Make a Civil Rights Complaint

The Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties (CRCL) reviews and investigates civil rights and civil liberties allegations submitted by the public regarding U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) policies, activities, and personnel. Under 6 U.S.C. § 345 and 42 U.S.C. § 2000ee-1, CRCL receives allegations involving a range of alleged civil rights and civil liberties abuses, such as:

• Discrimination based on race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability;
• Violation of rights while in immigration detention or as a subject of immigration enforcement;
• Discrimination or inappropriate questioning related to entry into the United States;
• Violation of due process rights, such as the right to timely notice of charges or access to a lawyer;
• Violation of confidentiality provisions of the Violence Against Women Act;
• Physical abuse or any other type of abuse;
• Denial of meaningful access to DHS or DHS-supported programs, activities, or services due to limited English proficiency; and
• Any other civil rights, civil liberties, or human rights violation related to a Department program or activity, including allegations of discrimination by an organization or program that receives financial assistance from DHS.

CRCL also reviews and investigates the following:

• Human rights complaints under Executive Order 13107;
• Disability accommodation complaints under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended; and
• Inaccessible Information and Communication Technology (ICT) complaints covered under Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended by the Workforce Investment Act of 1988.

Read our Privacy Act Statement, review a flowchart of our complaints process, and learn more about accessible ICT.

If you would like to make a complaint about employment discrimination, please see www.dhs.gov/filing-equal-employment-opportunity-eeo-complaint