SILVER SPRING, Maryland – On Friday, March 21, 2025, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) abruptly closed three critical offices: the Citizenship and Immigration Services Ombudsman, the Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties (CRCL), and the Office of the Immigration Detention Ombudsman. These closures, made without public input, strip vital safeguards from the immigration system, leaving countless individuals without avenues within DHS to report abuses, seek redress, and navigate systemic challenges. Although reports can still be filed via congressional inquiries, and lawsuits can be filed, these closures create additional burdens for immigrants to advocate for their rights.

"These offices have played a crucial role in ensuring fairness, accountability, and transparency within the immigration system," said Anna Gallagher, executive director at CLINIC. "For years, our legal practitioners have worked closely with these offices to assist immigrants and U.S. residents seeking justice. Their elimination weakens oversight at a time when it is needed most."

DHS's justification for the closures is equally troubling. A DHS spokesperson suggested that these offices hindered immigration enforcement, despite the fact that agencies like USCIS are not meant to serve as enforcement arms of DHS. This statement raises serious concerns about the government's commitment to due process and humane treatment of migrants within the immigration system.

CLINIC has witnessed firsthand how these oversight bodies have corrected injustices in cases that would have otherwise gone unaddressed. "We have seen numerous cases that were unfairly adjudicated, later reviewed by these offices, and ultimately resulted in justice being served," said Karen Sullivan, director of advocacy at CLINIC. "Their careful oversight can change — and even save — lives, particularly for those in immigration detention."

By removing these essential watchdog entities, DHS undermines public confidence in the government's ability to uphold civil rights and due process. The abrupt nature of this decision leaves stakeholders and individuals with pending cases in limbo, blindsiding those who relied on these offices for resolution and assistance.

CLINIC urges DHS to reconsider this harmful decision and calls on Congress to take immediate action to restore independent oversight within the immigration system.