Contact: Rob Marus, Communications Director: (202) 724-5646; robert.marus@dc.gov
Marrisa Geller, Public Affairs Specialist: (202) 724-5448; marrisa.geller@dc.gov
Freedom of Information Act Request Responds to Media Reports of Abuses
WASHINGTON, D. C. – Attorney General Karl A. Racine today joined a coalition of 10 attorneys general in demanding that the Trump Administration turn over documents and other information relating to the detention and deportation of immigrants.
The attorneys general issued Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). They seek details regarding the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program; arrests and/or detentions of individuals at sensitive locations, including courthouses and job sites; and ICE or CBP detainer requests and databases.
In the request, the attorneys general refer to local and national media reports of the deportation of individuals approved for DACA, of individuals who were meeting with federal immigration officials to discuss their status, and even of U.S. citizens.
“All our residents deserve to know what their rights are and to feel safe at school and at work – they deserve a basic sense of security that allows them to go about their lives,” said Attorney General Racine. “Actions taken by this administration have sown fear among immigrant communities in the District and undercut the safety and well-being of our residents. We need to know exactly what policies and instructions federal officials are now following. That’s why we’ve filed this request.”
The attorneys general are seeking information from these agencies related to DACA, sensitive locations – which also includes hospitals and school grounds – and more information about ICE or CBP detainer requests. Some of the specific information the attorneys general have requested includes information about the detention or deportation of any individual previously granted approval or extension under DACA, memos related to ICE- or CBP-designated sensitive locations, information about arrests and/or detentions within 100