U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Government Website

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Safely connect using HTTPS

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock () or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Breadcrumb

  1. Home
  2. About DHS
  3. Organization
  4. Office of the Secretary
  5. Civil Rights and Civil Liberties

Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties

The Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties (CRCL) supports the Department's mission to secure the nation while preserving individual liberty, fairness, and equality under the law. CRCL builds in civil rights and civil liberties practices into all of the Department’s activities by:

  • Promoting respect for civil rights and civil liberties in policy development and implementation by advising Department leadership and personnel, and state and local partners.
  • Communicating with individuals and communities whose civil rights and civil liberties may be affected by Department activities, informing them about policies and avenues of remedy, and promoting appropriate attention within the Department to their experiences and concerns.
  • Investigating civil rights and civil liberties complaints filed by the public regarding Department policies or activities, or actions taken by Department personnel.
  • Leading the Department's equal employment opportunity programs and promoting workforce diversity and merit system principles.

Read about CRCL's Core Values.

CRCL's Programs and Compliance Division is made up of three branches:

CRCL's Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) and Diversity Division directs the Department's EEO and diversity policies, products, and services to optimize the effectiveness of its personnel and operations. The Division is composed of three sections:

The Office for Accessible Systems and Technology (OAST) leads the Department's application of Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act, which requires the federal government makes sure individuals with disabilities have equal access to information and data. OAST is jointly managed by CRCL and the Office of the Chief Information Officer.

Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties
U.S. Department of Homeland Security
2707 Martin Luther King, Jr. Avenue, SE
Mail Stop #0190
Washington, DC 20528-0190

Phone: 202-401-1474 | 1-866-644-8360 (toll free)
TTY: 202-401-0470 | 1-866-644-8361 (toll free)
Fax: 202-401-4708
E-mail: crcl@dhs.gov

Last Updated: 02/20/2024
Was this page helpful?
This page was not helpful because the content