By admin 
California Assemblymember Maggy Krell, D-Sacramento, is suing the Department of Homeland Security after the agency’s refusal to provide records regarding an attempted search of a Sacramento law firm last month by federal immigration agents.
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The lawsuit, filed last week in federal court, demands information on the incident which unfolded when multiple armed U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers arrived at the Morris Law Group office in North Natomas. One ICE agent entered the front lobby and reportedly requested to tour the office for beds.
The ICE agents were turned away multiple times after failing to provide a warrant, but remained in the parking lot for roughly 45 minutes. One ICE agent reportedly told a law firm employee that they could return at 3 a.m. and break windows to enter if they received follow-up orders.
The visit drew scrutiny from several local, state and federal elected leaders who questioned why ICE would try to search the office without a judicial warrant. Immigration law firm offices hold confidential information about clients and are regularly used as mailing addresses for people, especially victims of crimes.
In a Freedom of Information Act request sent last month, Krell requested all information, communications and records of the agents and agencies involved in the Aug. 14 operation.
Her lawsuit cites that ICE responded on Sept. 2, saying the request was “not sufficiently specific” for a “focused and reasonable search.” The agency also asked her to identify the “ICE directorate involved” as well as the office, unit, operation name or case number to narrow the record search.
Krell responded one week later by clarifying certain portions of her request, including the timeframe, the communications systems to be searched and providing eight specific search terms.
ICE “administratively closed” the request three days later and said, even with Krell’s clarifications, the agency could not identify which records should be searched. The agency further objected that the request required it to “identify personnel involved in the incident and then search those individuals’ devices and communication accounts,” the lawsuit alleges.
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Krell argues that the information ICE demanded is entirely within the agency’s own possession. There is no reasonable way for the public to know such information, she added.
The lawsuit asks that the federal court — Eastern District of California — demand the federal immigration agency to immediately comply with the records request.
“ICE is running roughshod over our constitutional rights,” Krell said on Wednesday. “I’m going to use every tool in my legal toolbox to pushback and protect Sacramento residents.”
DHS did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The agency has previously told The Sacramento Bee that ICE agents believed the law firm was a “target address” as it was listed as the address for undocumented immigrants. DHS also said the officers left after learning the location was a law firm, which has its name in large bold letters on both sides of the building.
California U.S. Sens. Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff sent their own letter last month to DHS demanding a federal investigation into the attempted search. The letter requested responses by Sept. 11, citing the serious allegations of the operation.
Padilla’s spokesperson Edgar Rodriguez said on Tuesday that DHS had not responded to the request.
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