Department of State – FOIA F-2025-30280 – No Records Determination & Appeal Pending (Nov 2025)

F-2025-30280
Appeal Filed
⚡ EXPEDITED

Summary

OIA request F-2025-30280 sought the complete ACS case file and related internal records concerning consular handling of Sgt. Kelvin Blas, including memoranda, cables, database entries, and interoffice communications.

On November 25, 2025, the Department of State closed the request with a determination that no responsive records were located.

An administrative appeal was filed on November 27, 2025, challenging the adequacy of the search and the no-records determination. As of this posting, no appeal acknowledgment or tracking number has been received.

Procedural History & Updates

  • September 24, 2025 – FOIA request submitted seeking the complete ACS case file and related internal records, including memoranda, emails, cables, and database entries.
  • September 25, 2025 – Acknowledgment issued; request placed in the complex processing track; fee waiver denied.
  • November 21, 2025 – Status updated to “In Process.”
  • November 25, 2025 – Request closed with a determination that no responsive records were located.
  • November 27, 2025 – Administrative appeal filed challenging the adequacy of the search and no-records determination.
  • February 23, 2026 – Appeal acknowledgment still pending.
  • February 03, 2026 – Acknowledgement email sent to confirm they received the Appeal

Request Details

Agency Department of State
State Federal
Filed By Covenant for Forgotten Warriors (CFW)
Date Filed September 24, 2025
Statutory Deadline October 23, 2025

Document Types

FOIA Request

Investigation Campaigns

Kelvin Blas

Legal & Procedural Issues

Administrative Appeal Filed

Case Records

Original FOIA request - September 24, 2025
Released: September 24, 2025
Original FOIA Request - Requesting the complete American Citizen Services (ACS) case file maintained by U.S. Embassy Lomé concerning U.S. citizen and veteran Sergeant Kelvin Blas, whose U.S. passport was seized in Togo
Download PDF (76 KB)
Acknowledgment Letter – F-2025-30280 (Sept. 25, 2025)
Released: September 25, 2025
Department of State acknowledgment placing request in the complex processing track and denying fee waiver.
Department determination closing the request with a finding of no responsive records.
Download PDF (158 KB)
Administrative Appeal – F-2025-30280 (Nov. 27, 2025)
Released: November 27, 2025
Administrative appeal challenging the November 25, 2025 no-records determination and adequacy of the Department’s search.
Download PDF (47 KB)
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