FOIA Electronic Reading Room

The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requires agencies to make various types of records available for public inspection in both paper and electronic form. These records are available through this page.

• For reports and publications relating to the Department’s mission and strategy, please visit About the Department of Homeland Security, which contains links to many of those documents.
• For reports and publications released by our components please visit their FOIA pages.

Questions on how to submit a FOIA request? (See "How to Submit a FOIA Request to the Department of Homeland Security.")

FOIA requests must be addressed to component(s) you believe houses the records sought. (See "Directing Requests to Proper Components.")

FOIA Improvement Plan

• Updated Status Report from DHS Regarding Deficiencies in Implementation of Executive Order 13,392, "Improving Agency Disclosure of Information", (PDF, 3 pages - 1.15 MB)
• Department of Homeland Security Backlog Reduction Goals for FY08, FY09, FY10 (PDF, 24 pages - 170 KB)
• Department of Homeland Security FOIA Improvement Plan, Revised (PDF, 45 pages - 351 KB)
• Department of Homeland Security FOIA Improvement Plan (PDF, 14 pages - 153 KB)

Frequently Requested

• Office of Inspector General FOIA Documents  
• Office of Inspector General Reports and Resources
• Privacy Office
  • Privacy Policy Guidance and Reports
  • Privacy Impact Assessments (PIAs)
  • Privacy Office Official Guidances
  • Systems of Records Notices (SORNs)
• US-VISIT Program Documents
• FOIA Management Directive (PDF, 7 pages – 23 KB) of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security

Department Directives and Instructions

• Directive 017-01, Historic Preservation in Asset Management, (PDF, 2 Pages, 37) KB)
• Directive 066-01, Safety and Health Programs, (PDF, 8 Pages, 74 KB)
• Directive 103-01, Enterprise Data Management Policy, (PDF, 3 Pages, 80 KB)
• Directive 112-01, Directives system, (PDF, 6 Pages, 64 KB)
• Directive 112-02, Gifts to the Department of Homeland Security, (PDF, 4 Pages, 48 KB)
• Instruction 112-03-001, Issuing Delegations of Authority, (PDF, 8 Pages, 144 KB)
• Directive 252-08, Maximum Age for Appointment to the Department of Homeland Security Customs and Border Protection Officer Positions (PDF, 3 pages, 32 KB)
• Instruction 077-02-001, Relations With the U.S. Government Accountability Office Implementation (PDF, 14 pages, 60 KB)
• Directive 077-02, Relations With the U.S. Government Accountability Office (PDF, 4 pages, 28 KB)
• Instruction 121-01-002, Issuance and Control of DHS Badges (PDF, 5 pages, 36 KB)
• Directive 250-01, Rotational Assignments (PDF, 7 pages, 44 KB)
• Directive 254-01, Volunteer Community Service (PDF, 4 pages, 40 KB)
• Directive 255-02, Employee Recognition (PDF, 4 pages, 40 KB)
• Directive 255-01, Honorary Awards (PDF, 3 pages, 32 KB)
• Directive 026-01, Care and Use of Animals in Research (PDF, 7 pages, 28 KB)
• Directive 125-02, Interagency Agreements (PDF, 5 pages, 70 KB)
• Instruction 121-01-001, Instruction for the Office of the Chief Security Officer (PDF, 10 pages, 88 KB)
• Directive 112-03, Delegations of Authority (PDF, 2 pages, 37 KB)
• Directive 084-01, Loaned Executive Program (PDF, 2 pages, 57 KB)
• Instruction 084-01-001, Private Sector Loaned Executive Program (PDF, 16 pages, 213 KB)
• Directive 121-01, Office of the Chief Security Officer (PDF, 3 pages, 40 KB)
• Directive 257-01, Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act, (PDF, 4 Pages, 51 KB)
• Instruction 257-01-001, Instruction Guide on the Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act, (PDF, 11 Pages, 72 KB)

FOIA Annual Reports

• FOIA Annual Report for 2007 (PDF, 94 pages - 1.48 MB)
• FOIA Annual Report for 2006 (PDF, 61 pages - 1.5 MB)
• FOIA Annual Report for 2005 (PDF, 40 pages - 1.9 MB)
• FOIA Annual Report for 2004 (PDF, 16 pages - 653 KB)
• FOIA Annual Report for 2003 (PDF, 13 pages - 702 KB)

See Also

• Homeland Security Component Agency FOIA Information
• FOIA Statutes and Resources
• About the Department of Homeland Security
• Reports Posted Pursuant to Federal Requirements