Conservative group files suit over Biden-era documents related to Franklin County project

A conservative group with Pennsylvania ties filed suit Monday against the Department of Homeland Security arguing that the agency is ignoring two Freedom of Information Act requests launched during President Biden’s administration for documents related to an apparent immigration project in Franklin County.

The Center to Advance Security in America (CASA) filed the suit in the District of Columbia Monday, saying that DHS acknowledged the FOIA requests, but then stopped communicating about documents which, if they exist, CASA hopes will shed light on “millions of dollars for refugee resettlement paid to Scotland Campus in Franklin County, PA.”

The campus drew significant attention in the fall of 2024 given that immigration was one of the key issues still playing out in the presidential election.

In September, township supervisors said whatever the government’s purpose was, a refugee resettlement camp could not be the idea.

“Greene Township supervisors [said] they’d received inquiries from an Indiana-based company believed to be a potential federal contractor about whether zoning laws for that particular location would allow for migrant family members to be given transitional housing while they wait to be united or re-united with family they were separated from at the U.S.-Mexico border,” a report from WGAL said when the controversy first surfaced.

“That particular use, according to the township’s statement, would not be allowed, under the zoning requirements. On top of that, nothing has been actually proposed at this point,” the WGAL report went on to say.

The activity caught the eye of local lawmakers. Rep. Rob Kauffman (R – Franklin) and Sen. Doug Mastriano (R – Adams/Franklin) issued a joint statement applauding Greene Township’s “strict interpretation” of its zoning ordinances.

CASA filed FOIA requests on Sept. 19 and 26, according to its lawsuit.

“The people of Franklin County, Pennsylvania deserve transparency and answers regarding the Biden administration’s plan to house foreign migrants in their community.” said CASA Director James Fitzpatrick. “This lawsuit will force DHS to provide the records and communications regarding the planning of this facility, whether any vetting was planned, and the origination of the idea to locate these aliens in Pennsylvania – all of which was being withheld by Biden administration bureaucrats.”

Fitzpatrick is a Pennsylvania resident. DHS did not return a request for comment.

Update: This article was modified from the original publication to note that DHS did not return a request for comment.