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Case TitleAMERICAN CENTER FOR LAW AND JUSTICE v. US DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY et al
DistrictDistrict of Columbia
CityWashington, DC
Case Number1:2021cv01364
Date Filed2021-05-18
Date Closed2021-11-10
JudgeJudge Trevor N. McFadden
PlaintiffAMERICAN CENTER FOR LAW AND JUSTICE
Case DescriptionThe American Center for Law and Justice submitted FOIA requests to the Department of Homeland Security for records concerning whether senior officials at the agency considered the surge of migrants at the southern border to be a challenge. The agency acknowledged receipt of the request and several components told ACLJ that they would be unable to respond within 20 days. After hearing nothing further from the agency, ACLJ filed suit.
Complaint issues: Failure to respond within statutory time limit, Adequacy - Search, Litigation - Vaughn index, Litigation - Attorney's fees

DefendantUS DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
DefendantDEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
DefendantUNITED STATES CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION
DefendantUNITED STATES IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT
DefendantUNITED STATES CITIZENSHIP AND IMMIGRATION SERVICES
Documents
Docket
Complaint
Complaint attachment 1
Complaint attachment 2
Complaint attachment 3
Complaint attachment 4
Complaint attachment 5
Complaint attachment 6
Complaint attachment 7
Complaint attachment 8
Complaint attachment 9
Complaint attachment 10
Complaint attachment 11
Opinion/Order [18]
User-contributed Documents
 
Docket Events (Hide)
Date FiledDoc #Docket Text

2021-05-181COMPLAINT against All Defendants ( Filing fee $ 402 receipt number ADCDC-8459590) filed by AMERICAN CENTER FOR LAW AND JUSTICE. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit A to Complaint, # 2 Exhibit B to Complaint, # 3 Exhibit C to Complaint, # 4 Exhibit D to Complaint, # 5 Civil Cover Sheet, # 6 Summons to Def. US DHS, # 7 Summons to Def. US CBP, # 8 Summons to Def. US ICE, # 9 Summons to Def. USCIS, # 10 Summons US AG, # 11 Summons US Atty for DC)(Sisney, Benjamin) (Attachment 5 replaced on 5/28/2021) (znmw). (Entered: 05/18/2021)
2021-05-182NOTICE of Appearance by Benjamin Paul Sisney on behalf of AMERICAN CENTER FOR LAW AND JUSTICE (Sisney, Benjamin) (Entered: 05/18/2021)
2021-05-183LCvR 26.1 CERTIFICATE OF DISCLOSURE of Corporate Affiliations and Financial Interests by AMERICAN CENTER FOR LAW AND JUSTICE (Sisney, Benjamin) (Entered: 05/18/2021)
2021-05-18Case Assigned to Judge Trevor N. McFadden. (adh, ) (Entered: 05/18/2021)
2021-05-184STANDING ORDER Establishing Procedures for Cases Before Judge Trevor N. McFadden. The parties are hereby ORDERED to read and comply with the directives in the attached standing order. Signed by Judge Trevor N. McFadden on 5/18/2021. (lctnm2) (Entered: 05/18/2021)
2021-05-195SUMMONS (6) Issued Electronically as to UNITED STATES CITIZENSHIP AND IMMIGRATION SERVICES, UNITED STATES CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION, UNITED STATES IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT, US DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, U.S. Attorney and U.S. Attorney General (Attachment: # 1 Notice and Consent)(znmg) (Entered: 05/19/2021)
2021-05-276RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed as to the United States Attorney. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney on 5/24/2021. Answer due for ALL FEDERAL DEFENDANTS by 6/23/2021. (Sisney, Benjamin) (Entered: 05/27/2021)
2021-06-027RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed. UNITED STATES IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT served on 6/2/2021 (Sisney, Benjamin) (Entered: 06/02/2021)
2021-06-028RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed. UNITED STATES CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION served on 5/28/2021 (Sisney, Benjamin) (Entered: 06/02/2021)
2021-06-029RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed. US DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY served on 6/1/2021 (Sisney, Benjamin) (Entered: 06/02/2021)
2021-06-0210RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed on United States Attorney General. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney General 06/01/2021. (Sisney, Benjamin) (Entered: 06/02/2021)
2021-06-1011NOTICE of Appearance by Stuart J. Roth on behalf of AMERICAN CENTER FOR LAW AND JUSTICE (Roth, Stuart) (Entered: 06/10/2021)
2021-06-1512RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed. UNITED STATES CITIZENSHIP AND IMMIGRATION SERVICES served on 6/11/2021 (Sisney, Benjamin) (Entered: 06/15/2021)
2021-06-1513NOTICE of Appearance by John Monaghan on behalf of AMERICAN CENTER FOR LAW AND JUSTICE (Monaghan, John) (Entered: 06/15/2021)
2021-06-2314NOTICE of Appearance by Michael A. Tilghman on behalf of UNITED STATES CITIZENSHIP AND IMMIGRATION SERVICES, UNITED STATES CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION, UNITED STATES IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT, US DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY (Tilghman, Michael) (Entered: 06/23/2021)
2021-06-2315MOTION to Dismiss by UNITED STATES CITIZENSHIP AND IMMIGRATION SERVICES, UNITED STATES CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION, UNITED STATES IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT, US DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY. (Attachments: # 1 Text of Proposed Order)(Tilghman, Michael) (Entered: 06/23/2021)
2021-07-0716Memorandum in opposition to re 15 MOTION to Dismiss filed by AMERICAN CENTER FOR LAW AND JUSTICE. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit)(Monaghan, John) Modified docket event/text on 7/8/2021 (eg). (Entered: 07/07/2021)
2021-07-1417REPLY to opposition to motion re 15 MOTION to Dismiss filed by UNITED STATES CITIZENSHIP AND IMMIGRATION SERVICES, UNITED STATES CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION, UNITED STATES IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT, US DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit 1)(Tilghman, Michael) (Entered: 07/14/2021)
2021-11-1018MEMORANDUM OPINION re Defendants' 15 Motion To Dismiss. Signed by Judge Trevor N. McFadden on 11/10/21. (lctnm2) (Entered: 11/10/2021)
2021-11-1019ORDER. For the reasons stated in the 18 Memorandum Opinion, Defendants' 15 Motion to Dismiss is GRANTED. See attached Order for details. Signed by Judge Trevor N. McFadden on 11/10/21. (lctnm2) (Entered: 11/10/2021)
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by FOIA Project Staff
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