In December 2017, the ACLU of Northern California submitted a request to the the Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, seeking documents related to the agency's use of a private contractor known as G4S Secure Solutions to restrain, process, and transport immigration detainees. G4S had reportedly been involved in instances of assault and neglect against detainees in their custody, including a 2014 incident during which a detainee died. The ACLU specifically sought records regarding the policies and procedures used by G4S and the manner in which the company was awarded its contracts with the government, totaling in excess of $200 million. The agency did not provide the records to the ACLU.

On July 10, 2018, the ACLU filed this suit against Immigrations and Customs Enforcement under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) in U.S. District Court, California Northern District. The ACLU, represented by private counsel and in-house attorneys, sought declaratory and injunctive relief, specifically an order directing the defendant to release the requested records; a declaration that the defendant's refusal to provide the records was illegal; and attorneys' fees. The case was assigned to Magistrate Judge Laura Beeler.

On September 29, 2018, Judge Beeler set an initial case management hearing for November 1, 2018. As of October 2018, the case remains ongoing.

Nathaniel Flack - 10/04/2018


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