Government Code § 7923.600(a) – provides that law enforcement investigation, security and intelligence information file records of a local police agency are exempt from disclosure. Furthermore, as set forth in Rivero v. Superior Court, 54 Cal. App. 4th 1048 (1997) and Williams v. Superior Court, 5 Cal, 4th 337 (1993), the investigatory file exemption to the public records act request is not lost even where the investigation is deemed concluded or terminated.

By means of an FOIA, I am considering requesting copies of all email messages and written correspondence between a state government agency and a contractor. Of course, I want copies of the emails and correspondence in both directions. I don't know if it's possible to do this successfully. May I hear your opinions and comments, please?

Hi,
I raised a FOIA request with my current i797 receipt number raised by my current employer. But, I received documents related to my older i797 raised by my previous employer. What are the steps to be followed to receive my current i140 related documents through FOIA?

I've received results from an eFOIA request last night, but I've been unable to access the documents. The file address suggests the link is to a .pdf. Clicking on the link brings me to a white page w/ the FBI logo and text that reads, "We're sorry...There was an error loading this page." There's no description of the error type.

I've sent an email to the foiaquestions email address noted in the email for problems, but their responses seem canned, and only repeat the same error. A colleague has suggested the error could be on the FBI's eFOIA portal.

I've attempted to access the document through the FBI's eFOIA portal and received the same error. Additionally, I've tried opening the document in Edge and Firefox, as well as using private tabs, and continue to get the same error.

Has anyone else had this problem in the past?

I'm am in Oregon, and the county I reside in is not the most helpful in regards to public records. The website for the sheriffs department that I am attempting to submit the request to has an onerous form that they require to be printed, filled out in full, and mailed in. I would like to circumvent that whole process and send the standardized email request I send everywhere else, that works just fine literally EVERYWHERE else I send it to. But there isn't a contact email anywhere I could find. Is there anywhere to look for such a contact email? or where else can I send the request to?

Have been waiting four months and accidentally cancelled it on the page 🤦🏻‍♂️ what can I do to get it back running

hello i’m trying to create a youtube (body cam) channel and i was wondering how would i request those or how do i maintain the footage that’s public? any insight would help thanks.

I am trying to FOIA request a high school in the UK and I don’t know the process, they have systems to do requests but I have no idea how to do it, any help would be great!

My child’s father did not disclose his veterans administration compensation during the child support hearing. He is basically saying prove he gets veteran administration compensation. He even swore a false affidavit saying he doesn’t get it. I have seen the VA letters so I know he does. Has anyone had the court subpoena the compensation records? Or have you successfully received this information via FOIA request.

Hello recently I've been trying to get more information on the Foreign Materials Program of the DIA. In my research I came across D.O.D directive C-3325.01E subsection 5.2.7 In which is outlined the FMP must maintain a database of all foreign materials data. Now before I file a request im trying to figure out if you can request an entire database and my research has been inconclusive any help would be greatly appreciated.

Seeing a lot of mixed opinions on this so far. Has anyone personally had experience with filing an FOIA for records of secondary inspection? The encounter was quite confusing and unexpected for me, and I would like to know what records were kept/the narrative that was recorded.

I know a lot can be redacted, but some examples had narrative notes intact, so I am a bit confused about what to expect.

Anyone have first-hand experience with this?

I filed an FOIA with CBP last March and got a response via email a couple of months ago stating that I basically did it wrong.

I am requesting details of my two tourist trips to the US, particularly information regarding my secondary inspection on the most recent one. The information I am requesting is my own, and not a third party, which brings me to the response I got after almost a year of waiting.

—

Dear [my name]:

Your FOIA request was reviewed as a third-party request and did not include authorization that information on this individual, or business, can be released to you. All third party FOIA requests must include a signed G-28 or G-639 form, or a signed statement from the individual verifying that his/her information may be released to you. Or, if requesting records pertaining to a business or company, a signed statement on company letterhead. Due to privacy concerns, CBP cannot confirm nor deny the existence of records on this individual or business.

Your FOIA request has been closed as insufficient. Please be advised that this action is not a denial of your request and will not preclude you from filing other requests in the future. Please resubmit your FOIA request, along with the required information, by logging into your existing SecureRelease account.

Please note that this message has been sent from an unmonitored e-mail account. Any messages sent to this account will not be read.

Sincerely,

U.S. Customs and Border Protection

—

I am understandably confused and disappointed by this response. I requested the information via the SecureRelease, and this was my exact wording:

I would like access to my immigration record, as I have entered and left the US on two occasions. I especially would like the information regarding my secondary inspection on my last trip which was December 1st. I will be filing for an immigration visa in the near future and consulting with immigration lawyers, so would like this information on hand when doing so.

I also attached a photograph of my passport for ID purposes, as well as my I-94 from the official site.

—

What did I do wrong? How can I ensure a successful request going forward? The wait is so long, and I am confused as to how my request was viewed as third-party.

Ref: https://home.army.mil/campbell/foia

FOIA Requests (AR15-6 investigations, government documents, etc.): To obtain a copy of government documents excluding MP reports, fill out a FOIA Request Form and a copy of your civilian driver’s license (CAC is not authorized and will not be accepted), and email both to fortcampbellfoia@army.mil.

Is there a way to challenge this additional requirement? They will ask for this before acknowledging one request, so I am afraid this cannot be raised to appellate agency (it seems one can only challenge a determination), also the whole Army FOIA is a mess to start with, and I failed to get response from emailing the public liaison every time. Maybe from the OGIS? But they have, afaik, no enforcement rights.

I requested my first FOIA request on secure release in November 2023, and the request has not changed from "initial determination" since then. I need it so I can have the right information to answer a question for my k1 visa. I need it pretty soon, is it possible to expedite it?

I requested my first FOIA request on secure release in November 2023, and the request has not changed from "initial determination" since then. I need it so I can have the right information to answer a question for my k1 visa. I need it pretty soon, is it possible to expedite it?

I requested my first FOIA request on secure release in November 2023, and the request has not changed from "initial determination" since then. I need it so I can have the right information to answer a question for my k1 visa. I need it pretty soon, is it possible to expedite it?

This is the webpage: US-VISIT Documents, FOIA Electronic Reading Room | Homeland Security (dhs.gov)

And this is the document: https://www.dhs.gov/xlibrary/assets/foia/US-VISIT_PrimeContract_Feb2005.pdf (US-VISIT Prime Contract Award to Accenture) This contract dates back to 2005, but while it is available on the DHS FOIA e Reading Room webpage, it has no release date. I have tried emailing them to ask about this twice by have yet to receive a response.

Are these codes, used every day in unencrypted radio communications by police, fire and EMS, exempt from release under South Carolina's FOIA? Can anyone cite cases or decisions that ruled for the release of this data?

I am looking to get information about my employment records, for some reason I was having a super hard time finding a job, and I was told there might a black list somewhere or some ATS problems but I want to get to the bottom of this.

I was threatened by a previous employer that he will make sure I will never get hired again ( I quit because I was not morally aligned with their practices). I have 10 plus years experience and I applied to a number of jobs where I am overqualified and didn't get an offer. I spoke with the department of labor, I didn't mention anything about the employer yet, but they only suggested me to speak to a career coach. I signed up to their website but I am completely clueless about the fees and the process.

Hi everybody!

I am looking for advice. I was detained by ICE upon arrival at the airport in 2019. I came with a tourist visa but my real intention was to apply for asylum. I was released on parole and filled my asylum application that same year. I had my master hearing, and have been waiting for my individual court date ever since. (currently scheduled for July 2025)

Last year I got married to a European citizen, he was my long-term boyfriend (we were together even before I came to the US) and the same person I have been living with since my release. He is currently in the process of applying for his employment-based green card, he has already filed his AOS, the application for the EAD, and the I-131 form. I was not yet included in the AOS form because our lawyer could not figure out a way since I do not have an immigration status and am still categorized as an arriving alien. By the way, I am from Latin America but my country is not eligible for TPS.
I had a consultation with a different law firm together with the lawyer who is handling the green card process to do a second review of my case. The conclusion we came to was that I may be eligible to be included as a derivative beneficiary of my husband's green card but, before applying, I need to file FOIA requests to obtain all my immigration records from USCIS, CBP, OBIM and the Immigration Court to find out if I was ever accused of misrepresentation. If such an accusation is on my file, I would have to prepare a waiver before applying for my AOS.

The law firm is saying they would charge up to $5000 to do the FOIA requests, which seems an outrageous amount to me. I have been doing research and found that I can do the FOIAS online, I just do not know exactly how to draft the message and what exact documents I need to ask for. I am terrified that I may forget a document and then have my all case screwed.

Has anyone submitted FOIA requests to those agencies? Could anybody share what they wrote in the submission?

Many thanks in advance!! 🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽

Requested copies of specific evidence(documents and reports mostly) items from the FBI in a closed case. I requested these items by their FBi Serial Nd evidence numbers. They replied three days later with:

“Your request seeks information that does not fall under the purview of the FOIPA. The information requested in the referenced letter is not considered a FOIPA request because it does not comply with the requirements of 28 CFR § 16.3(b).”

So can someone please explain what this means?

Hey all,

First—this sub is incredible. The internet truly is a wonderful place (occasionally).

Second—I'm looking for a document I think can be FOIA'd, I just don't really know where to start, or even how to narrow down my search. I'm looking for a larger copy of this: https://districtfallout.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/community-shelter-plan-1965.pdf

It's a fallout preparation plan for Washington. I considered going through the Washington, D.C. municipal government, but I'm unsure how to proceed. I assume folks are going to have more questions, so I will try to answer them as they come up. Thank you in advance!

I wanted my foia record for CBP which i have requested before when they used the foia gov website

When they moved over to securerelease i made another request about a yr ago, and now they are saying they need to verify my identity and that i have to make a new request instead of an appeal so another yr will go by before they give me my report, i appealed anyways and provided the DOJ Identity Verification document as well as this screenshot where they did not request my identity

​

https://preview.redd.it/vpfrqvsupwtc1.jpg?width=1387&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=be31d76039df6ba79c0adfce28ed04cd20af5161

My request had this statement:

I am requesting all records relating to Sentri and Trusted Traveler Program application and denial records pertaining to me for 2023 specifically from 05/23 in regards to the Ombuds denial. I am furnishing additional information about myself below to help aid in the retrieval of the records: TTP Membership Number: 9xxxxxx5 DHS TRIP Number: xxxxx9 Passport number: 5xxxx3 DOB: 1/2/19xx. I am also attaching a document i received from CBP before which means records do exist for me. I am attaching the TTP letter as well.

​

https://preview.redd.it/zpr96gprowtc1.jpg?width=2801&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=54379dce5381baa54684ada65748726407d4351d

​

Thanks

Hi, I'm a newbie to FOIA's and am just wondering if one is required to provide their identity in order to complete a FOIA to the FBI. Thanks.

I'm hoping someone would be able to provide a brief tutorial on how to accurately obtain body Cam footage from a Police Department, I am aware that I would need to fill out an actual request ( either by email or mail) and have done that however I am not very sure as to which agency I need to submit this information to specifically. Any information would be extremely helpful,thank you for your time.

I see a lot of discussions on housing supply in my city that don’t have data on how many units really are vacant or unused. Harder numbers on this would be apt to a wide range of discussions and I’m wondering what’s out there that could paint a more reliable picture, especially since what I see from the street looks like unlived-in units are more than what’s stated. But that’s a hypothesis and I’d like to find out more of the reality.

One particular thing I’m wondering about requesting would be something along the lines of utilities used. I think electric and water use could really show difference in units where people live and which units are just maintaining a minimum draw of things plugged in. However, I don’t know if utilities can be sent FOIA requests, or if there’s a government agency they report to that would be less tricky to obtain.

Curious to find other forums or sites like the ᵍᵒᵛ ʳᵉᵃᵈᶦⁿᵍ ʳᵒᵒᵐˢ where you can upload / read requests?

I recently submitted a FOIA and Privacy Act request for a complaint I submitted to the FBI five months ago about a specific Redditor. I never heard anything back from the FBI after submitting a complaint.
From the FOIPA office, I just received a denial letter in response to my FOIPA request less than 30 days later stating:

"The FBI has completed its search for records subject to the FOIPA that are responsive to your request. The material you requested is located in an investigative file which is exempt from disclosure pursuant to 5 USC 552(b)(7)(A)....The records responsive to your request are law enforcement records; there is a pending or prospective law enforcement proceeding relevant to these responsive records, and release of the information could reasonable be expected to interfere with enforcement proceedings."

Does that mean the case is under active investigation?