By Debbie Smith
Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests serve a crucial function in revealing government information about significant immigration policy issues, as well as individual immigration cases. Without other means of discovery in immigration proceedings, FOIA requests are one of the few mechanisms for obtaining vital information from Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Executive Office of Immigration Review (EOIR) files. FOIA requests provide much-needed information that practitioners require prior to filing applications for immigration benefits – such as adjustment of status and naturalization – and in preparing for removal proceedings.