Initial Request

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0005502595
• Release Decision: IPPUB U
• Document Page Count: 5
• Document Creation Date: June 24, 2015
• Document Release Date: April 12, 2011
• Case Number: F-2010-01901
• Publication Date: February 2, 2010

(b)(3)
(b)(6)
~CentraIrlntellig~nce Agency
FrVashirzgton, I)C 20505
APPROVED FOR RELEASE^ DATE:
03-01-2011
This is a very belated response -for which I apologize profizsely - to your
letter of August 20, 2009 [which I attach] concerning my F?IA request re
.Joaquin Sanjenis.
I received, and had intended. to respohd~totheletter, when some serious
personal matters intervened and;-as a result, I forgot about the issue until I
:recently came'across your letter~againin going throughsomefites. In it, I
see I already owed you $13.50, for which you will find a check enclosed.
', ~'ou note that~45 days from the date of your Ietteryou will terminate the
prone"sling of riiy request, but I now wish to ask that my original request be
re-actwated and, in~addition to the check enclosed, as a "commercial"
requester,-I agree to pay a further X250.00, or X200 above the original X50 I
had agreed to. [the request is for a book which I am researching]
Per your letter of August 2.0, 2009, suggesting that I might want to write
the National Archives and Records Administration - which I will do shortly
- and suggest I look on the Internet website, httpefoia.cia.gov., which I have
done, but found nothing regarding Joaquin Sanjenis and AMC)T, the Cuban
exile intelligence unit which he headed in IVliami in the 1.960s.
 This acknowledgesreceipt of your 6 May 2009 letter wherein you provided us with
additional information regarding 3oaquin Sanjenis Perdomo that we had requested on 24 April
2Q09 concerning yom~ 2 February 2009 Freedorri of Information Act (FOIA) request for
documents/records pertaining to, 3oaquin Sanjenis, Joaquin Sanjenis Perdomo and
?peration 40.
For your information, the CTA maintains a database of previously released documents
which contains copies of documents released over fhe years to thousands of other FOIA requesters.
Wo have conducted a search of that system and have enclosed 11 documents consisting of 135
pages which mention the subjects of your request. The doeumentswere originally located and
released as a result of searches conducted on behalf of other requesters on various subjects and as
Please be advised that this Agency has rusticated a program of systematic review and
release of historically valuable records pertaining to intelligence activities under the provisions of
Executive Order 12958. The Bay of Pigs episode is currently the subject of such a review. In fact,
the first group of records consisting of more than 3,000 pages of material was recently declassified
and made available to the public through the National Archives and Records Administration
(NARA) and also placed on the Internet. The Internet site also includes previously released
records.
` This process will continue with more incremental releases in the future. You may also
wish to write to National Archives and Records Administration at the following address:
liJr. David 3, Mengel; Chief
Special ticcesslF?lA Staff
ISoom 6350
'Fhe 19Tational Archives at College Park
~6Q1 Adelplaii2oad
College Park, MI9 B074Q-6001
Alternatively, these records may be viewed at our World Wide Web site on the Internet. If
you do not have access through a personal computer, access to the Internet is available at many
public Libraries, Our Internet Website may be found at http:/lFVww,foia,eia.gov.
 With regard to other records on the 13ay of Pigs episode, please be advised that such
records reside in operational files that are exempt frpm fhe Freedom of Information Act by the
provisions of the CIA Information Act, 50 U.S.C. ? 431. Z'he pertinent section of the CIA
Information Act defines "operational files" as tnter alia,
"files of the Directorate ?# ?Iseratioats which rlocn~ent the c?ndnct m#' foseigea
Intelligence or conreterintelligence ogaera4lons of intelligence or security liaison
arrangememts or isxfoxmatlon exchanges with #areign gowerna~~nts oY theLr
intelligence or secaarity services."
This statute means that such files are not subjectto the search, review, and disclosure provision of
the FOIA. Stated differently, requests that seek records contained in such files most often receive a
"no records" response because, in point of fact, there are no records subject to the FQTA.
As we advised m our letter dated 24 Aprd 2009, we cansearch forreooYds?rasponsiveto
your request but we will require your agreement to pay ` ommetcial" requester as
outlined in that letter. Since you initially agreed fo pa $50.00, e have enclosed the material
referred to above for a total cost to you of $13.50. The cost of these documents will be taken into
consideration once the processing of your request has been completed. At that time, we wiIl ask
you to make your check payable to the Treasurer of the United States. Should you choose not to
proceed with the processing of your request, please send a cheek or money order citing reference
number F-2009-00621 to ensure proper credit to your account. ~,.
We wlll hold your request in abeyance for 45 days from the date of this Letter pending
receipt of your agreement to pay all fees in the processing of your request. If we do not hear fxom
you within that timeframe, we will close your request.
Delores M. Nelson
Information and Privacy Coordinator