Skip to content

Case Detail

[Subscribe to updates]
Case TitleVargas v. U.S. Department of Homeland Security et al
DistrictNorthern District of Illinois
CityChicago
Case Number1:2020cv05464
Date Filed2020-09-15
Date Closed2022-03-08
JudgeHonorable Thomas M. Durkin
PlaintiffErazo Vargas
Case DescriptionErazo Vargas submitted a FOIA request to the Department of Homeland Security for records concerning himself. The agency acknowledged receipt of the request. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement provided five responsive records. Vargas filed an administrative appeal of that decision. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services told Vargas that his request was being put on the complex track for processing. After hearing nothing further from the agencies, Vargas filed suit.
Complaint issues: Failure to respond within statutory time limit, Adequacy - Search, Litigation - Attorney's fees

DefendantU.S. Department of Homeland Security
DefendantU.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
DefendantU.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
Documents
Docket
Complaint
Complaint attachment 1
User-contributed Documents
 
Docket Events (Hide)
Date FiledDoc #Docket Text

2020-09-151COMPLAINT filed by Jairo Erazo Vargas; Filing fee $ 400, receipt number 0752-17438489. (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet)(Elmore, Christopher) (Entered: 09/15/2020)
2020-09-152ATTORNEY Appearance for Plaintiff Jairo Erazo Vargas by Christopher Paul Elmore (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet)(Elmore, Christopher) (Entered: 09/15/2020)
2020-09-15CASE ASSIGNED to the Honorable Thomas M. Durkin. Designated as Magistrate Judge the Honorable Heather K. McShain. Case assignment: Random assignment. (cp, ) (Entered: 09/15/2020)
2020-09-153MINUTE entry before the Honorable Thomas M. Durkin: A joint status report is to be filed by 11/24/2020. Instructions may be found on Judge Durkin's webpage under new and reassigned cases. Mailed notice. (ecw, ) (Entered: 09/15/2020)
2020-09-17SUMMONS Issued as to Defendants U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (jg, ) (Entered: 09/17/2020)
2020-09-18SUMMONS Issued as to Defendant U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (jg, ) (Entered: 09/18/2020)
2020-10-054SUMMONS Returned Executed by Erazo Vargas as to All Defendants on 9/18/2020, answers due 11/17/2020. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit, # 2 Exhibit, # 3 Exhibit, # 4 Civil Cover Sheet)(Elmore, Christopher) (Docket Text Modified by Clerk's Office on 10/6/2020) (pj, ). (Entered: 10/05/2020)
2020-10-145SUMMONS Returned Executed by Erazo Vargas as to All Defendants served on 9/29/2020, answers due 10/29/2020. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit Summons and Corrected Return of Service to ICE - 20-cv-5464, # 2 Exhibit Summons and Corrected Return of Service to USCIS - 20-cv-5464, # 3 Civil Cover Sheet, # 4 Exhibit Certified mail receipts expenses for serving summons - 20-5464)(Elmore, Christopher) (Docket Text Modified by Clerk's Office on 10/15/2020) (pj, ). (Entered: 10/14/2020)
2020-10-226DESIGNATION of Susan Willoughby Anderson as U.S. Attorney for Defendants U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (Anderson, Susan) (Entered: 10/22/2020)
2020-10-227MOTION by Defendants U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement for extension of time to file answer (Anderson, Susan) (Entered: 10/22/2020)
2020-10-228NOTICE of Motion by Susan Willoughby Anderson for presentment of motion for extension of time to file answer 7 before Honorable Thomas M. Durkin on 10/28/2020 at 09:00 AM. (Anderson, Susan) (Entered: 10/22/2020)
2020-10-229MINUTE entry before the Honorable Thomas M. Durkin: Motion for extension of time to answer 7 is granted. Defendants are to respond to the complaint by 11/30/2020. The 11/24/2020 status report deadline is vacated. Mailed notice. (ecw, ) (Entered: 10/22/2020)
2020-11-2410MOTION by Defendants U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement for extension of time to file answer (Unopposed Second Motion for Extension of Time to Answer) (Anderson, Susan) (Entered: 11/24/2020)
2020-11-2511MINUTE entry before the Honorable Thomas M. Durkin: Unopposed motion for extension of time to answer 10 is granted. Defendants are to file their response to the complaint by 12/18/2020. Mailed notice. (ecw, ) (Entered: 11/25/2020)
2020-12-1812ANSWER to Complaint by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement(Anderson, Susan) (Entered: 12/18/2020)
2020-12-1813MOTION by Defendant U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to dismiss (Anderson, Susan) (Entered: 12/18/2020)
2020-12-1814MEMORANDUM by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services in support of motion to dismiss 13 (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit A (Eggleston Affidavit))(Anderson, Susan) (Entered: 12/18/2020)
2020-12-1815MINUTE entry before the Honorable Thomas M. Durkin: A telephone status conference set for 1/5/2021 at 9:00 a.m. To join the telephone conference, dial 877-402-9757, Access Code 4410831. Mailed notice. (ecw, ) (Entered: 12/18/2020)
2021-01-0516MINUTE entry before the Honorable Thomas M. Durkin: Telephone status hearing held on 1/5/2021. Plaintiff is to let the Court know whether or not they oppose the motion to dismiss 13 by Defendant U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, and submit a proposed briefing schedule if necessary. Motion for summary judgment is due by 2/19/2021. Response is due by 3/12/2021. Reply is due by 3/26/2021. The same schedule is to apply to case number 20 C 5468. The Court will issue its ruling by mail for both cases. A telephone status hearing is set for 5/3/2021 at 9:00 a.m. To join the telephone conference, dial 877-402-9757, Access Code 4410831. Members of the public and media will be able to call in to listen to this hearing. Please be sure to keep your phone on mute when you are not speaking. Persons granted remote access to proceedings are reminded of the general prohibition against photographing, recording, and rebroadcasting of court proceedings. Violation of these prohibitions may result in sanctions, including removal of court issued media credentials, restricted entry to future hearings, denial of entry to future hearings, or any other sanctions deemed necessary by the Court. Mailed notice. (ecw, ) (Entered: 01/05/2021)
2021-01-1417RESPONSE by Erazo Vargasin Support of MOTION by Defendant U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to dismiss 13 (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet, # 2 Certificate of Service)(Elmore, Christopher) (Entered: 01/14/2021)
2021-02-1918MOTION by Defendants U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, U.S. Department of Homeland Security for summary judgment ICE Motion for Summary Judgment (Anderson, Susan) (Entered: 02/19/2021)
2021-02-1919MEMORANDUM by U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in support of motion for summary judgment 18 ICE Memorandum in Support of Motion for Summary Judgment (Anderson, Susan) (Entered: 02/19/2021)
2021-02-1920RULE 56.1 Statement by U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement regarding motion for summary judgment 18 ICE Rule 56.1 Statement of Facts (Attachments: # 1 Declaration Vargas, # 2 Declaration Vazquez-Carillo)(Anderson, Susan) (Entered: 02/19/2021)
2021-03-1121MOTION by Plaintiff Erazo Vargas to set a briefing schedule adjustment (Elmore, Christopher) (Entered: 03/11/2021)
2021-03-1222MINUTE entry before the Honorable Thomas M. Durkin: Unopposed motion to adjust summary judgment briefing schedule 21 is granted. Plaintiff's cross motion for summary judgment and response to Defendant's motion for summary judgment is to be filed by 3/12/2021. Defendants' reply in support of motion for summary judgment and response to Plaintiff's cross motion for summary judgment is to be filed by 4/2/2021. Plaintiff's reply in support of cross motion for summary judgment is to be filed by 4/23/2021. Mailed notice. (ecw, ) (Entered: 03/12/2021)
2021-03-1223RULE 56 LR 56.1(b) Statement (Elmore, Christopher) (Entered: 03/12/2021)
2021-03-1224MOTION by Plaintiff Erazo Vargas for summary judgment (Elmore, Christopher) (Entered: 03/12/2021)
2021-03-1225MEMORANDUM by Erazo Vargas in support of motion for summary judgment 18 and opposition to Defendant's motion for summary judgment (Attachments: # 1 Declaration, # 2 Declaration, # 3 Exhibit, # 4 Exhibit, # 5 Exhibit, # 6 Exhibit, # 7 Exhibit)(Elmore, Christopher) (Entered: 03/12/2021)
2021-03-1226RULE 56 LR 56.1(a) Statement by Plaintiff (Elmore, Christopher) (Entered: 03/12/2021)
2021-03-1527MINUTE entry before the Honorable Thomas M. Durkin: The telephone status hearing set for 5/3/2021 is reset for 5/26/2021 at 9:00 a.m. To join the telephone conference, dial 877-402-9757, Access Code 4410831. Members of the public and media will be able to call in to listen to this hearing. Please be sure to keep your phone on mute when you are not speaking. Persons granted remote access to proceedings are reminded of the general prohibition against photographing, recording, and rebroadcasting of court proceedings. Violation of these prohibitions may result in sanctions, including removal of court issued media credentials, restricted entry to future hearings, denial of entry to future hearings, or any other sanctions deemed necessary by the Court. Mailed notice. (ecw, ) (Entered: 03/15/2021)
2021-04-0228REPLY by Defendants U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Reply in Support of Defendants' Motion for Summary Judgment and Response to Plaintiff's Cross-Motion for Summary Judgment (Anderson, Susan) (Entered: 04/02/2021)
2021-04-0229RULE 56.1 Statement Defendants' Additional Facts Submitted in Support of Summary Judgment (Anderson, Susan) (Entered: 04/02/2021)
2021-04-0230RESPONSE by Defendants U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Defendants' Response to Plaintiffs' Rule 56.1 Statement of Facts (Anderson, Susan) (Entered: 04/02/2021)
2021-04-2331RULE 56 LR 56.1(c)(2) Statement (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit)(Elmore, Christopher) (Entered: 04/23/2021)
2021-04-2332REPLY by Erazo Vargas to reply, 28 in Support of Plaintiff's Cross-Motion for Summary Judgment (Elmore, Christopher) (Entered: 04/23/2021)
2021-05-2633MINUTE entry before the Honorable Thomas M. Durkin: Telephone status hearing held on 5/26/2021. For the reasons stated on the record, the Court grants Plaintiffs' motion for summary judgment 24 and denies ICE's motion for summary judgment 18 . ICE is ordered to again search its records in accordance with the oral ruling. The case is to remain open. A telephone status hearing is set for 7/19/2021 at 9:00 a.m. To join the telephone conference, dial 877-402-9757, Access Code 4410831. Members of the public and media will be able to call in to listen to this hearing. Please be sure to keep your phone on mute when you are not speaking. Persons granted remote access to proceedings are reminded of the general prohibition against photographing, recording, and rebroadcasting of court proceedings. Violation of these prohibitions may result in sanctions, including removal of court issued media credentials, restricted entry to future hearings, denial of entry to future hearings, or any other sanctions deemed necessary by the Court. Mailed notice. (ecw, ) (Entered: 05/26/2021)
2021-06-0834TRANSCRIPT OF PROCEEDINGS held on 05/26/2021 before the Honorable Thomas M. Durkin. Order Number: 40873. Court Reporter Contact Information: Elia E. Carrion, EECarrionOfficialTranscript@gmail.com, 312-408-7782. IMPORTANT: The transcript may be viewed at the court's public terminal or purchased through the Court Reporter/Transcriber before the deadline for Release of Transcript Restriction. After that date it may be obtained through the Court Reporter/Transcriber or PACER. For further information on the redaction process, see the Court's web site at www.ilnd.uscourts.gov under Quick Links select Policy Regarding the Availability of Transcripts of Court Proceedings. Redaction Request due 6/29/2021. Redacted Transcript Deadline set for 7/9/2021. Release of Transcript Restriction set for 9/6/2021. (Carrion, Elia) (Entered: 06/08/2021)
2021-06-1535WITHDRAWING Susan Willoughby Anderson as counsel for Defendants U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and substituting Virginia Ovitz Hancock as counsel of record (Hancock, Virginia) (Entered: 06/15/2021)
2021-07-0736MINUTE entry before the Honorable Thomas M. Durkin: The telephone status hearing set for 7/19/2021 is reset for 7/22/2021 at 9:15 a.m. The same dial in information shall apply. Mailed notice. (ecw, ) (Entered: 07/07/2021)
2021-07-2137MINUTE entry before the Honorable Thomas M. Durkin: The telephone status hearing set for 7/22/2021 is reset for 7/27/2021 at 9:15 a.m. The dial-in information will remain the same. Mailed notice. (ecw, ) (Entered: 07/21/2021)
2021-07-2738MINUTE entry before the Honorable Thomas M. Durkin: Telephone status hearing held on 7/27/2021. A telephone status hearing is set for 8/23/2021 at 9:00 a.m. To join the telephone conference, dial 877-402-9757, Access Code 4410831. Members of the public and media will be able to call in to listen to this hearing. Please be sure to keep your phone on mute when you are not speaking. Persons granted remote access to proceedings are reminded of the general prohibition against photographing, recording, and rebroadcasting of court proceedings. Violation of these prohibitions may result in sanctions, including removal of court issued media credentials, restricted entry to future hearings, denial of entry to future hearings, or any other sanctions deemed necessary by the Court. Mailed notice. (ecw, ) (Entered: 07/27/2021)
2021-08-1139MINUTE entry before the Honorable Thomas M. Durkin: The telephone status hearing set for 8/23/2021 is reset for 8/26/2021 at 9:00 a.m. The dial-in information will remain the same. Mailed notice. (ecw, ) (Entered: 08/11/2021)
2021-08-2640MINUTE entry before the Honorable Thomas M. Durkin: Telephone status hearing held on 8/26/2021. A telephone status hearing is set for 9/24/2021 at 9:00 a.m. To join the telephone conference, dial 877-402-9757, Access Code 4410831. Members of the public and media will be able to call in to listen to this hearing. Please be sure to keep your phone on mute when you are not speaking. Persons granted remote access to proceedings are reminded of the general prohibition against photographing, recording, and rebroadcasting of court proceedings. Violation of these prohibitions may result in sanctions, including removal of court issued media credentials, restricted entry to future hearings, denial of entry to future hearings, or any other sanctions deemed necessary by the Court. Mailed notice. (ecw, ) (Entered: 08/26/2021)
2021-09-2041MINUTE entry before the Honorable Thomas M. Durkin: Motion to dismiss 13 is denied as moot. Mailed notice. (ecw, ) (Entered: 09/20/2021)
2021-09-2442MINUTE entry before the Honorable Thomas M. Durkin: Telephone status hearing held on 9/24/2021. A telephone status hearing is set for 10/22/2021 at 9:00 a.m. To join the telephone conference, dial 877-402-9757, Access Code 4410831. Members of the public and media will be able to call in to listen to this hearing. Please be sure to keep your phone on mute when you are not speaking. Persons granted remote access to proceedings are reminded of the general prohibition against photographing, recording, and rebroadcasting of court proceedings. Violation of these prohibitions may result in sanctions, including removal of court issued media credentials, restricted entry to future hearings, denial of entry to future hearings, or any other sanctions deemed necessary by the Court. Mailed notice. (ecw, ) (Entered: 09/24/2021)
2021-10-2243MINUTE entry before the Honorable Thomas M. Durkin: Telephone status hearing held on 10/22/2021. A telephone status hearing is set for 12/6/2021 at 9:00 a.m., unless a stipulation of dismissal is filed before then. To join the telephone conference, dial 877-402-9757, Access Code 4410831. Members of the public and media will be able to call in to listen to this hearing. Please be sure to keep your phone on mute when you are not speaking. Persons granted remote access to proceedings are reminded of the general prohibition against photographing, recording, and rebroadcasting of court proceedings. Violation of these prohibitions may result in sanctions, including removal of court issued media credentials, restricted entry to future hearings, denial of entry to future hearings, or any other sanctions deemed necessary by the Court. Mailed notice. (ecw, ) (Entered: 10/22/2021)
2021-12-0344MINUTE entry before the Honorable Thomas M. Durkin: The parties are continuing settlement discussions. The telephone status hearing set for 12/6/2021 is reset for 1/25/2022 at 9:15 a.m., unless a stipulation of dismissal is filed before then. To join the telephone conference, dial 877-402-9757, Access Code 4410831. Members of the public and media will be able to call in to listen to this hearing. Please be sure to keep your phone on mute when you are not speaking. Persons granted remote access to proceedings are reminded of the general prohibition against photographing, recording, and rebroadcasting of court proceedings. Violation of these prohibitions may result in sanctions, including removal of court issued media credentials, restricted entry to future hearings, denial of entry to future hearings, or any other sanctions deemed necessary by the Court. Mailed notice. (ecw, ) (Entered: 12/03/2021)
2022-01-2545MINUTE entry before the Honorable Thomas M. Durkin: Telephone status hearing held on 1/25/2022. The parties reported that they have resolved the fee issue. A telephone status hearing is set for 3/15/2022 at 9:00 a.m., unless the case is dismissed before then. To join the telephone conference, dial 877-402-9757, Access Code 4410831. Members of the public and media will be able to call in to listen to this hearing. Please be sure to keep your phone on mute when you are not speaking. Persons granted remote access to proceedings are reminded of the general prohibition against photographing, recording, and rebroadcasting of court proceedings. Violation of these prohibitions may result in sanctions, including removal of court issued media credentials, restricted entry to future hearings, denial of entry to future hearings, or any other sanctions deemed necessary by the Court. Mailed notice. (ecw, ) (Entered: 01/25/2022)
2022-03-0346SETTLEMENT Agreement (Hancock, Virginia) (Entered: 03/03/2022)
2022-03-0847STIPULATION of Dismissal Joint (Elmore, Christopher) (Entered: 03/08/2022)
2022-03-0848MINUTE entry before the Honorable Thomas M. Durkin: A stipulation to dismiss has been filed. Pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 41(a), this case is dismissed with prejudice. All pending dates before this court are stricken. Civil case terminated. Mailed notice. (ecw, ) (Entered: 03/08/2022)
Hide Docket Events
by FOIA Project Staff
Skip to toolbar