Catholic Vote has issued the following press release:

MADISON, WI – CatholicVote, along with Judicial Watch, filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) lawsuit against the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) for failing to respond to a FOIA request submitted in September of 2021.

"The Biden administration has refused to provide copies of communications between Catholic-affiliated charities and organizations at the border. Their lack of transparency and obstruction forced us to file these federal lawsuits. American Catholics deserve to know the full extent of the U.S. government's role in funding and coordinating with Catholic church affiliated agencies at the border, and what role these agencies played in the record surge of illegal immigrants over the past year. We will do whatever is necessary to uncover the truth," said Brian Burch, president of CatholicVote.

The first FOIA request to DHS includes:

All communications between the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol and any of the following:

1. The Diocese of Brownsville (San Juan, Texas)

2. Bishop Daniel E. Flores in his capacity as Bishop of the Diocese of Brownsville, Texas

3. Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley (“CCRGV”)

4. Sister Norma Pimentel in her capacity as the Executive Director of CCRGV

5. The Humanitarian Respite Center in McAllen, Texas.

The second FOIA request to HHS includes:

All communications between the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol and the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops regarding the following:

1. Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley (“CCRGV”)

2. Sister Norma Pimentel in her capacity as the Executive Director of CCRGV

3. the Humanitarian Respite Center in McAllen, Texas

Contact: Matille Thebolt mthebolt@crcadvisors.com or Drew Mueller dmueller@crcadvisors.com

CatholicVote.org is a national faith-based advocacy organization, organized by faithful Catholic laity in full communion with the teachings of the Church,

yet does not claim to speak for any individual bishop or the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.