DHS OIG investigation into phone surveillance
| Tracking # |
2022-IGFO-00200 |
| Submitted | March 31, 2022 |
| Est. Completion | None |
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Communications
From: Tanvi Misra
To Whom It May Concern:
Pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act, I hereby request the following records:
On Nov. 25, 2020, the DHS Office of Inspector General sent a letter to a group of U.S. Senators announcing an investigation into the Department’s phone surveillance practices. According to the letter: “The objective of our audit is to determine if the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and its components have developed, updated, and adhered to policies related to cell-phone surveillance devices. In addition, you may be interested in our audit to review DHS’ use and protection of open source intelligence. Open source intelligence, while different from cell phone surveillance, includes the Department’s use of information provided by the public via cellular devices, such as social media status updates, geo-tagged photos, and specific location check-ins.”
The announcement came at the request of Sens. Ron Wyden, Elizabeth Warren, Ed Markey, Sherrod Brown, and Brian Schatz.
REQUEST:
Pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act, I hereby request the following records:
1. All materials relied upon by DHS-OIG in preparation of the abovementioned audit, including, but not limited to, photographs, interview notes, and electronic or paper communications;
2. All responses from Department of Homeland Security agency components, including, but not limited to ICE, CBP, and DHS OIG.
3. All follow-up communications from OIG to any DHS agency component or Congressional liaison regarding the above investigation.
4. All communications between OIG and subject-matter experts, including, but not limited to, privacy and technology experts.
Given that the investigation into this matter is ongoing, I would be happy to accept those records that can be reasonably expected not to cause harm to the ongoing investigation, or any reasonably segregable portions of responsive records.
I request this information in the public interest in my capacity as an investigative journalist working with journalism nonprofit Type Investigations and with previous articles published in The Guardian, NBC News, The Article, Bloomberg, The New Republic and other major national and international publications.
I attest that the requested documents will be made available to the general public, and this request is not being made for commercial purposes. Should the volume of responsive records be substantial, I kindly request that they be released on a rolling basis.
The requested documents will be made available to the general public, and this request is not being made for commercial purposes.
In the event that there are fees, I would be grateful if you would inform me of the total charges in advance of fulfilling my request. I would prefer the request filled electronically, by e-mail attachment if available or CD-ROM if not.
Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation in this matter. I look forward to receiving your response to this request within 20 business days, as the statute requires.
Sincerely,
Tanvi Misra
From: Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General
Dear Tanvi Misra,
The status of your OIG FOIA request #2022-IGFO-00200 has been updated to the following status 'Received'. To log into the Department of Homeland Security PAL click on the Application URL below.
https://foiarequest.dhs.gov/
Sincerely,
Department of Homeland Security
From: Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General
Dear Tanvi Misra,
Request Number 2022-IGFO-00200 has been assigned to the request you submitted. In all future correspondence regarding this request please reference request number 2022-IGFO-00200.
Regards,
Department of Homeland Security
From: Muckrock Staff
To Whom It May Concern:
I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information Act request, copied below, and originally submitted on June 17, 2022. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response. You had assigned it reference number #2022-IGFO-00200.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
From: Muckrock Staff
To Whom It May Concern:
I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information Act request, copied below, and originally submitted on June 17, 2022. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response. You had assigned it reference number #2022-IGFO-00200.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
From: Muckrock Staff
To Whom It May Concern:
I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information Act request, copied below, and originally submitted on June 17, 2022. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response. You had assigned it reference number #2022-IGFO-00200.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
From: Muckrock Staff
To Whom It May Concern:
I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information Act request, copied below, and originally submitted on June 17, 2022. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response. You had assigned it reference number #2022-IGFO-00200.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
From: Muckrock Staff
To Whom It May Concern:
I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information Act request, copied below, and originally submitted on June 17, 2022. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response. You had assigned it reference number #2022-IGFO-00200.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
From: Muckrock Staff
To Whom It May Concern:
I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information Act request, copied below, and originally submitted on June 17, 2022. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response. You had assigned it reference number #2022-IGFO-00200.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
From: Muckrock Staff
To Whom It May Concern:
I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information Act request, copied below, and originally submitted on June 17, 2022. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response. You had assigned it reference number #2022-IGFO-00200.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
From: Muckrock Staff
To Whom It May Concern:
I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information Act request, copied below, and originally submitted on June 17, 2022. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response. You had assigned it reference number #2022-IGFO-00200.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
From: Muckrock Staff
To Whom It May Concern:
I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information Act request, copied below, and originally submitted on June 17, 2022. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response. You had assigned it reference number #2022-IGFO-00200.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
From: Muckrock Staff
To Whom It May Concern:
I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information Act request, copied below, and originally submitted on June 17, 2022. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response. You had assigned it reference number #2022-IGFO-00200.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
From: Muckrock Staff
To Whom It May Concern:
I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information Act request, copied below, and originally submitted on June 17, 2022. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response. You had assigned it reference number #2022-IGFO-00200.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
From: Muckrock Staff
To Whom It May Concern:
I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information Act request, copied below, and originally submitted on June 17, 2022. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response. You had assigned it reference number #2022-IGFO-00200.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
From: Muckrock Staff
To Whom It May Concern:
I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information Act request, copied below, and originally submitted on June 17, 2022. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response. You had assigned it reference number #2022-IGFO-00200.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
From: Muckrock Staff
To Whom It May Concern:
I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information Act request, copied below, and originally submitted on June 17, 2022. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response. You had assigned it reference number #2022-IGFO-00200.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
From: Muckrock Staff
To Whom It May Concern:
I wanted to follow up on the following Freedom of Information Act request, copied below, and originally submitted on June 17, 2022. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response. You had assigned it reference number #2022-IGFO-00200.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
From: Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General
Dear Tanvi Misra,
Thank you for your submitting your FOIA request with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Office of Inspector General (OIG). We apologize for the delay, we are working through a backlog of cases.
I want to send you an update for your request. The audits you requested have since been completed. Will the detail reports satisfied your request?
Sincerely,
DHS-OIG-FOIA Team
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From: Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General
Good afternoon,
We are following up on the email sent below. If we have not received a response from you by Friday, February 2, 2024, we will interpret it to mean that you are no longer interested in your FOIA request and your case will be administratively closed in our office.
Sincerely,
DHS-OIG-FOIA Team
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