Attorney General Anthony G. Brown has joined 20 other attorneys general in filing an amicus brief with the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, urging the court to prevent the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) from closing three key oversight offices.
In March, DHS announced plans to shut down 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 offices were created by Congress to oversee agency operations, safeguard civil rights, and assist noncitizens with immigration matters.
The coalition argues that the unilateral closures, carried out through reductions-in-force, exceed DHS’s statutory and constitutional authority. They also contend the closures will negatively impact residents and employers by removing avenues for complaint resolution and assistance with immigration benefits.
Before its closure, the CIS Ombudsman provided case assistance on issues such as employment authorization and naturalization, handling tens of thousands of immigration-related requests each year. Maryland residents alone submitted hundreds of such cases annually.
The attorneys general also highlight the potential consequences of eliminating the OIDO. The office conducted regular site visits and inspections of detention facilities, addressing complaints and identifying hazardous conditions, including poor medical staffing and unsanitary environments.
The coalition is asking the court to restore the three offices, emphasizing their importance in maintaining accountability and providing support services that many individuals and employers rely on.
Attorneys general from New York, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, and the District of Columbia joined Maryland in the filing.
