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Case TitleRYO v. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY et al
DistrictDistrict of Columbia
CityWashington, DC
Case Number1:2020cv01792
Date Filed2020-07-01
Date Closed2021-06-22
JudgeJudge Christopher R. Cooper
PlaintiffEMILY RYO
Case DescriptionEmily Ryo, a professor of law and sociology at the University of Southern California, submitted two FOIA requests to the Department of Homeland Security for records concerning naturalization data for 2018 and 2019. The agency acknowledged receipt of the requests. In response to the 2018 request, the agency told Ryo that it was withholding personal information under Exemption 6 (invasion of privacy). Ryo filed an administrative appeal of that decision. The agency agreed to disclose some data it had previously withheld. The agency denied Ryo's request for a fee waiver for her 2019 request. Ryo filed an administrative appeal of that decision but after hearing nothing further from the agency Ryo filed suit.
Complaint issues: Failure to respond within statutory time limit, Adequacy - Search, Litigation - Vaughn index, Litigation - Attorney's fees

DefendantU.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
DefendantU.S. 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
User-contributed Documents
 
Docket Events (Hide)
Date FiledDoc #Docket Text
2020-07-011COMPLAINT against U.S. CITIZENSHIP AND IMMIGRATION SERVICES, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY ( Filing fee $ 400 receipt number ADCDC-7290914) filed by Emily Ryo. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit A, # 2 Exhibit B, # 3 Exhibit C, # 4 Exhibit D, # 5 Exhibit E, # 6 Civil Cover Sheet, # 7 Summons as to U.S. Attorney, # 8 Summons as to U.S. Attorney General, # 9 Summons as to Department of Homeland Security, # 10 Summons as to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services)(Rasheed, Mehreen) (Entered: 07/01/2020)
2020-07-02Case Assigned to Judge Christopher R. Cooper. (adh, ) (Entered: 07/02/2020)
2020-07-022SUMMONS (4) Issued Electronically as to U.S. CITIZENSHIP AND IMMIGRATION SERVICES, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, U.S. Attorney and U.S. Attorney General (Attachment: # 1 Notice and Consent)(adh, ) (Entered: 07/02/2020)
2020-07-133RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed. U.S. CITIZENSHIP AND IMMIGRATION SERVICES served on 7/9/2020; U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY served on 7/9/2020, RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed as to the United States Attorney. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney on 7/10/2020. ( Answer due for ALL FEDERAL DEFENDANTS by 8/9/2020.), RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed on United States Attorney General. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney General 7/10/2020. (Rasheed, Mehreen) (Entered: 07/13/2020)
2020-07-224NOTICE of Appearance by Benton Gregory Peterson on behalf of U.S. CITIZENSHIP AND IMMIGRATION SERVICES, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY (Peterson, Benton) (Entered: 07/22/2020)
2020-08-105ANSWER to Complaint by U.S. CITIZENSHIP AND IMMIGRATION SERVICES, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY.(Peterson, Benton) (Entered: 08/10/2020)
2020-08-11MINUTE ORDER: Before the Court in this FOIA case are a complaint and an answer. It is hereby ORDERED that the parties promptly confer and file a joint proposed schedule for briefing or disclosure by August 25, 2020. Signed by Judge Christopher R. Cooper on 8/11/20. (lccrc1) (Entered: 08/11/2020)
2020-08-11Set/Reset Deadlines: Proposed Briefing Schedule due by 8/25/2020 (lsj) (Entered: 08/11/2020)
2020-08-256Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. CITIZENSHIP AND IMMIGRATION SERVICES, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY. (Peterson, Benton) (Entered: 08/25/2020)
2020-08-26MINUTE ORDER: Upon consideration of 6 Joint Status Report, it is hereby ORDERED that the parties shall file a Joint Status Report on or before September 30, 2020. Signed by Judge Christopher R. Cooper on 8/26/2020. (lccrc1) Modified on 8/26/2020 (lsj). (Entered: 08/26/2020)
2020-08-26Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 9/30/2020 (lsj) (Entered: 08/26/2020)
2020-09-217NOTICE of Appearance by Sara Kaiser Creighton on behalf of EMILY RYO (Creighton, Sara) (Entered: 09/21/2020)
2020-09-308Joint STATUS REPORT by EMILY RYO. (Creighton, Sara) (Entered: 09/30/2020)
2020-10-01MINUTE ORDER: In light of 8 Joint Status Report, the parties are hereby ORDERED to file a further Joint Status Report by October 30, 2020. Signed by Judge Christopher R. Cooper on 10/1/2020. (lccrc1) (Entered: 10/01/2020)
2020-10-309Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. CITIZENSHIP AND IMMIGRATION SERVICES, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY. (Peterson, Benton) (Entered: 10/30/2020)
2020-11-02MINUTE ORDER: In light of the parties' 9 Joint Status Report, the parties are hereby ORDERED to file a further Joint Status Report by November 30, 2020. That Report shall identify any disputes remaining over the agency's searches and withholdings, as well as generally describe any supplemental searches that the agency has undertaken. SO ORDERED. Signed by Judge Christopher R. Cooper on 11/2/2020. (lccrc1) (Entered: 11/02/2020)
2020-11-3010Joint STATUS REPORT by EMILY RYO. (Creighton, Sara) (Entered: 11/30/2020)
2020-12-01MINUTE ORDER: In light of the 10 Joint Status Report, the parties are hereby ORDERED to file a further Joint Status Report by January 14, 2021. Signed by Judge Christopher R. Cooper on 12/1/2020. (lccrc1) (Entered: 12/01/2020)
2020-12-02Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 1/14/2021 (lsj) (Entered: 12/02/2020)
2021-01-1411Joint STATUS REPORT by EMILY RYO. (Rasheed, Mehreen) (Entered: 01/14/2021)
2021-01-15MINUTE ORDER: The parties shall appear by video for a status conference on January 21, 2021, at 2 PM. Instructions for videoconference access will be communicated to the parties separately. Signed by Judge Christopher R. Cooper on 1/15/2021. (lccrc1) (Entered: 01/15/2021)
2021-01-15Set/Reset Hearings: Status Conference set for 1/21/2021 at 2:00 PM by VTC before Judge Christopher R. Cooper. (lsj) (Entered: 01/15/2021)
2021-01-20MINUTE ORDER: Due to a scheduling conflict, the Status Conference set for 1/21/2021 is vacated and reset for 1/28/2021 at 11:30 AM by VTC before Judge Christopher R. Cooper. SO ORDERED by Judge Christopher R. Cooper on 1/20/21. (lsj) (Entered: 01/20/2021)
2021-01-28Minute Entry for via Status Conference held before Judge Christopher R. Cooper on 1/28/2021. Forthcoming Order. (Court Reporter: Lisa Moreira) (lsj) (Entered: 01/28/2021)
2021-01-29MINUTE ORDER: As discussed at the status on January 28, 2021, the parties shall file a further joint status report on or before March 30, 2021. Signed by Judge Christopher R. Cooper on 1/29/2021. (lccrc1) (Entered: 01/29/2021)
2021-03-3012Joint STATUS REPORT by EMILY RYO. (Rasheed, Mehreen) (Entered: 03/30/2021)
2021-03-31MINUTE ORDER: In light of the 12 Joint Status Report, the parties are hereby ORDERED to file a further joint status report by June 1, 2021. Signed by Judge Christopher R. Cooper on 3/31/2021. (lccrc1) (Entered: 03/31/2021)
2021-05-2713Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. CITIZENSHIP AND IMMIGRATION SERVICES, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY. (Peterson, Benton) (Entered: 05/27/2021)
2021-06-03MINUTE ORDER: In light of the 13 Joint Status Report, the parties are hereby ORDERED to file a further status report by July 28, 2021. Signed by Judge Christopher R. Cooper on 6/3/2021. (lccrc1) (Entered: 06/03/2021)
2021-06-2214STIPULATION of Dismissal by EMILY RYO. (Rasheed, Mehreen) (Entered: 06/22/2021)
2021-06-28MINUTE ORDER: In light of the 14 Joint Stipulation of Dismissal, this case is hereby DISMISSED. Signed by Judge Christopher R. Cooper on 6/28/2021. (lccrc1) (Entered: 06/28/2021)
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