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Case TitleRobert F. Kennedy Human Rights et al v. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
DistrictWestern District of New York
CityBuffalo
Case Number1:2022cv00929
Date Filed2022-12-01
Date ClosedOpen
JudgeHon. Lawrence J. Vilardo
PlaintiffRobert F. Kennedy Human Rights
PlaintiffPrisoners' Legal Services of New York
PlaintiffJustice for Migrant Families
Case DescriptionRobert F. Kennedy Human Rights, Justice for Migrant Families, and Prisoner Legal Services of New York submitted a FOIA request to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement for records concerning the scope and scale of detention in the Buffalo Field Office District and records regarding the treatment of people detained at Batavia. The agency acknowledged receipt of the request. After hearing nothing from the agency, the plaintiffs filed an administrative appeal. As a result of the appeal, ICE remanded the request for further processing. However, after hearing nothing further from the agency, the plaintiffs filed suit.
Complaint issues: Litigation - Attorney's fees, Adequacy - Search, Failure to respond within statutory time limit, Public Interest Fee Waiver

DefendantU.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
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
Opinion/Order [21]
Opinion/Order [32]
Opinion/Order [39]
User-contributed Documents
 
Docket Events (Hide)
Date FiledDoc #Docket Text

2022-12-011COMPLAINT against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement $ 402 receipt number ANYWDC-4737260, filed by Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights, Justice for Migrant Families, Prisoners' Legal Services of New York. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit A - FOIA Request, # 2 Exhibit B - ICE Receipt, # 3 Exhibit C - FOIA Administrative Appeal with Exhibits, # 4 Exhibit D - ICE Appeal Acknowledgement Letter, # 5 Exhibit D - FOIA Appeal Response, # 6 Exhibit F - Email ICE to Plaintiff August 11 2022, # 7 Exhibit G - Requester Response to Request to Clarify, # 8 Civil Cover Sheet, # 9 Summons)(Gillman, Sarah) (Entered: 12/01/2022)
2022-12-012NOTICE of Appearance by Lauren Michel Wilfong on behalf of All Plaintiffs (Wilfong, Lauren) (Entered: 12/01/2022)
2022-12-02Case Assigned to Hon. Lawrence J. Vilardo. Notification to Chambers of on-line civil case opening. (JLV) (Entered: 12/02/2022)
2022-12-02Notice of Availability of Magistrate Judge: A United States Magistrate of this Court is available to conduct all proceedings in this civil action in accordance with 28 U.S.C. 636c and FRCP 73. The Notice, Consent, and Reference of a Civil Action to a Magistrate Judge form (AO-85) is available for download at http://www.uscourts.gov/services-forms/forms . (JLV) (Entered: 12/02/2022)
2022-12-023Summons Issued as to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. (JLV) (Entered: 12/02/2022)
2022-12-124CONTINUATION OF EXHIBITS to 1 Complaint,, (Corrected Summons) . (Wilfong, Lauren) (Entered: 12/12/2022)
2022-12-135Summons Reissued as to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. (JLV) (Entered: 12/13/2022)
2023-01-136CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE by Justice for Migrant Families, Prisoners' Legal Services of New York, Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights re 1 Complaint,, (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit A)(Gillman, Sarah) (Entered: 01/13/2023)
2023-01-187ANSWER to 1 Complaint,, by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.(Sroka, Scott) (Entered: 01/18/2023)
2023-01-188NOTICE of Appearance by Scott L. Sroka on behalf of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (Sroka, Scott) (Entered: 01/18/2023)
2023-01-199TEXT REFERRAL ORDER - Hon. H. Kenneth Schroeder, Jr., United States Magistrate Judge, is hereby designated to act in this case as follows: Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1)(A), all pre-trial matters in this case are referred to the above-named United States Magistrate Judge, including but not limited to: (1) conduct of a scheduling conference and entry of a scheduling order pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 16, (2) hearing and disposition of all non-dispositive motions or applications, (3) supervision of discovery, and (4) supervision of all procedural matters involving the aforementioned or involving the preparation of the case or any matter therein for consideration by the District Judge. The Magistrate Judge shall not hear and report upon dispositive motions for the consideration of the District Judge pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1)(B) and (C), unless further ordered by this Court. All motions or applications shall be filed with the Clerk and made returnable before the Magistrate Judge. The parties are encouraged to consider the provisions of 28 U.S.C. § 636(c) governing consent to either partial or complete disposition of the case, including trial if necessary, by the Magistrate Judge. Consent forms are available from the office of the Magistrate Judge or the office of the Clerk of Court. IT IS SO ORDERED. Issued by Hon. Lawrence J. Vilardo on 1/19/2023. (WMH) (Entered: 01/19/2023)
2023-01-1910ORDER regarding issuance of Case Management Order. Signed by Hon. H. Kenneth Schroeder Jr. on 1/19/23. (Attachments: # 1 Case Management Order Form, # 2 Consent Memorandum, # 3 Consent Form)(LMG) (Entered: 01/19/2023)
2023-01-3111MOTION to appear pro hac vice permitting Rene Kathawala, Esq. to appear Pro Hac Vice as counsel for Plaintiffs ( Filing fee $ 200 receipt number ANYWDC-4785175.) by Justice for Migrant Families, Prisoners' Legal Services of New York, Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit Documents listed in subdivision (b)(1)(A)(i) to (vi) of Local Rule of Civil Procedure 83.1)(Gillman, Sarah) (Entered: 01/31/2023)
2023-02-0112MOTION to appear pro hac vice for Benjamin Kallie Bolnick to Pro Hac Vice as counsel for Plaintiffs, ROBERT F. KENNEDY HUMAN RIGHTS, ET. AL., ( Filing fee $ 200 receipt number ANYWDC-4785228.) by Justice for Migrant Families, Prisoners' Legal Services of New York, Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit Documents Listed in documents listed in subdivision (b)(1)(A)(i) to (vi) of Local Rule of Civil Procedure 83.1)(Gillman, Sarah) (Entered: 02/01/2023)
2023-02-0313TEXT ORDER granting 11 Motion by Rene A. Kathawala for Admission Pro Hac Vice. Issued by Hon. H. Kenneth Schroeder Jr. on 1/3/2023. (KER) Clerk to Follow up (Entered: 02/03/2023)
2023-02-0314TEXT ORDER granting 12 Motion by Benjamin Kallie Bolnick for Admission Pro Hac Vice. Issued by Hon. H. Kenneth Schroeder Jr. on 1/3/2023. (KER) Clerk to Follow up (Entered: 02/03/2023)
2023-02-2315REPORT of Rule 26(f) Planning Meeting. (Kathawala, Rene) (Entered: 02/23/2023)
2023-02-2316DISCOVERY PLAN by Justice for Migrant Families, Prisoners' Legal Services of New York, Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights.(Kathawala, Rene) (Entered: 02/23/2023)
2023-02-2317DISCOVERY PLAN by Justice for Migrant Families, Prisoners' Legal Services of New York, Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights.(Kathawala, Rene) (Entered: 02/23/2023)
2023-03-1018MEMORANDUM/BRIEF re 15 Report of Rule 26(f) Planning Meeting and Document Production by Justice for Migrant Families, Prisoners' Legal Services of New York, Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights. (Attachments: # 1 Proposed Supplemental Case Management Order)(Wilfong, Lauren) (Entered: 03/10/2023)
2023-03-2419REPLY/RESPONSE to re 18 Memorandum/Brief, filed by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. (Sroka, Scott) (Entered: 03/24/2023)
2023-03-3120REPLY/RESPONSE to re 19 Reply/Response Regarding Document Production filed by Justice for Migrant Families, Prisoners' Legal Services of New York, Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights. (Bolnick, Benjamin) (Entered: 03/31/2023)
2023-04-2521ORDER re 15 Report of Rule 26(f) Planning Meeting setting Case Management Order. Signed by Hon. H. Kenneth Schroeder Jr. on 4/25/2023. (KER) (Entered: 04/25/2023)
2023-06-1522DISCOVERY PLAN by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit 1 - First Interim Release Letter, # 2 Exhibit 2 - Second Interim Release Letter, # 3 Exhibit 3 - Third Interim Release Letter)(Sroka, Scott) (Entered: 06/15/2023)
2023-12-0723MOTION to Compel by Justice for Migrant Families, Prisoners' Legal Services of New York, Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights. (Attachments: # 1 Memorandum in Support In Support of Motion to Compel, # 2 Declaration of Sarah T. Gillman)(Gillman, Sarah) (Entered: 12/07/2023)
2023-12-0824TEXT ORDER re 23 MOTION to Compel filed by Prisoners' Legal Services of New York, Justice for Migrant Families, Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights: Responses due by 1/26/2024. Replies due by 3/1/2024. Issued by Hon. H. Kenneth Schroeder Jr. on 12/8/2023. (KER) (Entered: 12/08/2023)
2023-12-1525STATUS REPORT by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit 1, # 2 Exhibit 2, # 3 Exhibit 3, # 4 Exhibit 4, # 5 Exhibit 5, # 6 Exhibit 6, # 7 Exhibit 7, # 8 Exhibit 8, # 9 Exhibit 9)(Sroka, Scott) (Entered: 12/15/2023)
2023-12-1526STATUS REPORT by Justice for Migrant Families, Prisoners' Legal Services of New York, Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights. (Gillman, Sarah) (Entered: 12/15/2023)
2024-01-2527Consent MOTION for Extension of Time to File Response/Reply as to 23 MOTION to Compel by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.(Sroka, Scott) (Entered: 01/25/2024)
2024-01-2628TEXT ORDER granting 27 Consent MOTION for Extension of Time to File Response/Reply as to 23 MOTION to Compel: Responses due by 2/9/2024. Replies due by 3/15/2024.Issued by Hon. H Kenneth Schroeder Jr. on 1/26/2024. (KER) (Entered: 01/26/2024)
2024-02-0929RESPONSE to Motion re 23 MOTION to Compel filed by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit 1, # 2 Exhibit 2, # 3 Exhibit 3, # 4 Exhibit 4, # 5 Exhibit 5, # 6 Exhibit 6, # 7 Exhibit 7, # 8 Exhibit 8, # 9 Exhibit 9, # 10 Exhibit 10, # 11 Exhibit 11, # 12 Exhibit 12)(Sroka, Scott) (Entered: 02/09/2024)
2024-03-1430REPLY/RESPONSE to re 29 Response to Motion, filed by Justice for Migrant Families, Prisoners' Legal Services of New York, Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights. (Gillman, Sarah) (Entered: 03/14/2024)
2024-03-1531STATUS REPORT Joint Status Report by Justice for Migrant Families, Prisoners' Legal Services of New York, Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights. (Gillman, Sarah) (Entered: 03/15/2024)
2024-04-1932ORDER granting 23 Motion to Compel Signed by Hon. H. Kenneth Schroeder Jr. on 4/19/2024. (DLR) (Entered: 04/19/2024)
2024-06-1433MOTION to Use a Rep. Sample Vaughn Index by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (Attachments: # 1 Memorandum in Support)(Sroka, Scott) Modified on 6/17/2024 (CGJ). (Entered: 06/14/2024)
2024-06-1434STATUS REPORT by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit A, # 2 Exhibit B)(Sroka, Scott) (Entered: 06/14/2024)
2024-06-17E-Filing Notification: re 33 modified to correctly reflect filing event. (CGJ) (Entered: 06/17/2024)
2024-06-2835REPLY/RESPONSE to re 33 MOTION filed by Justice for Migrant Families, Prisoners' Legal Services of New York, Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights. (Gillman, Sarah) (Entered: 06/28/2024)
2024-07-0536RESPONSE in Support re 33 MOTION filed by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. (Sroka, Scott) (Entered: 07/05/2024)
2024-07-1637Letter filed by Justice for Migrant Families, Prisoners' Legal Services of New York, Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights (Requesting Leave to Withdraw as Counsel) . (Peng, John) (Entered: 07/16/2024)
2024-07-2438TEXT ORDER re 37 Letter filed by Prisoners' Legal Services of New York, Justice for Migrant Families, Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights granting request of John H. Peng, Esq. to withdraw: Attorney John H. Peng terminated. Issued by Hon. H. Kenneth Schroeder Jr. on 7/24/2024. (KER) Clerk to Follow up (Entered: 07/24/2024)
2024-08-2839ORDER granting 33 Motion Signed by Hon. H. Kenneth Schroeder Jr. on 8/28/2024. (DLR) (Entered: 08/28/2024)
2024-09-1640STATUS REPORT by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. (Sroka, Scott) (Entered: 09/16/2024)
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by FOIA Project Staff
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