Advancement Project’s National Office Sues DHS, ICE, and CBP for Failing to Provide Records Under the Freedom of Information Act About the Administration’s Traffic Stops in South Florida

Washington D.C. – Today April 4, 2019, Advancement Project’s National Office sued the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and U.S. Customs and Border Protection for failing to provide records under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), involving the traffic stops and roving patrols in Homestead, Florida. In partnership with WeCount!, Advancement Project’s National Office seeks information about ICE stopping cars in the Homestead area of South Miami-Dade County.

“We are concerned about ICE and CBP’s racial profiling in conducting traffic stops given that CBP and ICE are the largest federal police force. WeCount! members are racially profiled and stopped because of the color of their skin. The community is terrorized by ICE and CBP as rogue officers detain first, and ask questions later,” said Losmin Jiménez, Project Director and Senior Attorney, Advancement Project’s National Office.

Jonathan Fried, Executive Director, WeCount! stated, “Apparently federal immigration authorities think it’s okay to ignore a Freedom of Information Act request. It is not.  It’s in the public interest to shed light on their rogue activities in immigrant communities, which target people based on their racial profile and make us all less free.”

Advancement Project’s National Office is a multi-racial civil rights organization. Founded by a team of veteran civil rights lawyers in 1999, Advancement Project was created to develop and inspire community-based solutions based on the same high quality legal analysis and public education campaigns that produced the landmark civil rights victories of earlier eras.

WeCount!, an organization that strives to build the power of the immigrant community in Homestead, Florida through education, support, and collective action.