Our last FOIA lawsuit against ICE revealed that agents had killed another American and that the agency knew use-of-force incidents had nearly tripled.
Now, we’re suing CBP to find out more about its use of force and how it trains agents.
americanoversight.org/american-ove...
This is what FOIA is made for. If the government isn’t forthcoming with essential information, it lets us demand it.
And we will.
Our follow up FOIAs ask for all of the documentation on Ruben Ray Martinez’s death, including any footage from that night.
We also asked for any communications between the people charged with investigating.
DHS didn’t publicly admit that one of its agents shot and killed Ruben Ray Martinez until our lawsuit unearthed an internal report of the shooting. Now, lawmakers are demanding accountability.
And we have a lot more questions.
www.washingtonpost.com/immigration/...
Swapping out Noem is not enough to fix DHS.
It will not undo the damage being inflicted on families and communities across the country.
Americans still deserve answers about the policies being carried out in their name.
americanoversight.org/kristi-noem-...
Image of a Freedom of Information Act request.
ICE’s 287(g) program can make local police a part of federal immigration enforcement.
That’s how some Minnesota officers ended up working with ICE during the crackdown in Minneapolis.
We FOIAed 8 sheriff’s offices to see how they talk behind closed doors.
Image of a Freedom of Information Act request.
With no credible evidence, Trump has claimed there is a link between taking Tylenol during pregnancy and autism spectrum disorder. HHS is reportedly working on a report about it.
We filed FOIA requests to find out what science the administration is relying on — if there is any.
Image of a Freedom of Information Act request.
Image of a Freedom of Information Act request.
American farmers have been approaching a financial crisis for years, and tariffs may have pushed them over the edge.
The Trump administration keeps promising to help, but farmers aren’t getting relief.
We FOIAed the USDA to see how they’re discussing the crisis.
Image of a Freedom of Information Act request.
We also need to know if military lawyers are even prepared to serve as immigration judges.
We asked for the trainings given to these military lawyers and legal analyses regarding this arrangement.
Image of a Freedom of Information Act request.
We also asked for directives and communications — including White House communications — regarding these firings and related court backlogs.
04.03.2026 19:30 — 👍 5 🔁 0 💬 1 📌 0
Image of a Freedom of Information Act request.
Image of a Freedom of Information Act request.
Many of the fired judges used to be attorneys for people seeking asylum or relief from deportation. That raises questions about how the administration is cherry picking judges.
We asked DHS, ICE, and DOJ’s Office for Immigration Review for records about this.
The backlog of immigration cases is now in the millions.
Yet the Trump administration is firing experienced immigration judges and replacing them with military lawyers.
Here’s how we’re investigating:
When agencies “escalate force while withholding basic information about their authority and training from the public, it erodes trust and puts lives at risk…The public should not have to rely on watchdogs and whistleblowers to learn the truth,” said our Chioma Chukwu.
04.03.2026 16:14 — 👍 6 🔁 3 💬 0 📌 0
The lawsuit comes amid mounting concerns about immigration crackdowns — including concerns raised by our recent release of ICE records showing the agency knew use-of-force incidents nearly tripled and that an agent killed another American.
americanoversight.org/what-we-know...
BREAKING: We’re suing CBP for records related to its use of force and training of agents.
Kristi Noem owes Americans answers about how agents are being told to treat people.
We’re holding her feet to the fire.
americanoversight.org/american-ove...
Just days before the firings, a Trump-appointed judge blocked the release of the report on Trump’s document handling.
The firings raise serious questions about what Patel — and Trump — are trying to hide.
We’re still fighting to get the report released.
americanoversight.org/american-ove...
Last week, Kash Patel fired FBI agents involved in investigating Trump’s handling of classified documents.
It turns out those agents also investigate threats from Iran.
Trump and Patel’s personal vendettas shouldn’t jeopardize our national security.
There’s so much more we need to know.
We’re also suing for many records related to Noem’s handling of ICE agents’ killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti.
We filed FOIA requests for Noem’s communications in the days immediately following these killings.
We have already gotten access to some records on ICE’s use of force. That includes:
– The cover up of a US citizen’s death
– The way officers are being trained to dodge the requirements of the Fourth Amendment
americanoversight.org/what-we-know...
Kristi Noem is currently testifying before the Senate Judiciary Committee on ICE’s use of force.
We hope the committee can hold her accountable. We’re working to do the same.
Watch here.
www.c-span.org/event/senate...
As reports of abuse and deaths in custody mount, this ruling makes it clear: Congress must be able to hold ICE accountable.
03.03.2026 15:56 — 👍 6 🔁 1 💬 0 📌 0“The administration cannot evade accountability by repackaging the same misconduct and calling it by a different name — not today, not tomorrow, not ever.” our Executive Director Chioma Chukwu said.
03.03.2026 15:56 — 👍 2 🔁 0 💬 1 📌 0
Kristi Noem keeps secretly reinstating policies that require members of Congress to jump through hoops to visit detention facilities.
Over and over, the court has said these policies violate Congress’ right to conduct oversight.
Once again, a judge affirmed Congress’ right to conduct unannounced oversight visits at ICE detention facilities.
We’re representing the 13 members in that case, alongside Democracy Forward.
americanoversight.org/court-orders...
Image of a Freedom of Information Act request.
We asked 13 agencies for their policies on using AI to deregulate.
03.03.2026 14:59 — 👍 2 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
The Trump admin is urging agencies to use AI on everything from transportation to health care.
This will affect regulations that protect peoples' health and safety, and we don’t know what safeguards there are. We need to know if agencies are cutting protections based on AI recs.
Image of a Freedom of Information Act request.
HHS reportedly plans to cut $10 billion from programs that help low income kids and families.
How is the Trump administration justifying this behind the scenes?
We filed FOIA requests for the data and methodology used to make these cuts.
For the THIRD TIME, a judge has ordered DHS to allow Congress to conduct oversight of ICE facilities.
We’re representing the 13 members of Congress who filed suit, with Democracy Forward.
americanoversight.org/court-orders...
In our newsletter: Investigating ICE’s fatal shooting of another US citizen, and Trump’s efforts to avoid accountability and delay public records lawsuits.
americanoversight.org/newsletter/
We need to know more about Ruben Ray Martinez’s death — including how and why ICE kept it hidden.
We sent FOIA requests for police bodycam footage and any internal communication related to Martinez’s death.
www.documentcloud.org/documents/27...
