A Blow to Accountability
On March 21, 2025, the Department of Homeland Security dealt a severe setback to justice. The agency shuttered three oversight offices created by Congress: the Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, the Citizenship and Immigration Services Ombudsman, and the Office of the Immigration Detention Ombudsman. This decision, led by Secretary Kristi Noem, dismantled critical protections for immigrants and citizens, prioritizing unchecked power over transparency.
These offices served as vital checks on DHS’s authority. They investigated human rights abuses, assisted with immigration benefits, and exposed inhumane detention conditions. Their abrupt closure leaves vulnerable communities without recourse. Why would DHS silence these watchdogs? The answer points to an agenda that values enforcement over fairness.
In California, where immigrants are integral to our communities, the loss feels personal. Attorney General Rob Bonta, joined by 21 state attorneys general, has filed an amicus brief urging a federal court to reverse this closure. Their effort defends not just policy but the principle that no agency is above scrutiny.
Real Lives, Real Harm
The Citizenship and Immigration Services Ombudsman guided people through complex immigration processes, from work visas to green cards. Its elimination strands families and workers, unable to resolve bureaucratic delays. For a state like California, where immigrants fuel our economy, this closure undermines our shared prosperity.
The Office of the Immigration Detention Ombudsman offered hope to detainees facing dire conditions. A May 2025 report by California’s Attorney General revealed invasive searches, neglected medical care, and excessive solitary confinement in ICE facilities. Without this office, detainees—many fleeing persecution—face abuse without oversight.
The Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties protected language access and confidentiality for trafficking victims. Its absence risks discrimination and erodes trust in DHS. These closures don’t simplify government; they harm real people, stripping away protections they rely on.
Defying the Law
DHS justifies the closures by claiming these offices hindered immigration enforcement. This argument falls apart under scrutiny. Congress established these offices to balance enforcement with accountability, a mandate DHS cannot override. Federal courts have repeatedly affirmed that only Congress can dissolve statutory agencies, a principle rooted in the Constitution’s separation of powers.
Some defend the closures, arguing oversight complicates border security. But sacrificing human rights for efficiency betrays our values. The Trump Administration’s broader push to centralize power, through measures like Executive Order 14215, threatens democratic checks. If DHS can ignore Congress here, what boundaries will it respect?
Bonta’s coalition, in their amicus brief for Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights v. U.S. Department of Homeland Security, demands a court injunction to restore these offices. Their case rests on law, not ideology, asserting that DHS’s actions harm residents and violate statutory obligations.
The Stakes of Inaction
Restoring these offices is both a legal and moral necessity. History warns of the dangers of unchecked power. Post-9/11 detention expansions led to overcrowding and neglect, spurring Congress to create oversight mechanisms. Today’s closures risk repeating those mistakes, with even higher costs.
Advocacy groups like the ACLU highlight that these offices safeguard due process and civil liberties, rights upheld in cases like Plyler v. Doe. Without them, policies like expedited removals could disproportionately harm Latino and Black communities, as recent lawsuits argue. Can we stand by as these protections erode?
The fight to revive these offices is about ensuring every person has a voice. Bonta’s coalition leads the charge, but they need our backing. Congress must secure funding for these offices and strengthen their authority to prevent future attacks on accountability.
Our Shared Fight
The closure of DHS’s oversight offices signals a broader assault on transparency. Yet we have the power to respond. Supporting legal efforts like Bonta’s can restore these essential safeguards. We can protect detainees, immigrants, and citizens from unchecked authority.
This moment calls for collective action. Reach out to your representatives, amplify advocates’ voices, and stand with those fighting for justice. Together, we can ensure DHS serves the public, not unchecked power. Our communities’ future hangs in the balance.