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Case TitleJUDICIAL WATCH, INC. v. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
DistrictDistrict of Columbia
CityWashington, DC
Case Number1:2024cv00557
Date Filed2024-02-28
Date ClosedOpen
JudgeJudge Beryl A. Howell
PlaintiffJUDICIAL WATCH, INC.
Case DescriptionJudicial Watch submitted FOIA requests to the Department of Homeland Security for records concerning lawsuits filed by the State of Texas challenging the government's removal of barriers installed by Texas along the southern border. The agency acknowledged receipt of the requests. DHS told Judicial Watch that it was transferring the request to U.S. Customs and Border Protection for response. Judicial Watch filed an administrative appeal of the decision to transfer to CBP. CBP asked Judicial Watch for clarification. Judicial Watch provided clarification but heard nothing further from CBP. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement acknowledged receipt of the request. After hearing nothing further from the agency and its components, Judicial Watch 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
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

2024-02-281COMPLAINT against U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY ( Filing fee $ 405 receipt number ADCDC-10719647) filed by JUDICIAL WATCH, INC.. (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet, # 2 Summons U.S. Atty for D.C., # 3 Summons US Attorney General, # 4 Summons DHS)(Orfanedes, Paul) (Entered: 02/28/2024)
2024-02-282LCvR 26.1 CERTIFICATE OF DISCLOSURE of Corporate Affiliations and Financial Interests by JUDICIAL WATCH, INC. (Orfanedes, Paul) (Entered: 02/28/2024)
2024-02-293REQUEST FOR SUMMONS TO ISSUE filed by JUDICIAL WATCH, INC.. Related document: 1 Complaint, filed by JUDICIAL WATCH, INC..(Aldrich, Jason) (Entered: 02/29/2024)
2024-03-01Case Assigned to Judge Beryl A. Howell. (zed) (Entered: 03/01/2024)
2024-03-014SUMMONS (3) Issued Electronically as to U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, U.S. Attorney and U.S. Attorney General. (Attachment: # 1 Notice and Consent)(zed) (Entered: 03/01/2024)
2024-03-075STANDING ORDER. Signed by Judge Beryl A. Howell on March 7, 2024. (lcbah2) (Entered: 03/07/2024)
2024-03-256RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed as to the United States Attorney. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney on 3/6/2024. ( Answer due for ALL FEDERAL DEFENDANTS by 4/5/2024.), RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed on United States Attorney General. Date of Service Upon United States Attorney General 3/14/2024., RETURN OF SERVICE/AFFIDAVIT of Summons and Complaint Executed. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY served on 3/8/2024 (Attachments: # 1 Declaration of Cristina Rotaru)(Orfanedes, Paul) (Entered: 03/25/2024)
2024-04-057Consent MOTION for Extension of Time to File Answer re 1 Complaint, by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY. (Venguswamy, Kartik) (Entered: 04/05/2024)
2024-04-10MINUTE ORDER (paperless) GRANTING defendant's unopposed 7 Motion for Extension of Time to Respond, and DIRECTING defendant to answer or otherwise respond to plaintiff's 1 Complaint by May 6, 2024. Signed by Judge Beryl A. Howell on April 10, 2024. (lcbah4) (Entered: 04/10/2024)
2024-04-11Set/Reset Deadlines: Defendant's Answer due by 5/6/2024. (zalh) (Entered: 04/11/2024)
2024-05-068ANSWER to Complaint by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY.(Venguswamy, Kartik) (Entered: 05/06/2024)
2024-08-08MINUTE ORDER (paperless) DIRECTING plaintiff to SHOW CAUSE, by August 16, 2024, why this case should not be dismissed for failure to prosecute, pursuant to Local Civil Rule 83.23. The parties have yet to file their Joint Meet and Confer Report, which was due on June 6, 2024, 30 days after defendant filed its 8 Answer. See 5 Standing Order ¶ 4.a. Signed by Judge Beryl A. Howell on August 8, 2024. (lcbah2) (Entered: 08/08/2024)
2024-08-12Set/Reset Deadlines: Plaintiff Show Cause due by 8/16/2024. (mac) (Entered: 08/12/2024)
2024-08-129RESPONSE TO ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE re Order, filed by JUDICIAL WATCH, INC.. (Aldrich, Jason) (Entered: 08/12/2024)
2024-08-13MINUTE ORDER (paperless), upon consideration of plaintiff's 9 Response to Order to Show Cause, DIRECTING plaintiff to file a Joint Meet and Confer by August 30, 2024. Signed by Judge Beryl A. Howell on August 13, 2024. (lcbah2) (Entered: 08/13/2024)
2024-08-14Set/Reset Deadlines: Plaintiff Joint Meet & Confer Statement due by 8/30/2024. (mac) (Entered: 08/14/2024)
2024-08-3010Joint STATUS REPORT by U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY. (Venguswamy, Kartik) (Entered: 08/30/2024)
2024-08-30MINUTE ORDER (paperless), upon consideration of the parties' 10 Joint Status Report, DIRECTING the parties to file, by October 29, 2024, and every 60 days thereafter, a joint status report advising the Court of the status of this matter, whether any disputes remain between the parties, and, if so, proposing a schedule to govern further proceedings. Signed by Judge Beryl A. Howell on August 30, 2024. (lcbah2) (Entered: 08/30/2024)
2024-08-30Set/Reset Deadlines: Joint Status Report due by 10/29/2024. (zalh) (Entered: 08/30/2024)
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by FOIA Project Staff
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