Battle of the Acronyms: TRAC Sues ICE

The Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse (TRAC) has sued DHS in federal court, asking that it accelerate the production of information that TRAC has sought from ICE under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). The lawsuit is being handled with the pro bono support of Covington and Burling. In February and April, TRAC submitted FOIA requests asking ICE for criminal-related records. ICE did not respond to either request. The need for TRAC quickly to obtain such internal information increased in importance after the Supreme Court granted certiorari last month in the case of Lopez v. Gonzales, which involves LPRs with drug possession convictions. Through the FOIA requests, TRAC seeks unpublished information about non-citizens, including LPRs with drug possession arrests or convictions, including: their numbers, how long they have been in the US, how many have US citizen children, and the outcomes of their cases. TRAC hopes that the provision of such information will help guide the Supreme Court and the parties involved in Lopez. TRAC will disseminate information that it obtains through this effort on its immigration website.

To review court documents filed so far, please click here.

KJ