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Civil Rights and Civil Liberties

Safeguarding civil rights and civil liberties is elemental to all the work we do at DHS.

  • Memo on Information Regarding First Amendment Protected Activities

    Memo to DHS employees from Acting Secretary McAleenan providing information regarding first amendment protected activities.

  • Retention Memo to ICE Concerning Imperial Regional Detention Facility

    CRCL received complaints alleging that ICE violated individuals’ civil rights and civil liberties at the Imperial Regional Detention Facility  in Calexico, CA. The purpose of this memorandum is to notify ICE of the complaints, describe the allegations, and inform you that CRCL will retain the complaints for investigation. 

  • DHS Equity Action Plan

    DHS announced the release of its DHS Equity Action Plan, which identifies seven focus areas to comprehensively advance equity across the Department.

  • Retention Memo to CBP Concerning Tactical Terrorist Response Team

    The purpose of this memorandum is to notify CBP that CRCL conducted an investigation of CBP’s Tactical Terrorism Response Team (TTRT) training, activities, policies, and procedures, which included onsite investigations at the following air Ports of Entry: Washington Dulles International Airport and Boston Logan International Airport.

  • DHS and Federal Resources to Prevent Targeted Violence and Threats Handout - Translations

    The DHS Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties (CRCL) has developed a list of DHS and federal resources for communities to prevent targeted violence and threats.  

  • Retention Memo to ICE Concerning Henderson Detention Center

    CRCL opened complaints alleging that ICE potentially violated the civil rights and civil liberties of detainees in ICE custody at the Henderson Detention Center (Henderson) in Henderson, NV. The purpose of this memorandum is to notify ICE of the complaints, describe the allegations, inform ICE that CRCL retained the complaints for investigation.  

  • Retention Memo to USCIS Concerning Language Access Procedures and Protocols

    CRCL opened the above-referenced complaints related to individuals who have made claims of language access violations during credible fear screenings with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). The purpose of this memorandum is to notify USCIS that CRCL retained these complaints for investigation.

  • Retention Memo to CBP Concerning Vehicle Pursuits

    CRCL opened complaints alleging violations of civil rights or civil liberties resulting from incidents related to vehicle pursuits by CBP employees. Complaints alleged that CBP personnel unnecessarily engaged in vehicle pursuits at high rates of speeds that are unwarranted given the alleged crime(s), deployed vehicle immobilization devices (VID) or controlled tire deflation devices (CTDD), or pursuit intervention techniques (PIT) potentially leading to serious injury or death to suspect vehicle occupants. The purpose of this memorandum is to notify CBP of the complaints, describe those allegations, and inform CBP that CRCL retained these complaints for investigation.

  • Retention Memo to CBP Concerning Critical Incident Teams

    CRCL opened complaints alleging potential violations of civil rights or civil liberties related to the U.S. Border Patrol (USBP) Critical Incident Teams (CIT) regarding CIT allegedly involving themselves in criminal investigations without authority. The purpose of this memorandum is to notify CBP of the complaints, describe those allegations, and inform CBP that CRCL retained these complaints for investigation.

  • Quarterly Outreach to Recipients of DHS Financial Assistance on Meeting Civil Rights Requirements

    The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties (CRCL) provides quarterly outreach to recipients of DHS financial assistance.  The quarterly emails provide up-to-date information on reminders, resources, upcoming events, and FAQs to assist recipients in understanding and meeting their civil rights requirements.