Freedom of Information Act

The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) is a federal law that allows members of the public to request access to records and information held by the government. The FOIA was enacted in 1966 and is intended to promote transparency and accountability in government by giving citizens the right to access information about the activities of federal agencies. The FOIA applies to executive branch agencies and provides a mechanism for individuals to request records about a wide range of topics, including government operations, policies, and decisions. The government is required to disclose records unless they fall under one of the specific exemptions to the FOIA, such as information that is classified or that would invade personal privacy. The FOIA is an important tool for journalists, researchers, and members of the public who want to access information about the government.

New report exposes dramatic shortfall of visas for victims of trafficking – WGBH
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New report exposes dramatic shortfall of visas for victims of trafficking – WGBH

The federal government is making it hard for labor trafficking victims to get legal immigration status that allows them to remain in the United States without fear of deportation, according to a first-of-its-kind nationwide report from Boston University. “The findings of this report show that the T-visa system that is built on a goal of…

Trump White House Blocked Dozens of New Government Websites – Business Insider
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Trump White House Blocked Dozens of New Government Websites – Business Insider

Federal agencies asked the Trump White House to approve dozens of new “.gov” websites. But Trump officials rejected many of them, according to records obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request. In contrast, the Biden White House has approved almost all such website requests. Donald Trump’s White House blocked dozens of federal agencies from…

Some private contractors are accused of abusive labor practices on US military bases – NBC News
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Some private contractors are accused of abusive labor practices on US military bases – NBC News

Abdulla thought it was the opportunity of a lifetime. After struggling to find work in his home country of Bangladesh, he said a recruiter offered him a chance to work in a restaurant thousands of miles away in Kuwait City for the equivalent of $660 a month. There was a catch: He would have to…

Some private contractors are accused of abusive labor practices on U.S. military bases in Kuwait
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Some private contractors are accused of abusive labor practices on U.S. military bases in Kuwait

Mail Tribune, Medford, Ore. “Our taxpayer dollars are being used potentially to support forced labor and human trafficking, and that’s just unacceptable,” a U.S. government auditor said. Watch video here. By Molly Boigon, Andrew W. Lehren, Laura Strickler, Courtney Kube, Anna Schecter and Yousef H. Alshammari Abdulla thought it was the opportunity of a lifetime….

Alleged organ harvesting: Court to rule in Ukpo’s application Dec. 5
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Alleged organ harvesting: Court to rule in Ukpo’s application Dec. 5

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Ukpo, through his lawyer, Bamidele Igbinedion, had filed a motion on notice marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/984/202, urging the court to set aside the orders, directing some agencies of government and banks to release his biodata to Ekweremadu and his wife. Ukpo, who joined the Ekweremadus as applicants/respondents in the…

Why unions can’t ignore incarcerated workers
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Why unions can’t ignore incarcerated workers

An estimated two thirds of the more than one million prisoners in the United States today are incarcerated workers. With many prisoners earning less than a dollar an hour, and those who refuse to work often facing vicious retaliation in the form of punitive solitary confinement, labor exploitation is an important part of what makes…

Olivet Student's Desperate 911 Call Led to Federal Trafficking Probe – Newsweek
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Olivet Student's Desperate 911 Call Led to Federal Trafficking Probe – Newsweek

The federal investigation into Olivet University, an Evangelical Christian school facing multiple investigations, began after a 911 call from a woman who said she was being held prisoner on its campus in Anza, California, in 2018, current and former law enforcement officials said. The investigations that resulted from that 911 call are complicating Olivet’s efforts…