Washington ( CNN ) -- The Hells Angels are going to court , protesting a federal policy barring the motorcycle club 's foreign members from visiting the United States . In a complaint filed in federal court in Washington , the Hells Angels Motorcycle Corporation , as the group calls itself , said its designation as a `` known criminal organization '' by the departments of Homeland Security and State violates immigration law and the group 's constitutional rights . Lawyers for the Los Angeles-area-based group describe its membership as composed of loosely associated charters , `` made up of motorcycle enthusiasts who have joined to ride motorcycles together , organize social events , fundraisers , parties and motorcycle rallies . '' Canadian rides 186 mph . Founded in 1948 in southern California , Hells Angels claim charters in 35 countries : Argentina , Australia , Austria , Belgium , Brazil , Canada , Chile , Croatia , Czech Republic , Denmark , England , Finland , France , Germany , Greece , Holland , Hungary , Iceland , Ireland , Italy , Liechtenstein , Luxembourg , New Zealand , Northern Ireland , Norway , Poland , Portugal , Russia , Spain , Switzerland , South Africa , Sweden , Turkey , the United States and Wales . The group is asking for a temporary injunction , allowing foreign members to be granted visas to travel to the United States . In its lawsuit , the group claims the government routinely denies visas `` to all aliens based solely on their membership in a Hells Angels charter without further analysis into whether or not that individual seeks to enter the United States to engage solely , principally , or incidentally in unlawful activity . '' The motorcycle group also seeks to have its `` criminal organization '' designation removed . Singer 's husband loses leg in bike crash . The Obama administration is expected to respond to the lawsuit in coming weeks , when a federal judge would decide the injunction request , and later , the larger legal questions raised . There was no immediate response to the lawsuit from government officials . A number of federal and state prosecutors and law enforcement organizations have called the Hells Angels a criminal motorcycle gang , along with their alleged rivals the Bandidos , Outlaws , and Pagans . Some of its members have been prosecuted for committing felonies including drug dealing , extortion , and other violent crimes . The Hells Angels as a group has said any crimes committed by its members have been done as individual acts , and are not representative of the club as a whole . The case is Hells Angels Motorcycle Corp. v. Napolitano ( 1:12-cv-1357 ) .
The Hells Angels motorcycle club claims charters in 35 countries . The group is suing to protest a federal policy barring its foreign members from the U.S . It also is fighting its federal designation as a `` known criminal organization '' There was no immediate reaction to the lawsuit from government officials .