Trump Travel Ban: ACLU Of Georgia Sues For Records On Implementation

ATLANTA, GA — The Georgia chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union is one of 13 chapters nationwide that are suing the federal government demanding records related to the implementation of travel rules limiting immigration from six predominantly Muslim countries. The lawsuits were filed in federal district courts around the country.

The Atlanta-based chapter says the lawsuits target the United States Customs and Border Protection's implementation of the executive order. The ACLU says it resorted to the suits after seeking the records since Feb. 2 and not receiving adequate responses. In particular, the Georgia ACLU says it wants records related to the travel ban actions at Atlanta’s Hartsfield International Airport, where a number of travelers were detained and where thousands of people gathered in protest against the president’s actions. Trump’s Muslim bans also threaten Georgia’s economy, which depends on workers from around the world, the Georgia ACLU says in a news release.

Lawsuits were filed by ACLU chapters in Tucson, Atlanta, Baltimore, Boston, Chicago, Detroit, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, Portland, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle, and Tampa. (SIGN UP: Get Patch's Daily Newsletter and Real Time News Alerts. Or, if you have an iPhone, download the free Patch app.)

“Trump’s Muslim bans had an especially harmful impact here in Atlanta, where immigrants and refugees – who should have been welcomed with open arms – faced questioning and detention upon their arrival at Hartsfield airport,” said ACLU of Georgia Executive Director Andrea Young in a statement. “As a public entity, CBP answers to the people – and the people have a right to know how officials have implemented policies that caused so much disruption, uncertainty and anguish for our friends, neighbors and co-workers.”

The ACLU first sought this information through FOIA requests submitted two months ago. Since the government has failed to substantively respond, the ACLU is now suing, leaders said.

"CBP has a long history of ignoring its obligations under the federal Freedom of Information Act - a law that was enacted to ensure that Americans have timely access to information of pressing public concern. The public has a right to know how federal immigration officials have handled the implementation of the Muslim bans, especially after multiple federal courts have blocked various aspects of these executive orders," said Mitra Ebadolahi, Border Litigation Project Staff Attorney with the ACLU of San Diego and Imperial Counties.

Among the records being sought are:

• The total number of individuals who remain detained or subject to secondary screening, extended questioning, an enforcement examination, or consideration for a waiver;
• The total number of individuals who have been detained or subjected to secondary screening, extended questioning, an enforcement examination, or consideration for a waiver for any length of time;
• Records containing the "guidance" that was "provided to DHS field personnel" shortly after President Trump signed the Executive Order;
• Records that show the number of individuals who have arrived at the airport since January 27 with valid visas or green cards who subsequently agreed voluntarily to return, and the number of individuals who have been removed from the airport since January 27; and
• Records concerning the number of individuals who have been removed from January 27 to date.

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