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John,
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and other immigration agencies have a well-documented history of misconduct and resistance to transparency.
The concerns are long-standing and span administrations.
The American Immigration Council is highlighting the need for accountability as part of Sunshine Week, a national celebration of access to public information.
We filed multiple Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests seeking critical information about immigration agencies’ operations, policies, and databases.
Border Patrol in Ohio
CBP enforcement practices, including racial profiling and cooperation with local law enforcement, on the northern border deserve greater scrutiny. Border Patrol agents associated with a CBP station in Port Clinton, Ohio, have been accused of abusive enforcement practices.
The Council and our partner, Advocates for Basic Legal Equality (ABLE), filed multiple FOIA requests seeking details about CBP’s operations in Ohio.
The requests ask CBP to release communications, policies, and data related to the Sandusky Bay Station. A separate request seeks information about complaints of CBP misconduct.
Enforcement Databases
Immigration enforcement agencies collect and maintain untold amounts of data—and it is largely shielded from public view. The agencies rely on a complex network of databases, information systems, and data sharing methods.
It is even harder to hold these agencies accountable when the public doesn’t know what information to look for.
The Council filed FOIA requests to CBP and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to uncover information about the databases and how the agencies use them.
This week and throughout the year, we will work to hold the government accountable.
Sincerely,
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