About | HeinOnline Law Journal Library | HeinOnline Law Journal Library | HeinOnline

14 San Diego L. Rev. 42 (1976-1977)
The Nonpriority Program of the Immigration and Naturalization Service Goes Public: The Litigative Use of the Freedom of Information Act

handle is hein.journals/sanlr14 and id is 52 raw text is: The Nonpriority Program of the Immigration
and Naturalization Service Goes Public:
The Litigative Use of the Freedom of
Information Act *
LEON WILDES**
Had it not been for a certain rock musician and former Beatle
named John Lennon, an article on the nonpriority program might
never have been written. The research required a plaintiff willing
to patiently await the outcome of numerous administrative requests
for information and then to pursue a suit under the Freedom of
Information Act (FOIA).1 The entire program was so shrouded in
secrecy that a former District Director of the Immigration and
* The statistical study of the Immigration Service's nonpriority pro-
gram was previously published. Wildes, The NonprioritV Program of the
Immigration and Naturalization Service-A Measure of the Attorney Gen-
era's Concern for Aliens, 53 INTERPRn'r RELEASES 25 (1976).
** Leon Wildes, B.A., Yeshiva University; J.D. & LL.M., New York Uni-
versity School of Law; New York immigration attorney; past president of
the National Association of Immigration and Nationality Lawyers. He rep-
resented John Lennon and Yoko Ono in their five-year long battle with
the Immigration Service. The author wishes to acknowledge the contribu-
tion of Mr. David Grunblatt, a student at New York University Law School,
who assisted in the preparation of this article.
1. 5 U.S.C. § 552 (1974).

What Is HeinOnline?

HeinOnline is a subscription-based resource containing thousands of academic and legal journals from inception; complete coverage of government documents such as U.S. Statutes at Large, U.S. Code, Federal Register, Code of Federal Regulations, U.S. Reports, and much more. Documents are image-based, fully searchable PDFs with the authority of print combined with the accessibility of a user-friendly and powerful database. For more information, request a quote or trial for your organization below.



Short-term subscription options include 24 hours, 48 hours, or 1 week to HeinOnline.

Contact us for annual subscription options:

Already a HeinOnline Subscriber?

profiles profiles most