ICE Citizens Academy FOIA

At a Glance

Date Filed: 

July 16, 2020

Current Status 

Briefing guide of select documents released October 2024. Court ordered new searches of ICE's Chicago office and in-camera review of specific documents in May 2024.

Co-Counsel 

Client(s) 

Case Description 

In July 2020, ICE announced it would be holding a "Citizens Academy" in Chicago, Illinois where civilian invitees would be trained in various enforcement techniques used by the law enforcement agency. The inviation promised attendees would engage “in scenario-based training and exercises conducted in a safe and positive environment, including, but not limited to defensive tactics, firearms familiarization, and targeted arrests." Immigrant rights organizations immediately objected to this program and called for it to be canceled. Soon after, it came to light that other components of the agency had operated simialr "Citizens Academies" in past years, dating back to at least 2012.

Immigrant Defense Project in New York City and Organizing Communities Against Deportations in Chicago, along with the Center for Constitutional Rights, filed a FOIA request to shed light on these programs and get access to training materials and data regarding how ICE runs these "Citizens Academy" programs. When ICE failed to respond, we filed a lawsuit with the help of Beyond Legal Aid to compel the agency to release the documents.

This case is part of the Center for Constitutional Rights' Open Records Project and our larger work on behalf of activists and immigrant rights.

Case Timeline

October 1, 2024
OCAD, IDP, CCR, Beyond Legal Aid and Latino Justice release FOIA documents
October 1, 2024
OCAD, IDP, CCR, Beyond Legal Aid and Latino Justice release FOIA documents
Plaintiffs release "Briefing Guide" featuring select documents which show the sinister purpose of the ICE "Citizen Academy" program.
May 8, 2024
Court issues summary judgment decision
May 8, 2024
Court issues summary judgment decision
January 12, 2024
Summary judgement briefing
January 12, 2024
Summary judgement briefing
Motions for summary judgment filed by the government and CCR along with co-counsel.
May 11, 2021
Lawsuit filed
May 11, 2021
Lawsuit filed
We file a FOIA lawsuit in the Northern District of Illinois.
July 16, 2020
FOIA request sent to ICE