This FOIA suit was filed on October 20, 2017. The Immigrant Legal Resource Center ("ILRC") sought to compel the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement ("ICE") to release records related to sanctuary cities. Specifically, ILRC sought information related to "whether and to what extent city and county law enforcement agencies agree to assist in ICE’s detention and deportation efforts against immigrants living in the United States." ILRC is a nonprofit organization that promotes diversity in the United States and the rights of all people. The plaintiff, represented by private counsel, filed this lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for Northern District of California.

ILRC previously wrote "a widely-cited report educating the public about the extent of local involvement in immigration enforcement, despite the fact that local jurisdictions have no legal obligation to assist with civil immigration enforcement." It filed this FOIA complaint to access records necessary for updating its report to reflect current practices regarding ICE detainers, detention contracts, and agreements. ILRC argued that in light of the Trump administration's directive to increase deportations with the assistance of local authorities, the public had an increased interest in understanding the extent of assistance local authorities provide.

On October 23, the case was assigned to Judge Saundra Brown Armstrong and then reassigned to Magistrate Judge Donna M. Ryu on Feb. 6, 2018.

The case is ongoing.

Virginia Weeks - 10/23/2017
Virginia Weeks - 02/10/2018


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