FAC represents journalist Kate Morrissey in CPRA litigation against the City of San Diego to compel disclosure of records related to the presence of San Diego Police Department (SDPD) officers at immigration enforcement operations.
This case involves two incidents, one on July 2, 2025 and one on November 18, 2025, in which SDPD officers responded to the location of immigration enforcement actions. In each case, SDPD’s primary function appears to have been crowd control as community members protested the federal officers’ conduct. In the July incident, SDPD apparently made no arrests or detentions. In the November incident, SDPD detained one person suspected of assaulting a federal officer and handed him off to federal authorities for arrest and prosecution.
Morrissey asked the city to disclose all of its records related to both incidents, including call logs, body camera footage, and any other reports, emails, or other documents. The city disclosed call logs and certain emails and texts with some redactions, but despite a letter from FAC, it continues to withhold most of the requested records, relying primarily on the investigatory records exemption. That exemption does not cover everything law enforcement officers do. It applies to investigations of alleged crimes but not necessarily other police functions such as crowd control.
FAC is co-counseling this case with Gregory Pleasants and Shaffy Moeel, two experienced lawyers with backgrounds in CPRA litigation and immigration-related matters.
Press Release:
- San Diego Sued for Withholding Bodyworn Camera Footage and 911 Call Logs From ICE Operations (4/29/2026)
Legal Documents:
- Petition for Writ of Mandate 4/28/2026