A federal court has ruled against Joaquin Mario Valencia Trujillo in his attempt to obtain records from the U.S. Department of Treasury. The court determined that Trujillo's Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was misdirected and that the Treasury Department was not the appropriate agency to fulfill his request. This ruling affects Trujillo's efforts to clear his name regarding a drug investigation from 2000.
Trujillo, who is currently listed as a Specially Designated Narcotics Trafficker, sought various records related to a drug delivery investigation that took place over two decades ago. The court's decision is significant as it highlights the complexities involved in navigating federal records requests and the importance of directing such requests to the correct agencies.
Background
Joaquin Mario Valencia Trujillo filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Treasury and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) after his FOIA request was not fulfilled. Trujillo's request, submitted on March 14, 2025, sought 18 categories of records to support his claim of actual innocence regarding a drug delivery that occurred on May 1, 2000. He aimed to use these records in a future federal court motion.
After submitting his request, Trujillo received a response from the Treasury Department on May 19, 2025. The agency informed him that his request had been misdirected and that the records he sought might be available from CBP instead. Following an unsuccessful administrative appeal, Trujillo decided to take legal action in August 2025, claiming that the Treasury Department had failed to disclose the requested records in a timely manner.
The Ruling
On September 21, 2026, Judge Carl J. Nichols of the District Court for the District of Columbia granted the Treasury Department's motion for partial summary judgment. The court ruled that there was no genuine dispute regarding the facts of the case and that the Treasury Department was entitled to judgment as a matter of law. Judge Nichols stated, "No reasonable factfinder could determine that Treasury improperly withheld Trujillo's records."
The court explained that the records Trujillo requested were related to a U.S. Customs Service investigation that took place in 2000. However, the Customs Service was transferred to the Department of Homeland Security in 2003, making the Treasury Department no longer responsible for those records. The court noted, "Under these circumstances, it was reasonable for Treasury to conclude that the FOIA request had been misdirected."
Impact
This ruling has significant implications for individuals seeking records under the FOIA. It emphasizes the necessity of directing requests to the correct agency that possesses the records. The court's decision reinforces the idea that agencies are not obligated to retrieve or release documents they no longer control. This ruling may serve as a precedent for similar cases where requesters direct their inquiries to the wrong agency.
For Trujillo, the ruling means that he will not receive the records he sought from the Treasury Department. His ongoing status as a Specially Designated Narcotics Trafficker remains unchanged, and the court's decision does not address his claims of innocence regarding the 2000 investigation.
What's Next
Trujillo may have the option to appeal the court's ruling to a higher court. However, details regarding any potential appeal or related cases were not available in the court filing. The outcome of this case may influence how future FOIA requests are handled, particularly regarding jurisdiction and agency responsibilities.