Status of records request to DHS remains unclear, KTTC pushes for answers

WASHINGTON, D.C. (KTTC) – 120 days after submitting a federal data request to the Department of Homeland Security, KTTC remains in the dark about its current status.

In January, as part of our continuing coverage on the increased presence of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers in the North Star State, and in response to viewer feedback, KTTC began exploring the costs associated with Operation Metro Surge.

Early in the year, there were cost estimates floated by some news organizations and on social media, however, KTTC found nothing to verify any of the claims.

In an email to DHS’s public affairs office, dated Jan. 15, evening anchor Brock Bergey asked for any available financial figures from the federal government.

That same day, the department’s then assistant secretary for public affairs Tricia McLaughlin wrote, “Does Fox 9 intend to write a story on the billion-dollar price tag of benefits going toward illegal aliens in sanctuary cities? The cost of American lives saved is uncalculatable [sic].”

The January DHS response provided no dollar figure or any indication as to when one would be available for the public.

Additionally, there was the mention of “Fox 9.”

KTTC reached back out to DHS for clarification and received the same response with one edit. Instead of “Fox 9″ the text included mention of “Fox 47.”

Fox 47, KXLT, is KTTC’s sister station owned by Gray Media.

Bergey sent a follow-up email on Jan. 23. It went unanswered.

McLaughlin left the Trump administration in late-February.

Given the lack of responses, and no voluntary DHS information shared with us, KTTC filed a public records request for financial records related to ICE and Customs Border Patrol (CBP) expenses tied to the Minnesota immigration enforcement effort.

The submission was made on Feb. 25, with an automatic reply confirming receipt from DHS.

Our request came during the beginning of the partial shutdown at Homeland Security, due to stalled congressional funding. The shutdown ended on April 30.

Knowing the processing of records requests may have been impacted by the partial closure, KTTC refrained from reconnecting with DHS during the shutdown.

Then, on May 12, Bergey sent another email to the public affairs office.

It read, in part, “Can you please provide an explanation as to why there has been no communication in this regard to our request for public information and/or a timeframe as to when we can expect a response?”

A month passed with no reply and no movement on DHS’s online portal for data requests.

On June 19, Bergey reached out again. with no acknowledgment from Washington to-date.

According to the online portal, KTTC’s request is listed as “searching for records.” That status has remained the same since Feb. 25.

Homeland Security’s website notes that the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requires an agency to respond to requests within 20 business days.

DHS says it processes requests by date of receipt.

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