March 10, 2015 | Case

Edward “Bud” Tuffly v. U. S. Department of Homeland Security (No.2:15-cv-00067)

On January 15, 2015, Judicial Watch filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) lawsuit on behalf of Edward “Bud” Tuffly II, a concerned citizen and former Border Patrol agent, against the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to obtain records regarding the release of thousands of illegal aliens allegedly in anticipation of “sequestration” budget cuts. This lawsuit seeks information regarding criminal aliens released from facilities in Pinal County, AZ.

Judicial Watch and Tuffly filed the suit after DHS failed to respond to a November 10, 2014, FOIA request made by Tuffly with U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) seeking the following information:

• Records sufficient to identify all ICE detainees released in late February or early March 2013 from the following detention facilities due to alleged fiscal or budget uncertainty: (a) Central Arizona Correctional Center in Florence, Arizona: (b) Eloy Detention Center in Eloy, Arizona; (c) Florence Correctional Center in Florence, Arizona; (d) Florence SPC in Florence, Arizona; and (e) Pinal County Adult Detention Center in Florence, Arizona.

• For each detainee identified in response to Request No.1, the I-213 form(s) documenting the detainee’s arrest.

• For each detainee identified in response to Request No.1, records sufficient to identify: (a) the date the detainee was released; (b) the facility from which the detainee was released; (c) the detainee’s criminal history or criminal charges at the time of release; (d) methods of supervision to which the detainee was subjected; and (e) whether the detainee appeared for subsequent removal or other proceedings and/or was removed from the United States.