FOIA: Releasing records on the travel ban

IRAP filed a lawsuit in the Southern District of New York against Department of State (“DOS”), Department of Homeland Security (“DHS”), U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”), and Customs and Border Protection (“CBP”) challenging their refusal to respond to a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request seeking disclosure of their implementation of the Trump administration’s travel ban. The travel ban was issued on June 4, 2025 via Presidential Proclamation 10949 and limits the entry of nationals of nineteen countries into the United States.

Background

On July of 2025, IRAP submitted FOIA Requests with all these agencies seeking information on their implementation of the travel ban. IRAP requested expedited processing of the request given its urgent public significance in this context, but the agencies either denied expedition or simply did not respond to the request in a timely and substantive manner. 

Impact

This case seeks to compel DOS, DHS, USCIS, and CBP to release information on how they are implementing the travel ban and bring transparency to the process. In the face of discrepancies between the Proclamation and its implementation by agencies, access to this information is essential for affected individuals, their attorneys, and advocates.

Case status

• October 28, 2025: Complaint is filed in in the Southern District of New York District Court.