Immigration advocate group says feds stonewalling records on denying right to legal counsel

The American Immigration Council is charging that Homeland Security is blocking the release of records alleged to show how they interfere with undocumented people’s right to legal counsel. The Council filed a request for the records under the Freedom of Information Act but has only received photocopies of pages from manuals and not the records [...]

Judge orders federal immigration officials to release information about ‘Secure Communties’ program

A federal judge has ordered federal immigration agencies to release what the court deemed “embarassing information’ regarding the ‘”Secure Communities” program. The National Day Labor Organizing Network and other groups filed a Freedom of Information Act request for records on the program and were denied access. Immigrations authorities have been accused of seeking biometric identity [...]

Opinion: Electronic Frontier Foundation finds political bias in processing of FOIA requests

The House Oversight Committee is investigating Freedom of Information Act requests processed by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The Electronic Freedom Foundation (EFF)  complained last October that the department was targeting certain requesters which included journalists and activist groups for extra layers of review. EFF also says that the DHS not only failed to [...]

ACLU contends government overreaching in laptop search policy at borders

With two other groups, the American Civil Liberties Union is suing the Department of Homeland Security over its practice of searching, copying and detaining electronic devices at borders without reasonable suspicion. -db American Civil Liberties Union Press Release September 7, 2010 NEW YORK – The American Civil Liberties Union, the New York Civil Liberties Union [...]

Chemical security bills lack provisions for transparency

Two chemical facility security bills introduced in the U.S. senate are designed to reduce the consequences of accident or attack on chemical plants and drinking water facilities but fail to provide for accountability and transparency to ensure safety says OMB Watch. -db Chemical security bills lack provisions for transparency OMB Watch Commentary July 27, 2010 [...]