The Department of Homeland Security is reducing the staffing levels of three key offices responsible for overseeing civil rights protections as part of its broader mission, suggesting that they were obstructing immigration enforcement efforts. Department spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin announced on Friday the implementation of a “reduction in force” for 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 emphasized downsizing the federal government as a significant policy objective. Federal agencies were instructed to submit plans by March 13 to not only lay off employees but also eliminate positions and consolidate programs. The New York Times first reported on the DHS developments. McLaughlin stated that while Homeland Security is dedicated to upholding civil rights protections, these offices were impeding immigration enforcement efforts. She explained that these offices have hindered immigration enforcement by creating bureaucratic obstacles and undermining the department’s mission, acting as internal adversaries that slow down operations rather than supporting law enforcement efforts. The Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties was established by the Homeland Security Act of 2002 following the September 11 attacks to safeguard civil liberties within the department. It investigates numerous complaints each year related to the agency’s mission and provides recommendations for necessary changes. The Office of the Immigration Detention Ombudsman is an independent office within Homeland Security tasked with ensuring the safety and humanity of immigration detention facilities. The Office of the Citizenship and Immigration Services Ombudsman is another independent office responsible for assisting individuals and businesses in resolving issues with the agency overseeing immigration benefits. Democrats criticized the actions, expressing concerns that they would diminish transparency. Representative Bennie G. Thompson of Mississippi, the leading Democrat on the House Committee on Homeland Security, accused Trump of preemptively eliminating transparency and oversight of his extreme agenda by dismissing the entire DHS Civil Rights and Civil Liberties workforce. A staff member from the Civil Rights and Civil Liberties office, who requested anonymity for fear of reprisal, emphasized that the office’s scope extends beyond immigration and border security, investigating allegations across various departments of Homeland Security, including the Transportation Safety Administration and the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
