National Day Laborer Organizing Network v. United States Immigration & Customs Enforcement Agency

**Court Orders ICE to Release Worker Protection Document** The National Day Laborer Organizing Network sued the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency (ICE) to obtain an internal government memo from October 2011. The organization wanted to see this document through a Freedom of Information Act request, believing it contained important information about ICE policies that could affect day laborers and immigrant workers. ICE refused to release the memo, claiming it was protected by legal privileges that keep certain government communications private. The federal court sided with the workers' organization and ordered ICE to release the document. The judge found that ICE failed to prove the memo deserved special protection under attorney-client privilege or as an internal deliberation. More importantly, the court determined that the memo had likely become official agency policy, which means the public has a right to see it under freedom of information laws. **Why This Matters for Workers:** This ruling helps ensure transparency in government agencies that regulate workplaces and immigration enforcement. When worker advocacy groups can access government policy documents, they're better equipped to understand their rights, challenge unfair practices, and hold agencies accountable for policies that affect immigrant workers and day laborers.