Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel has joined forces with 20 other attorneys general to request that the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia maintain three critical offices within the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). These offices are responsible for overseeing the agency, safeguarding civil rights, and assisting noncitizens with immigration issues.
In March, DHS announced its intention to close the Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties (CRCL), the Citizenship and Immigration Services Ombudsman (CIS Ombudsman), and the Office of Immigration Detention Ombudsman (OIDO). These closures affect ongoing complaints and investigations without providing alternative solutions for individuals or employers seeking redress.
Attorney General Nessel emphasized the importance of these offices: “These offices within the Department of Homeland Security play a vital role in investigating civil rights violations within the Department and helping immigrants obtain green cards and work and student visas,” she stated. She further criticized the move by saying, “The Trump White House cannot unilaterally claw back funds that Congress has already appropriated, and I stand with my colleagues in urging the Court to keep these civil rights offices open.”
The coalition's amicus brief argues that DHS's decision to close these congressionally mandated offices exceeds its statutory and constitutional authority. They highlight potential negative impacts on residents and employers who depend on services such as employment authorization and naturalization assistance provided by these offices.
Without access to CIS Ombudsman services, many individuals in Michigan and other states could face significant delays or denials when applying for essential immigration benefits like work visas, authorizations, or green cards. The closure may also financially burden states that fund legal aid programs supporting applications for T- and U-visas, asylum, or temporary protected status.
Furthermore, attorneys general warn about potential adverse conditions detainees might face without OIDO's oversight through site visits and inspections at detention facilities. Before its closure, OIDO conducted hundreds of inspections each month addressing systemic issues like medical staffing shortages or unsanitary conditions.
Attorney General Nessel urges restoring these DHS offices to continue offering necessary services while maintaining oversight over various DHS programs.
This initiative includes participation from attorneys general representing Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Washington D.C., Hawai‘i, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont,and Washington.