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Original Date Announced
March 21, 2025According to the New York Times and the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), the Trump administration told more than 100 staff members of DHS's Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties (CRCL) they would be put on leave for 60 days to find another job in the administration or be fired in May. CRCL investigated allegations of misconduct from migrants, their families, and the public, while also overseeing other DHS components like TSA and FEMA. Tricia McLaughlin, a DHS spokeswoman, said the decision was made to “streamline oversight to remove roadblocks to enforcement.”
The Trump administration has also effectively closed, by putting staff on leave, the Office of the Citizenship and Immigration Services Ombudsman (CIS Ombudsman), which helped individuals resolve issues with USCIS, as well as the Office of the Immigration Detention Ombudsman (OIDO), which provided oversight over immigration detention.
[Trump 2.0 ID #1634]
2025.03.21 Reported: Trump Fires Nearly the Entire Civil Rights Branch of DHS - NYT 2025.03.21 Reported: CIS Ombudsman, CRCL, OIDO Offices Closed - AILAEffective Date
March 21, 2025Subsequent Trump and Court Action(s)
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April 15, 2025
2025.04.15 Reported: Trump Admin Raids DHS Civil Rights Funds for His Anti-Immigrant Propaganda Ads - Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone reported that ads made by the Trump administration featuring Kristi Noem warning immigrants to leave the country or avoid coming to the U.S. were paid for, at least in part, from the budget of the now-defunct Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties.
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April 24, 2025
2025.04.24 Complaint - Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights et al v. DHS, Noem
Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights, Southern Border Communities Coalition, and Urban Justice Center filed a lawsuit in the D.C. District Court against DHS and Secretary Noem, challenging the shutdown of DHS’s Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, the USCIS Ombudsman, and the Office of the Immigration Detention Ombudsman. Plaintiffs allege that the shutdowns violate separation of powers, statutory requirements, and fail to comply with the Administrative Procedure Act because the closures were arbitrary, capricious, and contrary to law. The plaintiffs seek relief to restore the offices and resume their oversight functions. Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights v. DHS, No 1:25-cv-012 (D.D.C)
**Litigation entries are limited to initial complaints and major substantive rulings. For pleadings and additional information, use name and docket number to search Civil Rights Clearinghouse and CourtListener or visit Just Security Litigation Tracker**
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May 22, 2025
2025.05.22 Hemenway Declaration - Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights v. DHS
Troup Hemenway, the DHS Principal Deputy Chief of Staff and the Acting Officer for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties at DHS, stated in a declaration that DHS's three oversight offices would stay open, but with much-reduced staff (DHS will begin hiring for these roles):
1) USCIS Ombudsman: the head, a deputy, five to seven full-time employees, and an additional employee to write reports.
2) Office of the Immigration Detention Ombudsman: five to seven full-time employees.
3) Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties: the head, 20 full-time employees, and one employee to write reports.
The information was included in Hemenway's declaration in Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights v. DHS, No 1:25-cv-012 (D.D.C).
*see litigation note above*
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Current Status
NoneOriginal Trump Policy Status
Status: Reported In LitigationTrump Administration Action: Agency DirectiveSubject Matter: EnforcementAssociated or Derivative Policies
- January 20, 2025 Reported: DOJ Fires EOIR Career Leadership
- January 24, 2025 Trump fires HHS Inspector General
- February 14, 2025 Reported: DHS fires nearly 50 USCIS employees
- February 15, 2025 Reported: Justice Department Fired 20 Immigration Judges
Documents
Trump-Era Policy Documents
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Commentary
2025.05.26 Reported: DHS plans for skinny staffs at civil liberties, oversight offices - Federal News Network
Federal News Network reported that Troup Hemenway's declaration indicates a sharp cutting of staff. The USCIS Ombudsman's office used to have around 40 employees; the Office of the Immigration Detention Ombudsman used to employ around 100; and the Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties around 140 employees. The article notes that "[f]ollowing Hemenway’s declaration, Judge Ana Reyes on May 23 denied a motion from the civil rights groups for a temporary restraining order to halt the workforce cuts at the oversight offices."
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