Detention of, and use of force against, Black Lives Matter protesters by DHS agents in Portland, Oregon

Submitted on Monday, July 20, 2020 - 00:35
Submitted by user: Anonymous
Submitted values are:

Select the DHS component you wish to submit your request to: : Office of
Inspector General (OIG)
Title:
First Name: Christopher
Middle Initial:
Last Name: Tidmarsh
Suffix:
Email Address: requests@muckrock.com
Country: United States
Address 1: MuckRock News DEPT MR 98386
Address 2: 411A Highland Ave
City: Somerville
State: Massachusetts
Zip Code: 02144
Telephone Number: 617-299-1832
Fax Number:
Are you requesting records on yourself? No
If yes, you must check the perjury statement:
By initialing here you are providing your electronic signature.:
Please describe the records you are seeking as clearly and precisely as
possible:
To Whom It May Concern:

Pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act, I hereby request the following
records:

1. All significant incident reports (SIRs) and significant event
notifications (SENs) to date regarding the use of federal law enforcement
agents to detain protesters or use force against protesters attending Black
Lives Matter demonstrations in Portland, Oregon, in July 2020;

2. All communication to date with Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
agency components regarding the use of federal law enforcement agents to
detain protesters or use force against protesters attending Black Lives
Matter demonstrations in Portland, Oregon, in July 2020;

3. All follow-up communications to date from the Department of Homeland
Security Office of the Inspector General (OIG) to any DHS agency component or
Congressional liaisons regarding the use of federal law enforcement agents to
detain protesters or use force against protesters attending Black Lives
Matter demonstrations in Portland, Oregon, in July 2020;

4. All communications to date between OIG and subject-matter experts
regarding the use of federal law enforcement agents to detain protesters or
use force against protesters attending Black Lives Matter demonstrations in
Portland, Oregon, in July 2020;

5. All completed drafts and forthcoming management alerts or reports on the
the use of federal law enforcement agents to detain protesters or use force
against protesters attending Black Lives Matter demonstrations in Portland,
Oregon, in July 2020.

BACKGROUND:

In mid-July 2020, federal law enforcement agents, specifically agents working
for the DHS and/or Customs and Border Protection, were reported to have
detained protesters, including peaceful protesters, who had attended a Black
Lives Matter rally in Portland, Oregon. A demonstrator named Mark Pettibone
told the Washington Post about one such incident that happened to him. As Mr.
Pettibone was walking back home from a peaceful Black Lives Matter
demonstration, several unmarked and unidentified federal agents stopped him,
detained him, and searched him. They took him to the federal courthouse and
placed him in a holding cell. They read him his Miranda rights and asked him
if he would waive his Miranda rights in order to speak to him, and he
refused. Soon afterwards, he was suddenly released.

On a separate occasion, a federal officer in Portland, Oregon shot a
less-than-lethal round into a crowd of Black Lives Matter protesters. One of
the protesters, Donavan LaBella, suffered a skull fracture, and as a result
of this injury, he required facial reconstruction surgery.

Source:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2020/07/17/portland-protests-federal-arrests/

I ask that all fees for this FOIA request be waived because it is in the
public's interest to know whether or not the OIG is taking steps to hold the
DHS accountable for any potentially unconstitutional actions against U.S.
citizens, and whether the OIG is working to ensure that the DHS does not
repeat similar violations of U.S. citizens' constitutional rights in the
future.

The requested documents will be made available to the general public, and
this request is not being made for commercial purposes.

In the event that there are fees, I would be grateful if you would inform me
of the total charges in advance of fulfilling my request. I would prefer the
request filled electronically, by e-mail attachment if available or CD-ROM if
not.

Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation in this matter. I look
forward to receiving your response to this request within 20 business days,
as the statute requires.

Sincerely,

Christopher Tidmarsh

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I am willing to pay fees for this request up to the amount of: $: 25
Select from the list below: A representative of the news media seeking
information as part of a news gathering effort and not for commercial use.
I request a waiver of all fees for this request.: I request a waiver of all
fees for this request.
Please provide an explanation for your request for a fee waiver:
I ask that all fees for this FOIA request be waived because it is in the
public's interest to know whether or not the OIG is taking steps to hold the
DHS accountable for any potentially unconstitutional actions against U.S.
citizens, and whether the OIG is working to ensure that the DHS does not
repeat similar violations of U.S. citizens' constitutional rights in the
future.

The requested documents will be made available to the general public, and
this request is not being made for commercial purposes.
Please select and describe in detail if you believe your request warrants
expeditious handling:
Please provide information to support your selection:

Good afternoon,

Please submit the FOIA request number assigned to the request as we have not located a record on or received the emails.

Sincerely,

DHS OIG FOIA Team

Good Morning,
Please find attached, correspondence related to the above-referenced request.
Thank you,
DHS OIG FOIA Team

Good Morning,
The above-referenced request remains in the records search phase. You may receive a response by April 2024.
Thank you,
DHS OIG FOIA Team