TPM Files FOIA Action to Obtain Information about Government Monitoring of Vulnerable Youth Entering the U.S. for the Young Center for Immigrant Children’s Rights and Immigrant Defenders Law Center

Nearly 11 months ago, Young Center for Immigrant Children’s Rights (Young Center) and Immigrant Defenders Law Center (ImmDef) requested records from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) pertaining to the Young Adult Case Management Program (YACMP). YACMP is designated by ICE as an “Alternative to Detention” program. It subjects some youth and families to monitoring during the pendency of their immigration proceedings. Young Center and ImmDef work closely with youth who have entered the United States unaccompanied and who have been automatically enrolled in YACMP. Young Center and ImmDef are concerned about the impact of the program on vulnerable youth and their families. Details related to YACMP, including details related to the criteria for referral and enrollment in YACMP, the monitoring that takes place pursuant to YACMP, the reporting obligations on the youth enrolled in the program, and the consequences for violating those obligations, are unknown to the public and attorneys and other advocates for these youth.

Under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), federal agencies must notify requestors within 20 days of the request which records will be produced and then must promptly produce the records. Neither ICE nor DHS produced any of the requested records in the 11 months since the FOIA request, nor have they indicated whether or when they will produce any records. 

 On July 17, 2024, Terris, Pravlik & Millian, LLP (TPM) filed a lawsuit to enforce FOIA against DHS, ICE, and DHS’s Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties asking the United States District Court for the District of Columbia to order the agencies to produce the documents promptly. A copy of the complaint is here.

If you have any questions about the case, please call Jaclyn Deitch at 202-204-8473.