Office of Civil Rights and Civil Liberties 1/13/11 roundtable (DHS)
| Submitted | Oct. 21, 2011 |
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Communications
From: Jason Smathers
To Whom It May Concern:
This is a request under the Freedom of Information Act. I hereby request the following records:
On January 13, 2011, the Office of Civil Rights and Civil Liberties traveled to Los Angeles, CA for a regular roundtable meeting with diverse ethnic and religious communities and advocacy groups including representatives from the American Arab, Muslim, Sikh, Latino, Middle Eastern, South Asian, Asian Pacific, and Somali communities.
Regarding the above, I hereby request the following under the Freedom of Information Act:
1) A list of all persons present or invited to attend.
2) A video recording of the meeting/event. If a video recording was not made, an audio recording.
3) All slides or other audio/visual materials used in making presenations at this meeting/event.
4) All materials provided to participants such as handouts.
5) All notes, manuscripts or other aids used by any presenter to prepare or deliver any speech, remarks or other adress to the participants.
I also request that, if appropriate, fees be waived as I believe this request is in the public interest. The requested documents will be made available to the general public free of charge as part of the public information service at MuckRock.com, processed by a representative of the news media/press and is made in the process of news gathering and not for commercial usage.
In the event that fees cannot be waived, 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,
Jason Smathers
From: Department of Homeland Security
From: "Pineiro, Fernando" <Fernando.Pineiro@HQ.DHS.GOV>
Dear Mr. Smathers:
This is the electronic final response to your Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties (CRCL), dated October 21, 2011, and received by this office on October 24, 2011. You are seeking in regard to a CRCL roundtable meeting held January 13, 2011, a list of all persons present or invited to attend. 2) A video recording of the meeting/event. If a video recording was not made, an audio recording. 3) All slides or other audio/visual materials used in making presentations at this meeting/event. 4) All materials provided to participants such as handouts. 5) All notes, manuscripts or other aids used by any presenter to prepare or deliver any speech remarks or other address to the participants.
A search of CRCL for documents responsive to your request produced a total of 24 pages. As a result of discussion between agency personnel and my staff, as a matter of administrative discretion, I am releasing 24 pages. I have determined that 2 pages of the records are releasable in their entirety and 22 pages are partially releasable pursuant to Title 5 U.S.C. § 552 (b)(5) and (b)(6).
You have a right to appeal the above withholding determination. Should you wish to do so, you must send your appeal and a copy of this letter, within 60 days of the date of this letter, to: Associate General Counsel (General Law), U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Washington, D.C. 20528, following the procedures outlined in the DHS regulations at 6 C.F.R. § 5.9. Your envelope and letter should be marked "FOIA Appeal." Copies of the FOIA and DHS regulations are available at www.dhs.gov/foia.
The Office of Government Information Services (OGIS) also mediates disputes between FOIA requesters and Federal agencies as a non-exclusive alternative to litigation. If you are requesting access to your own records (which is considered a Privacy Act request), you should know that OGIS does not have the authority to handle requests made under the Privacy Act of 1974. If you wish to contact OGIS, you may email them at ogis@nara.gov or call 1-877-684-6448.
Provisions of the FOIA [AND PRIVACY ACT] allow us to recover part of the cost of complying with your request. In this instance, because the cost is below the $14 minimum, there is no charge. 6 CFR § 5.11(d)(4).
If you need to contact our office again about this matter, please refer to CRCL 12-004.
Sincerely,
Fernando Pineiro Jr.
FOIA Officer/Records Manager
Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties
Deparment of Homeland Security
O: 202-357-7672
C: 202-603-1098
Visit the DHS FOIA website <http://www.dhs.gov/foia>
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