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Legal Action Against DHS for Communications on Border Issues
This week, a conservative watchdog organization initiated legal proceedings against the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), aiming to compel the agency to disclose any correspondence between Vice President Kamala Harris’s office and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) concerning the southern border and illegal immigration.
Background of the Lawsuit
The Oversight Project, a good-government initiative affiliated with the conservative Heritage Foundation, submitted a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request in September for these communications. However, they found DHS’s response inadequate under federal law, prompting them to take legal action in federal court.
HOUSE COMMITTEE INCREASES PRESSURE FOR DOCUMENTS ON HARRIS’ INVOLVEMENT IN BORDER CRISIS
Demands for Timely Disclosure
The lawsuit demands that DHS release its communications with Harris by October 22. Brosnan stated that given her designation as ‘border czar,’ it is reasonable to expect substantial communication between CBP and her office regarding migration issues from Central America.
“Considering that over 10 million undocumented individuals have entered the country during her tenure,” Brosnan remarked, “it stands to reason there would be significant correspondence related to this critical issue.”
The Importance of Transparency Before Elections
Brosnan emphasized that understanding a major party candidate’s record on immigration is crucial as voters prepare for upcoming elections:
“We are exercising our rights through FOIA to obtain these records promptly because if we receive them post-election, their relevance in informing public opinion will diminish significantly.”
PENNSYLVANIA VOTERS CONCERNED ABOUT INTENSE POLITICAL RHETORIC
Seeking Urgent Action from Courts
This urgency led Brosnan’s team to file for a preliminary injunction aimed at expediting document releases from the government.
DHS’s Response Under Scrutiny
The filing reveals that CBP acknowledged receipt of the FOIA request on September 18 but later closed it without notifying those involved, claiming no documents were available in their system.
The Oversight Project subsequently contacted CBP requesting a reopening of their case but was informed that their initial request lacked sufficient detail regarding which specific emails should be reviewed or which domains associated with Harris’ office should be included in searches.
Inconsistencies Highlighted by Lawmakers
Brosnan’s team pointed out discrepancies between CBP’s handling of this FOIA request compared to similar requests made by members of Congress.
In September, Representative James Comer (R-Ky.) reached out again to Troy Miller, acting head of CBP, reiterating calls for documentation related specifically to Harris’ management during this ongoing crisis:
“It is vital for both Congress and American citizens to comprehend Vice President Harris’ role as border czar amid this crisis,” Comer stated in his letter obtained by Fox News Digital.
The Need for Public Awareness
Brosnan stressed last week that transparency about what communications occurred between Harris’ team and CBP is essential if she was indeed tasked with overseeing border security operations effectively:
“The public deserves clarity about what her office was discussing with CBP during critical moments throughout this crisis.”
This report includes contributions from Adam Shaw at Fox News Digital.
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