FOIA Request Overview

Muslim Advocates, along with the American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois, filed several Freedom of Information Act requests regarding the so-called Countering Violent Extremism (“CVE”) program operating in Illinois. CVE programs are funded with federal grants and claim to identify the individuals in their community “at risk” of radicalization and violence – though the methods they use for doing so have been consistently debunked by every major research study done on these programs.

In reality, these programs unfairly target and discriminate against communities – particularly American Muslims. Concerns about CVE are intensified now as the Trump has administration has repeatedly expressed its desire for the program to focus solely on Muslims. Through these FOIA requests, Muslim Advocates seeks to hold Illinois agencies accountable for their actions by forcing transparency about what they are doing and who they are targeting.

Matter Details

Date filed: July 12, 2018
Status: Active.