Before filing for a green card, citizenship, a waiver or a visa through Ciudad Juárez, you need to know exactly what the government already has on you. In a border city like El Paso, that history is often complicated: an entry with a border crossing card decades ago, a voluntary return at the bridge as a teenager, an old application a notario filed that you never saw, or a court hearing a parent attended on your behalf. A Freedom of Information Act request pulls your complete file, called the A-file, and related records so that every answer on your next form is consistent with what the officer will see on their screen.
FOIA requests are made under 5 U.S.C. § 552, and requests for your own records are also processed under the Privacy Act. Each agency holds different pieces: USCIS keeps the A-file with every petition, application and decision, requested through its online FIRST system or on Form G-639; U.S. Customs and Border Protection holds entry and exit records, I-94 history, and records of expedited removals and voluntary returns at ports of entry; U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement holds detention and enforcement records; and the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) holds immigration court files, including any removal order. A complete picture often requires requests to two or three agencies at once.
A FOIA request is purely administrative: no court, no interview, no appearance of any kind. You sign a verification of identity and we submit the request electronically; the records arrive by download or on a disc. The value of doing this with a lawyer is in the review. Files often run hundreds of pages, are partly redacted, and contain codes and abbreviations that mean nothing to most people but everything to an immigration officer. We read the file, flag anything that creates a bar, a waiver requirement or a disclosure obligation, and tell you which path forward is safe. For many El Paso clients, the FOIA result is what turns a risky plan into a solid one.
Which agency to ask, and what you get back
From USCIS you receive the A-file: prior applications, approvals, denials, interview notes, sworn statements and copies of documents you or a family member submitted. From CBP you receive entry and exit data, I-94 records, and any record of being turned away, given a voluntary return or expedited removal at the El Paso or other ports of entry. From EOIR you receive the record of proceedings, including the notice to appear, hearing recordings and orders. ICE records cover arrests, detention and prior removals. We choose the agencies based on your history and file the requests in parallel.
Who should request their file before applying
We recommend a FOIA request for anyone who has ever been stopped at the border or by Border Patrol, was brought to the U.S. as a child and does not know how, had a previous application filed by someone else, is unsure whether a court ever ordered them removed, is preparing an I-601A waiver or a Juárez consular case, or is applying for naturalization with a long history of trips to Mexico. Green card holders with an old arrest should also request their file before filing an N-400. The cost of the request is small compared with the cost of an application built on a wrong assumption.
What's included
- Consultation to determine which agencies (USCIS, CBP, ICE, EOIR) hold records relevant to your goal
- Preparation and electronic submission of each FOIA or Privacy Act request with the required identity verification
- Request for expedited processing when you have a pending case or deadline that qualifies
- Tracking of each request and follow-up on delayed responses
- Attorney review of the complete file with a written summary of what it contains
- A follow-up meeting in El Paso to explain how the records affect your immigration options
How it works
Consultation and identity verification
We discuss what you remember about your immigration history and what you are trying to accomplish, decide which agencies to ask, and have you sign the identity verification each agency requires. The flat fee is quoted here.
We file and track the requests
We submit the requests through USCIS FIRST, the CBP FOIA portal and EOIR or ICE as needed, request expedited handling if you qualify, and monitor each one until the records are released.
Attorney review and next steps
We read the full file, summarize it in plain language, and meet with you to explain what it means for a green card, waiver, citizenship or consular case. You leave knowing exactly which path is safe.