’s 2008 reasons actually are a post-hoc rationalization for its original 2004 designation and that AHIF-Oregon had no earlier notice of the reasons OFAC eventually gave in 2008. As with the previous argument, we see no difference between this argument and AHIFOregon’s procedural due process claim concerning inadequate notice, which we analyze below, in Part B-2. We turn, then, to our review of OFAC’s three stated reasons and assess whether substantial evidence supports its designation of AHIFOregon as a specially designated global terrorist.
1. Ownership or Control by Al-Aqil
Al-Aqil was a founding member of AHIF-Oregon. The organization’s 2001 tax return described Al-Aqil as the organization’s president. But he resigned from AHIF-Oregon’s board in March 2003. OFAC did not take any action against AHIF-Oregon until almost a year later, in February 2004, when it provisionally blocked its funds pending investigation. Having reviewed the record, we agree with the district court that “[t]here is no evidence Al-Aqil was involved with AHIFOregon after his resignation, or at the time AHIF-Oregon was designated.”
2. Ownership or Control by Al-Buthe
Al-Buthe is a designated person. Al-Buthe exercises control over AHIFOregon because he is on its board of directors. EO 13,224 authorizes the designation of an entity that is controlled by a designated person. EO 13,224, § 1(c). It is, therefore, a valid reason to designate AHIF-Oregon based on Al-Buthe’s control. We agree with the district court that substantial evidence supports this reason.
AHIF-Oregon makes only two counterarguments. Neither persuades us. First, AHIF-Oregon asserts that Al-Buthe’s designation—an undisputed fact—is “unfounded.” But Al-Buthe did not join this action as a plaintiff or intervenor. Whether Al-Buthe’s designation is supported by substantial evidence is simply not before us. A plaintiff cannot collaterally attack the designation of a third party. In short, AHIF-Oregon knowingly retained (and continues to retain) a designated person on its board of directors.
Second, AHIF-Oregon argues that, because OFAC gave no reasons for designating Al-Buthe in 2004, AHIF-Oregon and Al-Buthe reasonably assumed that he was designated not for an independent reason germane to him, but because of his connection to AHIF-Oregon. Al-Buthe asserted in a declaration, filed in the district court, that he would have resigned from the board had he known that the taint flowed from him to AHIF-Oregon, rather than vice versa.
That argument, however, does not challenge the evidence in the administrative record, on which the agency made its decision, and on which we must conduct our review. The evidence in the administrative record demonstrates that Al-Buthe controlled AHIF-Oregon. To the extent that AHIF-Oregon argues that OFAC violated Al-Buthe’s procedural rights, that issue is not before us because, as noted,
Moreover, to the extent that we could consider evidence beyond the administrative record, such as Al-Buthe’s declaration, it remains true that Al-Buthe did not, in fact, resign after the 2008 redesignation and, so far as the record demonstrates, remains a board member of AHIF-Oregon. AHIF-Oregon now has kept on its board of directors a designated person for more than five years, two years since it has known OFAC’s reasoning, and that designated person has not challenged OFAC’s designation before this court. AHIF-Oregon is “controlled by” a designated person. EO 13,224 § 1(c). There is no basis to set aside the agency action.
3. Support of Al Qaida and Other Designated Persons as a Branch Office of AHIF-Saudi Arabia
OFAC asserts that AHIF-Oregon is a branch office of AHIF-Saudi Arabia and that AHIF-Saudi Arabia, through its other branches and perhaps directly, supported designated persons. We have no trouble concluding that substantial evidence supports OFAC’s determination that AHIF-Oregon is a branch office of AHIFSaudi Arabia and of the worldwide network of the Al Haramain Islamic Foundation. One obvious connection is that AHIF-Oregon chose its name to parallel the Saudi Arabian organization’s name and the names of other branches. Additionally, three out of four founding members of AHIF-Oregon were senior officials of AHIF-Saudi Arabia. See Islamic Am. Relief Agency (IARA-USA) v. Gonzales, 477 F.3d 728, 734 (D.C.Cir.2007) (“An entity’s ‘genesis and history’ may properly be considered by OFAC in making the designation or blocking, at least where the ties have not been severed.” (quoting Holy Land, 333 F.3d at 162)). Moreover, several documents in the record demonstrate that, at times at least, AHIF-Oregon described itself to others as a branch office of the larger AHIF organization. Before us, AHIF-Oregon strenuously objects to OFAC’s characterization of it as a “branch office” but, given the deferential standard of review and the evidence just described, we are unmoved. Substantial evidence supports OFAC’s determination that AHIF-Oregon is a “branch office” of the larger AHIF organization.
The next question is whether, on this record, the larger AHIF organization provided support for al Qaida or other designated persons. That is, the strong connection between AHIF-Oregon and AHIFSaudi Arabia does not, by itself, establish OFAC’s third reason.
At the time of AHIF-Oregon’s designation and redesignation, OFAC had designated several separate AHIF entities, but it had not designated AHIF-Saudi Arabia or some of the additional AHIF branches that were designated later. OFAC argues that the various designated branches of the global AHIF organization formed a loose, mutually supportive network such that the designation of other branches substantiates the designation of AHIF-Oregon.
In addition, OFAC directs us to evidence in the unclassified record of two events that occurred in 1999: AHIF-Oregon provided direct financial support to AHIFAlbania, allegedly to abet terrorist activities in Kosovo; and AHIF-Oregon funneled a large donation to AHIF-Saudi Arabia, allegedly to abet terrorist activities in Chechnya. Although AHIF-Oregon claims that the funds were meant to be used, and in fact were used, for humanitarian efforts and not terrorist activities, it
Of course, in 1999, there were no designated persons under EO 13,224 because the President did not issue that Order until 2001. As we just observed, though, in making a decision whether to designate, OFAC may consider the origin and history of an entity, at least when the historical ties have not been severed. IARA-USA, 477 F.3d at 734. And we note that, when OFAC designated AHIF-Oregon, it already had designated AHIF-Albania.
In summary, the evidence in the unclassified record supports OFAC’s contentions that AHIF-Oregon is a branch office of an international network of entities that, together, form the global AHIF organization and that AHIF-Oregon has ties to other branches, including at least one designated entity. As did the District of Columbia Circuit, “[w]e acknowledge that the unclassified record evidence is not overwhelming, but we reiterate that our review — in an area at the intersection of national security, foreign policy, and administrative law— is extremely deferential.” Id. Additionally, we have reviewed the classified record. In light of all the evidence in the record, we conclude confidently that substantial evidence supports OFAC’s conclusion that AHIF-Oregon supported designated persons as a branch office of AHIF-Saudi Arabia. See EO 13,224 § l(d)(i) (permitting designation of an entity that provides “financial, material, or technological support for, or financial or other services to or in support of,” designated persons).
Because substantial evidence supports two of OFAC’s three reasons for redesignating AHIF-Oregon under EO 13,224, we affirm the district court’s grant of summary judgment to OFAC on AHIF-Oregon’s substantive claims.
B. Procedural Due Process Challenges
AHIF-Oregon argues that OFAC violated its procedural due process rights by using classified information without any disclosure of its content and by failing to provide adequate notice and a meaningful opportunity to respond. We apply the balancing test set forth in Mathews v. Eldridge, 424 U.S. 319, 96 S.Ct. 893, 47 L.Ed.2d 18 (1976). See California ex rel. Lockyer v. Fed. Energy Regulatory Comm’n, 329 F.3d 700, 709 n. 8 (9th Cir. 2003) (explaining that, for procedural due process claims, the Mathews test is “a general test that applies in all but a few contexts”); Nat’l Council of Resistance of Iran v. Dep’t of State (NCORI), 251 F.3d 192, 208-09 (D.C.Cir.2001) (applying the Mathews test in a similar context); Am-Arab Anti-Discrimination Comm. v. Reno (ADC), 70 F.3d 1045, 1061 (9th Cir.1995) (same); see also Hamdi v. Rumsfeld, 542 U.S. 507, 528-29, 124 S.Ct. 2633, 159 L.Ed.2d 578 (2004) (plurality) (holding that the proper test for balancing national security interests with a person’s due process rights is the Mathews balancing test). Under the Mathews balancing test, we “must weigh (l)[the person’s or entity’s] private property interest, (2) the risk of an erroneous deprivation of such interest through the procedures used, as well as the value of additional safeguards, and (3) the Government’s interest in maintaining its procedures, including the burdens of additional procedural requirements.” Foss v. Nat’l Marine Fisheries Serv., 161 F.3d 584, 589 (9th Cir.1998) (citing Mathews, 424 U.S. at 334-35, 96 S.Ct. 893).
There are strong interests on both sides of the scale, generally encapsulated in the first and third Mathews factors. The private party’s property interest is significant. By design, a designation by OFAC completely shutters all domestic operations of an entity. All assets are frozen.
On the other side of the scale, the government’s interest in national security cannot be understated. We owe unique deference to the executive branch’s determination that we face “an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security” of the United States. EO 13,224 pmbl. It is beyond dispute that “the Government’s interest in combating terrorism is an urgent objective of the highest order.” Holder v. Humanitarian Law Project, — U.S. -, 130 S.Ct. 2705, 2724, 177 L.Ed.2d 355 (2010).
Striking a balance between those two strong competing interests cannot be done in the abstract. As the Mathews balancing test makes clear, we must carefully assess the precise “procedures used” by the government, “the value of additional safeguards,” and “the burdens of additional procedural requirements.” Foss, 161 F.3d at 589 (citing Mathews, 424 U.S. at 334-35, 96 S.Ct. 893). As explained in more detail below, the Constitution certainly does not require that the government take actions that would endanger national security; nor does it require the government to undertake every possible effort to mitigate the risk of erroneous deprivation and the potential harm to the private party. But the Constitution does require that the government take reasonable measures to ensure basic fairness to the private party and that the government follow procedures reasonably designed to protect against erroneous deprivation of the private party’s interests.
1. OFAC’s Use of Classified Information
AHIF-Oregon argues that OFAC’s use of classified information violates its procedural due process rights. The first two Mathews factors support AHIF-Oregon’s position. As noted above, its private interests are significant. And, as we have held previously with respect to the use of classified information without disclosure: “One would be hard pressed to design a procedure more likely to result in erroneous deprivations.” ADC, 70 F.3d at 1069 (internal quotation marks omitted). “[T]he very foundation of the adversary process assumes that use of undisclosed information will violate due process because of the risk of error.” Id. But the third Mathews factor — the government’s interest in maintaining national security — supports OFAC’s position.
Given the extreme importance of maintaining national security, we cannot accept AHIF-Oregon’s most sweeping argument — -that OFAC is not entitled to use classified information in making its designation determination. See generally Gen. Dynamics Corp. v. United States, — U.S. -, 131 S.Ct. 1900, 1905, 179 L.Ed.2d 957 (2011) (“[Pjrotecting our national security sometimes requires keeping information about our military, intelligence, and diplomatic efforts secret.”). In AHIF-Oregon’s