Skip to content

Case Detail

[Subscribe to updates]
Case TitleINVEST IN THE USA
DistrictDistrict of Columbia
CityWashington, DC
Case Number1:2020cv00618
Date Filed2020-03-02
Date Closed2022-08-02
JudgeJudge John D. Bates
PlaintiffIMMIGRANTS INVESTORS ASSOCIATION, INC.
doing business as INVEST IN THE USA ("IIUSA")
Case DescriptionImmigrant Investors Association submitted a FOIA request to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services for records concerning USCIS EB-5 Adjudicator training materials for adjudicating EB-5 related petitions submitted after November 2019. The agency acknowledged receipt of the request but after hearing nothing further from the agency, the Immigrant Investors Association filed suit.
Complaint issues: Failure to respond within statutory time limit, Litigation - Attorney's fees

DefendantUNITED STATES CITIZENSHIP AND IMMIGRATION SERVICES ('USCIS")
DefendantUNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY ('DHS")
DefendantDEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY ('DHS")
Documents
Docket
Complaint
Complaint attachment 1
Complaint attachment 2
Complaint attachment 3
Complaint attachment 4
User-contributed Documents
 
Docket Events (Hide)
Date FiledDoc #Docket Text

2020-03-021COMPLAINT against INVEST IN THE USA ( Filing fee $ 400 receipt number ADCDC-6880434) filed by INVEST IN THE USA. (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet Civil Cover Sheet, # 2 Summons Defendant DHS, # 3 Summons Defendant USCIS, # 4 Exhibit FOIA Request Letter)(Grau, Aaron) (Entered: 03/02/2020)
2020-03-032ERRATA by IMMIGRANTS INVESTORS ASSOCIATION, INC. 1 Complaint, filed by INVEST IN THE USA ("IIUSA"). (Attachments: # 1 Errata Corrected Civil Cover Sheet)(Grau, Aaron) (Entered: 03/03/2020)
2020-03-03Case Assigned to Judge John D. Bates. (adh, ) (Entered: 03/03/2020)
2020-03-033SUMMONS (2) Issued Electronically as to UNITED STATES CITIZENSHIP AND IMMIGRATION SERVICES, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY. (Attachment: # 1 Notice and Consent)(adh, ) (Entered: 03/03/2020)
2020-04-134AMENDED COMPLAINT 1:20-cv-618 against All Defendants filed by IMMIGRANTS INVESTORS ASSOCIATION, INC.. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit Amended Exhibit A FOIA Request 1, # 2 Exhibit Amended Exhibit A FOIA Request Letter 2)(Grau, Aaron) (Entered: 04/13/2020)
2020-05-205NOTICE of Appearance by Diana Viggiano Valdivia on behalf of All Defendants (Valdivia, Diana) (Entered: 05/20/2020)
2020-05-206Defendants' ANSWER to 4 Amended Complaint by UNITED STATES CITIZENSHIP AND IMMIGRATION SERVICES, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY.(Valdivia, Diana) (Entered: 05/20/2020)
2020-05-207ORDER setting deadline for parties to submit proposed briefing schedule. See text of Order for details. Signed by Judge John D. Bates on 05/20/2020. (lcjdb2) (Entered: 05/20/2020)
2020-05-21Set/Reset Deadlines: Meet & Confer Proposed Statement due by 6/24/2020. (tb) (Entered: 05/21/2020)
2020-06-248Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES CITIZENSHIP AND IMMIGRATION SERVICES, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY. (Valdivia, Diana) (Entered: 06/24/2020)
2020-06-25MINUTE ORDER: Upon consideration of 8 the parties' joint status report, and the entire record herein, it is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall file a joint status report by not later than September 24, 2020. Signed by Judge John D. Bates on 06/25/2020. (lcjdb2) (Entered: 06/25/2020)
2020-06-25Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 9/24/2020. (tb) (Entered: 06/25/2020)
2020-09-249Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES CITIZENSHIP AND IMMIGRATION SERVICES, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY. (Valdivia, Diana) (Entered: 09/24/2020)
2020-09-25MINUTE ORDER: Upon consideration of 9 the parties' joint status report, and the entire record herein, it is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall file a joint status report by not later than December 10, 2020. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge John D. Bates on 09/25/2020. (lcjdb2) (Entered: 09/25/2020)
2020-09-28Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 12/10/2020. (tb) (Entered: 09/28/2020)
2020-12-1010Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES CITIZENSHIP AND IMMIGRATION SERVICES, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY. (Valdivia, Diana) (Entered: 12/10/2020)
2020-12-11MINUTE ORDER: Upon consideration of 10 the parties' Joint Status Report, and the entire record herein, it is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall submit an additional joint status report, by not later than February 11, 2021, to apprise the Court of what disputes remain, and to propose a schedule for further proceedings in this case. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge John D. Bates on 12/11/2020. (lcjdb2) (Entered: 12/11/2020)
2020-12-14Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 2/11/2021. (tb) (Entered: 12/14/2020)
2021-02-18MINUTE ORDER: Upon consideration of the Court's December 11, 2020 Minute Order, and the entire record herein, it is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall file a joint status report by not later than February 25, 2021, as they have not complied with the Court's original February 11, 2021 deadline. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge John D. Bates on 02/18/2021. (lcjdb2) (Entered: 02/18/2021)
2021-02-19Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 2/25/2021. (tb) (Entered: 02/19/2021)
2021-02-2511Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES CITIZENSHIP AND IMMIGRATION SERVICES, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY. (Valdivia, Diana) (Entered: 02/25/2021)
2021-02-26MINUTE ORDER: Upon consideration of 11 the parties' joint status report, and the entire record herein, it is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall file another joint status report by not later than April 8, 2021 apprising the Court of any remaining disputes and proposing a schedule for any further proceedings in this case. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge John D. Bates on 02/26/2021. (lcjdb2) (Entered: 02/26/2021)
2021-02-26Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 4/8/2021. (tb) (Entered: 02/26/2021)
2021-04-0812Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES CITIZENSHIP AND IMMIGRATION SERVICES, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY. (Valdivia, Diana) (Entered: 04/08/2021)
2021-04-13MINUTE ORDER: Upon consideration of 12 the parties' joint status report, and the entire record herein, it is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall file another joint status report by not later than May 24, 2021; and it is further ORDERED that the parties shall meet and confer to resolve or narrow any ongoing disputes in this case prior to that date and shall update the Court on any remaining areas of disagreement, as well as the need for any further proceedings, in the joint status report. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge John D. Bates on 04/13/2021. (lcjdb2) (Entered: 04/13/2021)
2021-04-13Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 5/14/2021. (tb) (Entered: 04/13/2021)
2021-05-2413Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES CITIZENSHIP AND IMMIGRATION SERVICES, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY. (Valdivia, Diana) (Entered: 05/24/2021)
2021-06-01MINUTE ORDER: Upon consideration of 13 the parties' May 24, 2021 Joint Status Report, and the entire record herein, it is hereby ORDERED that by not later than June 26, 2021 the parties shall submit a joint status report updating the Court on: (1) the number of pages of potentially responsive records that were located in the supplemental search but have not yet been produced in this case; (2) the number of pages that defendants propose to process and produce per month based on the results of the supplemental search; and (3) a proposed date for defendants' first monthly supplemental production. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge John D. Bates on 06/01/2021. (lcjdb2) (Entered: 06/01/2021)
2021-06-02Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 6/26/2021. (tb) (Entered: 06/02/2021)
2021-06-2514Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES CITIZENSHIP AND IMMIGRATION SERVICES, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY. (Valdivia, Diana) (Entered: 06/25/2021)
2021-06-28MINUTE ORDER: Upon consideration of 14 the parties' joint status report, and the entire record herein, it is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall file by not later than August 31, 2021 another joint status report updating the Court on any remaining areas of disagreement and proposing a briefing schedule, if necessary. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge John D. Bates on 06/28/2021. (lcjdb2) (Entered: 06/28/2021)
2021-06-29Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 8/31/2021. (tb) (Entered: 06/29/2021)
2021-08-3115Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES CITIZENSHIP AND IMMIGRATION SERVICES, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY. (Valdivia, Diana) (Entered: 08/31/2021)
2021-09-03MINUTE ORDER: Upon consideration of 15 the parties' joint status report, and the entire record herein, it is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall file another joint status report by not later than November 1, 2021; and it is further ORDERED that the parties shall meet and confer to resolve or narrow any ongoing disputes in this case prior to that date and shall update the Court on any remaining areas of disagreement, as well as the need for any further proceedings, in the joint status report. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge John D. Bates on 09/03/2021. (lcjdb2) (Entered: 09/03/2021)
2021-09-08Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 11/1/2021. (tb) (Entered: 09/08/2021)
2021-11-0116Joint STATUS REPORT by UNITED STATES CITIZENSHIP AND IMMIGRATION SERVICES, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY. (Valdivia, Diana) (Entered: 11/01/2021)
2021-11-02MINUTE ORDER: Upon consideration of 16 the parties' joint status report, and the entire record herein, it is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall file another joint status report by not later than December 31, 2021; and it is further ORDERED that the parties shall meet and confer to resolve or narrow any ongoing disputes in this case prior to that date and shall update the Court on any remaining areas of disagreement, as well as the need for any further proceedings, in the joint status report. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge John D. Bates on 11/2/2021. (lcjdb2) (Entered: 11/02/2021)
2021-11-03Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 12/31/2021. (tb) (Entered: 11/03/2021)
2021-12-3117Joint STATUS REPORT by DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, UNITED STATES CITIZENSHIP AND IMMIGRATION SERVICES. (Valdivia, Diana) (Entered: 12/31/2021)
2022-01-01MINUTE ORDER: Upon consideration of 17 the parties' joint status report, and the entire record herein, it is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall file another joint status report by not later than March 1, 2022; and it is further ORDERED that the parties shall meet and confer to resolve or narrow any ongoing disputes in this case prior to that date and shall update the Court on any remaining areas of disagreement, as well as the need for any further proceedings, in the joint status report. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge John D. Bates on 1/1/2022. (lcjdb2) (Entered: 01/01/2022)
2022-01-06Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 3/1/2022. (tb) (Entered: 01/06/2022)
2022-03-0118Joint STATUS REPORT by DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, UNITED STATES CITIZENSHIP AND IMMIGRATION SERVICES. (Valdivia, Diana) (Entered: 03/01/2022)
2022-03-02MINUTE ORDER: Upon consideration of 18 the parties' joint status report, and the entire record herein, it is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall file another joint status report by not later than May 31, 2022; and it is further ORDERED that the parties shall meet and confer to resolve or narrow any ongoing disputes in this case prior to that date and shall update the Court on any remaining areas of disagreement, as well as the need for any further proceedings, in the joint status report. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge John D. Bates on 3/2/2022. (lcjdb2) (Entered: 03/02/2022)
2022-03-08Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 5/31/2022. (tb) (Entered: 03/08/2022)
2022-05-3119Joint STATUS REPORT by DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, UNITED STATES CITIZENSHIP AND IMMIGRATION SERVICES. (Valdivia, Diana) (Entered: 05/31/2022)
2022-05-31MINUTE ORDER: Upon consideration of 19 the parties' joint status report, and the entire record herein, it is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall file another joint status report by not later than August 1, 2022; and it is further ORDERED that the parties shall meet and confer to resolve or narrow any ongoing disputes in this case prior to that date and shall update the Court on any remaining areas of disagreement, as well as the need for any further proceedings, in the joint status report. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge John D. Bates on 5/31/2022. (lcjdb2) (Entered: 05/31/2022)
2022-06-02Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 8/1/2022. (tb) (Entered: 06/02/2022)
2022-08-0120Joint STATUS REPORT by DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, UNITED STATES CITIZENSHIP AND IMMIGRATION SERVICES. (Valdivia, Diana) (Entered: 08/01/2022)
2022-08-0221STIPULATION of Dismissal (JOINT) by DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, UNITED STATES CITIZENSHIP AND IMMIGRATION SERVICES. (Peterson, Benton) (Entered: 08/02/2022)
2022-08-0322NOTICE OF SUBSTITUTION OF COUNSEL by Benton Gregory Peterson on behalf of DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, UNITED STATES CITIZENSHIP AND IMMIGRATION SERVICES Substituting for attorney Diana Valdivia (Peterson, Benton) (Entered: 08/03/2022)
Hide Docket Events
by FOIA Project Staff
Skip to toolbar