American Oversight v. CBP, No. 1:26-cv-00750 (D.D.C., filed Mar. 4, 2026)
In the wake of high-profile media coverage of excessive use of force by immigration officers, American Oversight filed suit against U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) seeking records related to the agency’s immigration enforcement operations, its legal justification for stops and searches, and its trainings on use of force and the Fourth Amendment.
CBP has faced increased scrutiny since January 2026, when two of its agents shot and killed Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old American intensive care nurse for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs in Minneapolis. The lawsuit comes amid mounting concerns about escalating federal immigration enforcement tactics. American Oversight sued the agency under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), requesting communications sent by former Border Patrol Chief Gregory Bovino during a specified time period, and all communications between Mr. Bovino and the White House during that period. CBP failed to respond to American Oversight’s original FOIA request, and American Oversight subsequently brought this suit to compel the agency to produce the requested records in the interest of public transparency.
Documents
Counsel: American Oversight
