Accessing Immigration Records
June 10, 2025
With U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (“ICE”) detentions occurring across the country and many communities on edge, journalists must navigate federal and state laws to report on immigration policy and related action.
Obtaining public records, however, has become a significant challenge. Federal agencies are preventing local entities from disclosing information. Records on arrests and criminal charges aren’t always provided. The names of those arrested are often kept secret. Data on how many detentions have occurred can be difficult to find. The federal Freedom of Information Act often is of little help.
So what can local reporters do to get the records they need?
Register for a free webinar June 26 from 12-1:30 p.m. hosted by the New England First Amendment Coalition & Nackey S. Loeb School of Communications
Click here to register
Featuring:
• Ellen Goodrich | Jack Nelson-Dow Jones Foundation Legal Fellow at the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press.
• Renee Griffin | Staff attorney at the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, where she oversees the Legal Hotline.
• Lau Guzmán | Reporter for New Hampshire Public Radio covering immigrant communities, housing, education and health.
• Jason Leopold | Senior investigative reporter at Bloomberg News and federal Freedom of Information Act expert.
Additional resources:
Immigration Reporting Legal Guide | Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press
Accessing Immigration Records
Accessing Immigration Proceedings
Covering Actions by Immigration Enforcement
State Public Record Law Tutorials
Federal Freedom of Information Act
Access to Court Records