Department of State – FOIA F-2025-28917 – Supplemental Consular Records Request (Sept 17, 2025)

F-2025-28917
Appeal Filed
⚡ EXPEDITED

Summary

On September 17, 2025, Covenant for Forgotten Warriors submitted FOIA request F-2025-28917 via FOIA.gov to supplement a previously filed August 4, 2025 email request that had not received acknowledgment.

The request sought communications and records concerning U.S. citizen Kelvin Blas, including internal embassy communications, consular case file materials, interagency correspondence, incident logs, and case status updates from January 1, 2020 to present.

The records released by the Department consist primarily of selected email correspondence and Welfare and Whereabouts Service summaries. The production does not include escalation tracking logs, comprehensive internal memoranda, or broader interoffice coordination records described in the original request.

On December 8, 2025, an administrative appeal was filed challenging the adequacy of the Department’s search and the scope of the production. The appeal asserts that the records released consisted primarily of the requester’s own correspondence and did not include the broader internal communications and case documentation described in the original request.

On December 8, 2025, a follow-up submission raising concerns about inaccuracies in the Welfare and Whereabouts Service Summary was assigned a new tracking number (F-2026-05989) and later administratively closed as duplicative.

Procedural History & Updates

  • September 17, 2025 – Original FOIA Request
  • December 3, 2025 – Final Determination – Partial Release
  • December 3, 2025 – Responsive Records – 20 Pages – Redacted
  • December 8, 2025 – Appeal Email
  • December 8, 2025 – Administrative Appeal Letter

Request Details

State Federal
Filed By Covenant for Forgotten Warriors (CFW)
Date Filed September 17, 2025
Statutory Deadline October 15, 2025

Investigation Campaigns

Kelvin Blas

Case Records

Original FOIA Request – Supplemental Consular Records (Sept 17, 2025)
Released: September 17, 2025
FOIA.gov submission supplementing an August 4, 2025 email request, seeking Embassy Lomé and Bureau of Consular Affairs records concerning Kelvin Blas from January 1, 2020 to present.
Download PDF (25 KB)
Final Determination Letter – Partial Release (Dec 3, 2025)
Released: December 5, 2025
Department of State final response to FOIA request F-2025-28917 stating that 6 records totaling 20 pages were located. The Department released 20 pages in part and withheld portions under 5 U.S.C. § 552(b)(6) (personal privacy). The letter closes the request and provides appeal rights.
Download PDF (109 KB)
Responsive Records – Released in Part (Redacted) (20 Pages)
Released: December 5, 2025
Records released in response to FOIA request F-2025-28917, consisting primarily of Embassy Lomé email correspondence (2020–2025) and Welfare and Whereabouts Service summaries concerning Kelvin Blas. Portions withheld under Exemption (b)(6).
Download PDF (2 MB)
Email – Administrative Appeal Submitted (Dec 8, 2025)
Released: December 8, 2025
Email to [email protected]
transmitting the administrative appeal of the December 3, 2025 final response to FOIA request F-2025-28917. The email asserts that the production was inadequate in scope and accuracy and requests a comprehensive search using correct identifying information
Download PDF (61 KB)
Administrative Appeal – Inadequate Search and Improper Withholdings (Dec 8, 2025)
Released: December 8, 2025
Formal administrative appeal of the Department of State’s December 3, 2025 final determination for FOIA request F-2025-28917. The appeal challenges the adequacy of the search, the limited production of records, factual inaccuracies within the Welfare and Whereabouts Service Summary, and redactions applied under 5 U.S.C. § 552(b)(6). The appeal requests a comprehensive search of Embassy Lomé, Bureau of Consular Affairs systems, cable databases, and interagency correspondence.
Download PDF (152 KB)
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