FOIA Support Services

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Privacy Office (PRIV), Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Office is responsible for administering the provisions of the FOIA and the disclosure provisions of the Privacy Act (PA) at DHS Headquarters (HQ) and providing policy and programmatic advice and guidance to HQ offices and Components. Pursuant to the FOIA, individuals may request copies of records or information that is maintained by the government. The mission of the FOIA office under the FOIA Act is to allow any person the right to maximum disclosure of DHS agency records, and to respond to these requests in a timely manner. Pursuant to the PA, individuals may request copies of records or information about themselves that is maintained within a government agency’s system of records. The DHS HQFOIA Office receives such requests, facilitates the search for the records or information being requested, processes the records and information pursuant to the FOIA and PA, and ultimately determines what information can be released and which records may be withheld in response to the request.