Never has access to government documents about immigration policies been more important. The Trump administration has been laser-focused on efforts to upend all aspects of our immigration system.

As a result, transparency and accountability efforts in the immigration arena are vital.

In recognition of Sunshine Week—which highlights the importance of government transparency—the American Immigration Council is sharing its efforts to expose steps agencies are taking to systemically alter our immigration system. 

Immigration agencies have done the following with almost no notice to the public:

• Overhauled our immigration courts.
• Effectively ended access to asylum for many people seeking protections.
• Separated families at our southern border.
• Barred many people from traveling to and working in the United States.

We have challenged the government’s efforts to hide what it’s doing on these and other immigration policies by filing Freedom of Information Act requests for government records.

And when the government isn’t responsive to our requests for records, we sue. The Council has:

• Filed a lawsuit to provide thousands of people access to their government immigration files, marking the first time in history that a court has certified a class action lawsuit alleging violations of FOIA. 
• Demanded information on the expansion of U.S. Custom and Border Protection’s role in the screening of asylum seekers.
• Compelled the government to provide information on cruel family separation policies. 

Our legal team pursues requests and wins FOIA cases in federal court.

Take a deeper dive into the Council’s government transparency impact.

The Council’s work has resulted in hard-hitting reports, advocacy, and litigation efforts, and has informed the public through media coverage.  

• ABC News: Civil rights organizations file requests to preserve ICE records
• Washington Post: A Trump administration strategy led to the child migrant backup crisis at the border
• The Intercept: Documents detail ICE campaign to prosecute migrant parents as smugglers

This growing body of transparency work is made possible by supporters like you who care about the documents on immigration law and policy that directly impact people and the debate around immigration.

Sincerely,