Office of Information Governance and Privacy U.S. Department of Homeland Security 500 12th St., SW Washington, D.C. 20536 U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement January 3, 2020 Sara Creighton American Oversight 1030 15th Street NW Washington, DC 20005 RE: American Oversight v. ICE; 1:19-cv-00774 ICE FOIA Case Number 2019-ICLI-00043 Fourth Interim Release Dear Ms. Creighton: This letter is the fourth interim response to your client’s Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), dated March 20, 2019. Your FOIA request seeks the following: 2018-ICFO-62041 (Miller Communications) 1. All records reflecting communications (including emails, email attachments, voicemail transcripts, text messages, messages on messaging platforms (such as Slack, GChat or Google Hangouts, Lync, Skype, WhatsApp, Signal, or Twitter Direct Messages), telephone call logs, calendar invitations/entries, meeting notices, meeting agendas, informational material, talking points, any handwritten or electronic notes taken during any oral communications, summaries of any oral communications, or other materials) with or about Stephen Miller, including but not limited to communications containing the name “Stephen Miller” or email communications sent or forwarded to, received from, copying, or blind copying stephen.miller@who.eop.gov or s.miller@who.eop.gov. 2. All records reflecting communications (including emails, email attachments, voicemail transcripts, text messages, messages on messaging platforms (such as Slack, GChat or Google Hangouts, Lync, Skype, WhatsApp, Signal, or Twitter Direct Messages), telephone call logs, calendar invitations/entries, meeting notices, meeting agendas, informational material, talking points, any handwritten or electronic notes taken during any oral communications, summaries of any oral communications, or other materials) with or referencing the phone number “(202) 881-8641.” 3. All call logs showing incoming or outgoing calls to or from the phone number “(202) 881-8641.” www.ice.gov Page 2 of 3 2019-ICFO-02136 (Klingler Communications) 4. All records reflecting communications (including emails, email attachments, calendar invitations/entries) between the custodians listed below and McLaurine Klingler, Executive Assistant in the White House Office within the Executive Office of the President. ICE has considered your request under the FOIA, 5 U.S.C. § 552. For this interim production, a total of 512 pages were located and reviewed pursuant to a search of the Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO). Of those 512 pages, ICE determined that only 19 pages were responsive to your request. These pages are attached and have been marked 2019-ICLI-00043 533 to 2019-ICLI-0043 551. Upon review, ICE has determined that portions of the 55 pages will be withheld pursuant to Exemptions b(5), b(6), and b(7)(C) of the FOIA. ICE cannot confirm or deny the existence of records responsive to the portion of Item 1 of the request seeking email communications sent or forwarded to, received from, copying, or blind copying certain email addresses identified in the request. ICE also cannot confirm or deny the existence of records responsive to Items 2 or 3 of the request, seeking records of communications with or referencing a specific phone number identified in the request. FOIA Exemption 6, 5 U.S.C. § 552(b)(6), precludes us from either confirming or denying that such records exist. This response should not be construed as an admission that responsive records exist. With regard to the other portions of your request, ICE has applied the following FOIA exemptions. FOIA Exemption (b)(5) protects from public disclosure intra-agency documents that contain the recommendations, opinions, and conclusions of agency employees, and portions of the responsive documents which qualify for protection under the deliberative process privilege, the attorney-client privilege, and the attorney work-product privilege. FOIA Exemption (b)(5) protects from disclosure those inter- or intra-agency documents that are normally privileged in the civil discovery context. The three most frequently invoked privileges are the deliberative process privilege, the attorney work-product privilege, and the attorney-client privilege. After carefully reviewing the responsive documents, I have determined that portions of the responsive documents qualify for protection under the deliberative process privilege, the attorney-client privilege, or the attorney work-product privilege. The deliberative process privilege protects the integrity of the deliberative or decision-making processes within the agency by exempting from mandatory disclosure opinions, conclusions, and recommendations included within inter-agency or intra-agency memoranda or letters. The release of this internal information would discourage the expression of candid opinions and inhibit the free and frank exchange of information among agency personnel. The attorney work-product privilege protects documents and other memoranda prepared by an attorney in contemplation of litigation. The attorney-client privilege protects confidential communications between an attorney and his client relating to a legal matter for which the client has sought professional advice. It applies to facts divulged by a client to his attorney, and encompasses any opinions given by an attorney to his client based upon, and thus reflecting, those facts, as well as communications between attorneys that reflect client-supplied information. The attorney-client privilege is not limited to the context of litigation. Page 3 of 3 FOIA Exemption 6 exempts from disclosure information in personnel or medical files and similar files the release of which would cause a clearly unwarranted invasion of personal privacy. This requires a balancing of the public’s right to disclosure against the individual’s right to privacy. The privacy interests of the individuals in the records you have requested outweigh any minimal public interest in disclosure of the information. Any private interest you may have in that information does not factor into the aforementioned balancing test. FOIA Exemption 7(C) protects records or information compiled for law enforcement purposes when production of such could reasonably be expected to constitute an unwarranted invasion of personal privacy. This exemption takes particular note of the strong interests of individuals, whether they are suspects, witnesses, or investigators, in not being unwarrantably associated with alleged criminal activity. That interest extends to persons who are not only the subjects of the investigation, but those who may have their privacy invaded by having their identities and information about them revealed in connection with an investigation. Based upon the traditional recognition of strong privacy interests in law enforcement records, categorical withholding of information that identifies third parties in law enforcement records is ordinarily appropriate. If you have any questions about this letter, please contact Trial Attorney Josh Kolsky at (202) 305-7664. Sincerely, Fernando Pineiro, Jr. FOIA Officer, Acting Enclosure(s): 19 page(s) cc: Josh Kolsky Trial Attorney U.S. Department of Justice Civil Division, Federal Programs Branch joshua.kolsky@usdoj.gov From : Sent : To : Subject: Short, Tracy 5 Oct 2017 16:02:20 -0400 Homan, Thomas;Feere, Jon FW: Operation Janus Denaturalization and Fraud Identification Proj ect Funding Can we discuss this? 5 7 From: Miller, Stephen EOP/WHO [mailt tj.__ (b_)(_ _);_(b_)(_ _)(C_ )____ ___, Sent: Thursday, October 5, 2017 3:53 PM To: Zadrozny, John A. EOP/WHO; Wetmore, David H. EOP/WHO; Short, Tracy; Feere, Jon Cc: Homan, Thomas Subject: RE: Operation Janus Denaturalization and Fraud Identification Project Funding Thank you . ._l (b_)(_5_ ) _____ __. From : Zadrozny , John A. EOP/WHO Sent : Thursday, October 5, 2017 3:.,...4.........._ P.... M_.__-=-------------------. (b)(6); (b)(7)(C) r:-:C=:ac':'::l~ Cb.u:V~6c'::)·:=:'Cb~)~CZ .... ).... CC ..... )____ l(b)(6); (b)(7)(C) -,...__________ __,~ ; Mille r, Stephen EOP/WHO Subject: RE: Operation Janus Denatural izat ion and Fraud Identificat ion Proj ect Funding Adding Stephen. JZ,.,.,....,..,...,,.,.......,.,....,~.,....,,..,.-, w (b)(6); (b)(7)(C) c: From : Wetmore, David H. EOP/WHO Sent : Thursda October 5 2017 3 :47 PM To : b)(6); (b)(7)(C) b)(6); (b)(7)(C) r,;C"7c ;;::; b-;-)(7,"6 )-;; (;:;b)(-;::::-7 );-(C_ )_______________ 77 (b)(6); (b)(?)(C) ___J•;Zadrozny, John A. EOP/WHO Subject: Operation Janus Denaturalization and Fraud Identification Project Funding Tracy and John, (b)(5) DHS-ICE-18-0478 and DHS-ICE-18-0777-D-000001 (b )(5) Dave DA YID H. WETMORE Immigration Advisor Dome stic Policy Council Executive Office of the President W (b)(6); (b)(7)(C) DHS-ICE-18-0478 and DHS-ICE-18-0777-D-000002 From: Sent: Tn · M iller, Stephen EOP/WHO 1 Mar 20 18 20:25 :46 +0000 tb )(6)· (b)(7)(C) I (b)(6); (b)(7)(C) I b)(6); (b)(?)(C) b;Klingler, I Mclaurine E. EOP/WHO;l(b)(6); (b)(?)(C) b)(6); (b)(?)(C) I Jonlb )(6): (b)(7)(C) b)(6); (b)(7)(C) Cc: b)(6); (b)(7)(C) Subject: Attachment s: f eere, Kb)(6); (b)(?)(C) I Canceled : DPC/DOJ We ekly Immi grat ion Policy Me eting Canceled: DPC_ DOJ Week ly Immi grat ion Policy Me eting. em! DHS-ICE-18-0478 and DHS-ICE-18-0777-D-000003 r...... ..... )(_ From· 6 7 )=; (_ b)_( _)(_ C-,---------,------------------'I ) on behalf of Miller, Stephen EOP/WHO Sent: Thu 1 Mar 2018 20:25:46 +0000 b6;b7 C ·Klingler, (b)(6); (b)(7)(C) eere, b)(6); (b)( 7)(C) b )(6); (b )(7)( C ) Cc: (b)(6); (b)( 7)(C) Su Je ct: Att achment s: Importance : Cance e : DPC DOJ Wee y Im migration Po icy Meeting Canceled: DPC/DOJ Weekly Immigration Policy Meet ing Normal Sender J(b )(6); ,.. (P..... )(_._7)...._ (C..._ )..__ _____ .........., On-Behalf-Of: )(6); (b )(7)( C) Subject: Canceled: DPC/DOJ Weekly Immigration Policy Meeting Me ssage-Id: < 86090bb595fa483c94 7c543be3e5 l 4e9 @who.eop.gov > Rec!p!ent l(b )(6); (b )(7)(C) Rec1p1ent KL I ---------~ DHS-ICE-18-0478 and DHS-ICE-18-0777-D-000004 I l(b)(6); (b)(7)(C) on beha lf of Miller, Stephen EOP/WHO Thu, 1 Mar 2018 20:25:42 +0000 _____._ K'"""' b)-'(6-'-);-'(b-'--' )(--'7)-'-(C-'-) _________________ From: Sent: .-T_o_ : ____ _,I• Kb)(6); (b)(7)(C) ~lingler, Mclaurin e E. Kb)(6); (b)(7)(C) ,..,. /l II · -. II , _ (b)(6); (b)(7)(C) I I ~Feere, Jon.l(b)(6): (b)(7)(C) I (b)(6); (b)(7)(C) Cc: fb)(6); (b)(7)(C) I (b)(6); (b)(7)(C) Subject: Im portance : I Canceled: DPC/DOJ Weekly Immigration Policy Mee t ing High This meeting is canceled for tomor row - Stephen is traveling. DHS-ICE-18-0478 and DHS-ICE-18-0777-D-000005 From: Sent: To : Miller, Stephen EOP/WHO 29 Mar 2018 16:10:42 +0000 l(b)(6); (b)(7)(C) Kb)(6); (b)(7)(C) (b)(6); !Klingler, Mclaurine E. EOP/WHOj(b)(6); (b)(7)(C) fh )f 7 )f r.) I I I l(b )(6): (b )(7)(C) lfh )fn)· I IFeere Jonrb)(6)· (b )(7)(C) I b)(6); (b)(7)(C) Cc: Kb)(6); (b)(7)(C) EOP/WHO Subject: Attachments: I l(b)( 6 ): (b)( 7 )(C) I DPC/DOJWeekly Immigration Policy Meeting DPC_DOJWeek ly Imm igration Policy Meeting.em! DHS-ICE-18-0478 and DHS-ICE-18-0777-D-000006 From : Sent : To : (b)(6); (b)( 7)(C) pn behalf of Miller, Stephen EOP/WHO Thu, 29 Mar 2018 16:10:42 +0000 Kb)(6); (b)(7)( C) (b)(6); (b)(7)( C) (OJP);Klingler, Mclaurine E. EOP/WHO b)(6); (b)( 7)(C) (b)(6); (b )(7)( C) Subject: Importance: DPC/DOJWeekly Immigrat ion Policy Meeting Normal To clear up any confusion, tomorrow's meeting {3/30) is cancelled and next Friday's meeting (4/6) is on. Sorry about the mix up - have a great weekend! DHS-ICE-18-0478 and DHS-ICE-18-0777-D-000007 From: Miller, Stephen EOP/WHO Sent: To: b)(6); (b)(7)(C) ;Klingler, Mclaur ine E. (b)(6); (b)(7)(C) (b)(6); (b)(7)(C) Subject: Attachments : Feere, Jon ~~!~~\ DPC/DOJWeek ly Imm igration Policy Meet ing DPC_DOJWeek ly Imm igration Policy Meet ing.em! DHS-ICE-18-0478 and DHS-ICE-18-0777-D-000008 From: pn behalf ~b)(6); (b)(7)(C) of Miller , Stephen EOP/WHO Sent: Thu, 15 Mar 2018 20:10:24 +0000 To: lJect: Importance: r-- ~b)(6); (b)(7)(C) cance led: LJl'L/LJUJweeKly 1mm1grat1on l'ollcy Meeting High DHS-ICE-18-0478 and DHS-ICE-18-0777-D-000015 From: Sent: To : Miller, Stephen EOP/WHO 1 Mar 20 18 20:25 :42 +0000 Kb)(6); (b)(7)(C) Kb)(6); (b)(7)(C) !Zadrozny, John A. EOP/WHO;tb )(6); (b)(7)(C) (b)(6); (b)(7)(C) Mclaurine E. EOP/WHOl(b)(6); (b)(7)(C) k~b:.L.: )(~6)!.!.. ;~ (b~ )f~7)~rc~: ):-:-7i:\/"7\ff'\------.Jon;Cox,l(b)(6); (b)(7)(C) (b)(6); (b)(7)(C) Cc: ~b)(6); (b)(7)(C) Subject: Attachments : Importance : I I ~Klingler, I ___________ _.11F eere, tb )(6); (b)(7)(C) I Canceled : DPC/DOJ Wee kly Immigr at ion Policy Me eting Canceled: DPC_ DOJ Week ly Immi grat ion Policy Meeting. eml High DHS-ICE-18-0478 and DHS-ICE-18-0777-D-000016 From: Sent: To: Kb)(6); j(b)(6); (b)(?)(C) f n beha lf of Miller, Stephen EOP/WHO Thu 1 Mar 2018 20:25:42 +0000 (b)(6); (b)(7)(C) gadrozny, Jo'= n ..,.......,......,.,r"'ffTTr"T7'Tl r,;(b7, )(~6):-; (;;-b )~(7:;-:)(-;-:::C:-:-) -------------,f---_i b)(6); (b)(?)(C) c aunn e . b)(6); (b)(?)(C) eere, Jon;Cox, (b)(6); (b)(6); (b)(?)(C) Cc: b)(6): (b)(7)(C) (b)(6); (b)(?)(C) Su Ject: Impo rtance : Cance e : DPC DOJ Wee y Immigration Po icy M eet i ng High This me eting is cance led for tomor row - Stephen is travel in g. DHS-ICE-18-0478 and DHS-ICE-18-0777-D-000017 Miller, Stephen EOP/WHO 22 Feb 2018 19:04:44 +0000 Zadrozny, John A. EOP/WHOk~b-)(-6)-; (- b-)(-7)-(C-)--------~ From: Sent: To : ifh )(n)· (h)(7)(r,) b)(6); II,, -,,, _ , I !;Klingler, Mclaurine E. EOP/WHOl(b)(6); (b)(?)(C) rb V6)· (b)(7)(C \ (b)(6); (b)(?)(C) (b)(6); (b)(?)(C) Cc: b)(6); (b)(?)(C) Subject: Attachment s: feere, Jon;Cox,l(b)(6); (b)(?)(C) I I l(b)(6); (b)(7)(C) DPC/DOJWeekly Immigration Policy Meeting DPC_DOJWeek ly Imm igration Policy Meeting.em! I DHS-ICE-18-0478 and DHS-ICE-18-0777-D-000018 From : Sent : To : l Sent : Monday, May 14, 2018 6;-.:a :3=6~P~M~-----------. To: Miller, Stephen EOP/WHO ~b)(6); (b)(?)(C) Cc: Feere, Jon 1('b)(6): f> @ice.d hs.gov> Subject: Civil Fines and Penalties Stephen: (b )(5) Let us know what other questions you have. Regards, Tom (b)(5) AMERICA~ pVERSIGHT DHS-ICE-18-0478, 18-0777-E-000003 2019 -ICLl -000 43 554 Thomas Blank Chief of Staff U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement U.S. Department of Home land Security 202 73 b)(6): Cell 202 59 (b)(6) AMERICA~ pVERSIGHT DHS-ICE-18-0478, 18-0777-E-000004 2019-ICLl-00043 555 From : Sent: To: Subject: Attachments: Miller, Stephen EOP/WHO 13 May 2018 20:28:00 +0000 kb)(6): l@ice.dhs.gov .eml AMERICA~ pVERSIGHT DHS-ICE-18-0478, 18-0777-E-000005 2019-ICLl-00043 556 From: Sent: To : Subject: Importance: Miller, Stephen EOP/WHO Sun, 13 May 2018 20:28:00 +0000 j(b)(6); ~ice.dhs.gov Normal Please give me a call when you canj(b)(6); (b)(7)(C) I AMERICA~ pVERSIGHT DHS-ICE-18-0478, 18-0777-E-000006 2019-ICLl-00043 557 From: ~~ b_)(_6)_; (_b)_(7_)(C_)___________________ of Miller, Stephen EOP/WHO Sent: Mon, 14 May 2018 22:54:44 +0000 To: Blank, Thomas Cc: Feere, Jon Subject : RE: Civil Fines and Penalties Attachments : RE: Civil Fines and Penalties Importance : Normal ~p n behalf Sende r:l(b )(6); (b )(7)(C) Subject: RE: C ivil Fmes and Penalties Message-Id: b)(6); (b)( 7 )(C) Recipient: b 6 . ice.dhs.gov Recipient: (b )(6); ice.dhs.gov AMERICA~ pVERSIGHT DHS-ICE-18-0478, 18-0777-E-000007 2019-ICLl-00043 558 To: Miller, Stephen EOP/WHO 13 May 2018 20:29:43 +0000 Kb)(6); l@ice.dhs.gov Subject: Attachments: .eml From : Sent: AMERICA~ pVERSIGHT DHS-ICE-18-0478, 18-0777-E-000008 2019-ICLl-00043 559 From: ~fb_)(_6)_; (_b)_(7_)(_C_) -------------------~I of M iller, Stephen EOP/WHO Sent: Sun, 13 May 2018 20:29:43 +0000 To: l(~J(6J;_ __ ~ ice.dhs.gov Subject : Attachments: Importance : on behalf ATT0000l Normal Sender/(b )(6); (b )(7)(C) Subjecl: .----=--------------. Message-Id:l wrote: Stephen: (b)(5); (b)(6); (b)(7)(C) Tom Blank Thomas Blank Chief of Staff U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement U.S. Department of Homeland Security 202 732 Cell 202 ~.....,= (b)(5) Alternatively, we can plan for participation during the PSI. Thanks, Kb)(6); I AMERICA~ pVERSIGHT DHS-ICE-18-0478, 18-0777-E-000011 2019-ICLl-00043 562