Deportation Data Dispute Sparks Another Oversight Project Lawsuit Against Trump DHS

The Oversight Project and its president, Mike Howell, have filed a new lawsuit accusing the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) of failing to provide records on deportations and voluntary departures requested under freedom of information laws. The case seeks disclosure of enforcement data, rather than challenging the Trump administration’s deportation policies, amid scrutiny of the administration’s approach and President Donald Trump’s recent remarks about it.

The complaint says DHS acknowledged three records requests and conditionally approved fee waivers, but did not issue formal decisions or release the records. One request was transferred to Immigration and Customs Enforcement on 23 October, with no further response reported; the plaintiffs allege four types of FOIA violations and ask the court to order searches, disclosure of non-exempt records and explanations for redactions. In an earlier request, DHS released only a fully redacted, two-page summary of voluntary self-departures, while the Justice Department continues to defend the withholding of information.