This page will teach you how to submit a request for Department of Homeland Security (DHS) records. DHS receives and responds to more FOIA requests each year than any other U.S. Federal Agency.
As the DHS Chief FOIA Officer, the Chief Privacy Officer oversees the FOIA program and reports on performance. Learn more about the law that gives the public access to DHS records on our Policy and Compliance page.
Effective January 22, 2026, DHS is no longer accepting hard copy (mail) or emailed Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)/Privacy Act requests for DHS records. To ensure timely processing, you must submit your records request through https://www.foia.gov or one of the DHS FOIA portals. More information can be found on How to Make FOIA Requests.
Pursuant to 6 C.F.R. section 5.11, the Department of Homeland Security will begin charging fees on September 1, 2026, for the processing of FOIA requests seeking Administrative files through U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and requests seeking IDENT records through the DHS Office of Biometrics Identity Management (OBIM) where a timely determination has been made and no fee waiver has been granted.
FY 2026 DHS Received FOIA Requests | 657,000 |
**NOTE: The numbers shown above are only a snapshot in time and do not reflect live data.
Data is as of 5 January 2026
-
How to Make FOIA Requests
Learn how to submit a FOIA request or a Privacy Act request. Failure to submit all required information will result in delay or rejection of requests.
-
FOIA Policy & Compliance
The DHS Privacy Office issues the Department's FOIA regulations and policies.
-
FOIA Reports
The DHS Privacy Office published the Annual FOIA Report and the Chief FOIA Officer Report.
