American Civil Liberties Union Foundation v. Department of Homeland Security

**What Happened** The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) sued the Department of Homeland Security to get access to records from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). The ACLU wanted to see interview questions and answers from CBP's Juvenile Referral Program through a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request. CBP had provided some documents but blacked out (redacted) portions of interview materials, claiming they were exempt from disclosure under FOIA rules. **What the Court Decided** The court issued a mixed ruling in 2017. It partially agreed with both sides - granting some of the ACLU's requests while also supporting some of CBP's claims that certain information should remain redacted. The court found that some interview questions and answers could be released, but other portions could legally be kept secret under FOIA exemptions. **Why This Matters for Workers** This case shows how transparency laws like FOIA can help advocacy groups access information about government employment practices. When organizations can obtain records about how agencies conduct interviews and referral programs, it creates accountability for fair treatment of workers and job applicants in federal agencies.