This case under the Freedom of Information Act seeks answers to questions about the unprecedented expansion of taxpayer funding for immigration detention that occurred in 2025. Specifically: why did the federal government end a program that returned a 100% immigration court appearance rate without detention or surveillance and was 90% cheaper than detention? Why did it instead give billions of taxpayer dollars to private prison executives for immigration detention, who promptly raised executive compensation and bonuses?

The Case Management Pilot Program was a humane and effective alternative to detention that Congress created in 2020 that funded nonprofits and local governments to provide services that ensure non-citizens’ appearance in immigration court, including legal information, mental health services, screening for indicia of human trafficking, and updates and information on court scheduling. The community-based program returned a 100% appearance rate in immigration court at a fraction of the cost of detention. But in March 2025, the Trump administration abruptly dismantled the program, shortly before rewarding some of its largest campaign and inauguration contributors a record-breaking increase in immigration detention funding.

This lawsuit followed the government’s refusal to release public documents on the program’s effectiveness and the real reasons why the Trump administration ended it.

What is the legal argument in this case?

The Freedom of Information Act mandates that the government turn over public records to requestors within 20 days of a request. But when those records expose corruption or wrongdoing, the government often refuses to comply with the law, forcing requestors to file suit in federal court to seek production of public records.

What is the status of this case?

Currently pending before the district court in the Southern District of New York.

August 8, 2025

March 31, 2025