WASHINGTON — The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is undertaking substantial reductions across several pivotal offices tasked with safeguarding civil rights as part of its broad jurisdiction. This move indicates that these offices were viewed as obstacles to implementing immigration enforcement.
In a Friday announcement, DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin stated that the department is initiating a “reduction in force” affecting three specific entities: the Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, the Office of the Immigration Detention Ombudsman, and the Office of the Citizenship and Immigration Services Ombudsman.
President Donald Trump has prioritized minimizing the size of the federal government as part of his policy agenda. Federal agencies were instructed to draft plans by March 13 that not only propose layoffs but also eliminate certain positions and consolidate existing programs.
Despite asserting Homeland Security’s dedication to civil rights protections, McLaughlin noted that these particular offices had become impediments to immigration enforcement. “These offices have impeded immigration enforcement by creating bureaucratic obstacles and opposing the core mission of DHS. Instead of aiding law enforcement endeavors, they often act as internal opponents that hinder operations,” she remarked.
The Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties was established through the Homeland Security Act of 2002. Its mission is to protect civil liberties within the department, which was created following the Sept. 11 attacks. The office handles numerous complaints annually related to the agency’s operations and suggests necessary modifications.
An independent entity within Homeland Security, the Office of the Immigration Detention Ombudsman, operates separately from Immigration and Customs Enforcement or Customs and Border Protection, ensuring that immigration detention facilities maintain safe and humane conditions.
Similarly independent, the Office of the Citizenship and Immigration Services Ombudsman is tasked with assisting individuals or businesses in resolving issues with the agency responsible for administering immigration benefits.
Democrats criticized these cutbacks, voicing concerns over potential drawbacks to transparency. Rep. Bennie G. Thompson of Mississippi, ranking Democrat on the House Committee on Homeland Security, stated, “With Trump’s sweeping dismissals within the DHS Civil Rights and Civil Liberties workforce, he is pre-emptively ensuring a lack of transparency or oversight of his extreme policy agenda.”
A staff member from the Civil Rights and Civil Liberties office, preferring anonymity to avoid potential repercussions, emphasized that the office’s responsibilities extend beyond immigration and border security. They investigate allegations pertaining to various units within Homeland Security, including sectors like the Transportation Safety Administration and the Federal Emergency Management Agency.