In a sweeping overhaul of the Department of Homeland Security’s internal oversight system, the Trump administration has terminated most employees from key civil rights and ombudsman offices, in what critics are calling a dangerous rollback of accountability during one of the most aggressive immigration enforcement periods in U.S. history.
The late Friday move — already being dubbed “Black Friday” by former officials — included significant reductions in staff from the DHS Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, the Office of the Immigration Detention Ombudsman, and the Office of the Citizenship and Immigration Services Ombudsman. A senior DHS official confirmed the cuts and defended them as necessary to eliminate “redundant and counterproductive roles.”
“These reductions ensure taxpayer dollars support the Department’s core mission: border security and immigration enforcement,” the official said in a statement.
The decision, part of a broader “reduction in force” strategy, is reportedly designed to remove what the administration sees as bureaucratic obstacles to immigration enforcement. However, critics argue the move guts critical oversight functions and could lead to a sharp increase in abuses within the U.S. immigration system.
“These offices have obstructed immigration enforcement by adding bureaucratic hurdles and undermining DHS’s mission,” the official claimed. “Rather than supporting law enforcement efforts, they often function as internal adversaries that slow down operations.”
The DHS Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties was established to investigate public complaints of civil rights violations and advise the agency on policies related to antidiscrimination, community engagement, and information security. Its Equal Employment Opportunity Division also played a vital role in ensuring compliance with federal anti-discrimination laws within DHS itself.
The two ombudsman offices served similar oversight functions: The Office of the Immigration Detention Ombudsman was responsible for investigating complaints of abuse, neglect, and mistreatment within detention facilities operated by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP). The Citizenship and Immigration Services Ombudsman provided independent review of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) operations and acted as a liaison between the public and the agency.
Now, with the majority of staff in those departments eliminated, concerns are mounting about what this could mean for detainee rights, civil liberties, and government accountability.
Michelle Brané, who led the Office of the Immigration Detention Ombudsman during the Biden administration, called the firings “a recipe for disaster,” warning that the decision could have life-and-death consequences.
“They’re eliminating all the oversight bodies within the Department of Homeland Security at a time when they are being more aggressive than ever and making more mistakes than ever,” Brané said. “I think we’ll see people die in custody as a result.”
Brané said she estimates approximately 200 employees were affected in what she called a wholesale purge of DHS internal oversight. She emphasized that oversight offices do not impede enforcement — instead, they ensure humane treatment and taxpayer accountability. She shared an example of how her team once resolved food complaints at a Louisiana detention facility, where male detainees were unknowingly being served meals designed for women — shorting them hundreds of calories daily. “We were able to fix that immediately,” she said.
The job cuts come as Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has taken a high-profile and combative role in immigration enforcement. Noem has publicly participated in immigration raids and referred to undocumented immigrants as “dirtbags” in press appearances — comments that have sparked fierce debate and criticism.
Under President Trump’s direction, the Department of Homeland Security has pivoted toward aggressive enforcement priorities, placing less emphasis on internal accountability and civil rights safeguards. While DHS maintains that it is still “committed to civil rights protections,” Friday’s cuts suggest a significant policy shift — one that many believe will undermine public trust and increase the risk of systemic abuses within immigration operations.
The administration has declined to provide specific numbers on how many employees were terminated or how the functions of the eliminated offices will be handled moving forward. It also remains unclear whether their missions will be reassigned or simply discontinued.
Legal experts warn that eliminating internal oversight leaves DHS vulnerable to litigation and public criticism — especially as lawsuits against the administration’s immigration practices continue to mount. “These offices acted as critical guardrails,” said Rebecca Holt, a civil liberties attorney with the American Constitution Center. “Without them, there’s no real mechanism left inside DHS to investigate abuses or course-correct when things go wrong.”
Several civil rights groups and immigrant advocacy organizations have already called for congressional inquiries into the firings. Some lawmakers are reportedly exploring legislative options to re-establish oversight offices via statute.
The firings come as President Trump has revived his “America First” immigration platform, doubling down on deportations, border enforcement, and detainment of undocumented immigrants. DHS officials have hinted at further restructuring in the coming months to better align the department’s priorities with the administration’s directive.
In February, Trump signed a new executive memorandum mandating an expansion of immigration enforcement resources and outlining a streamlined process for deportations. At a campaign event earlier this month, he told supporters, “We’re cutting the red tape and getting the job done.”
But critics warn that in removing those who watch the watchers, the administration risks turning DHS into an unchecked enforcement machine.
“This is not about efficiency — it’s about removing accountability,” said Brané. “It’s the watchdogs they’ve eliminated, and without them, the system will fail the people it’s supposed to protect.”
As legal battles loom and immigrant rights advocates mobilize in response, the full consequences of DHS’s “Black Friday” cuts may not be realized for months. But for those already in detention — and for the Americans tasked with defending civil rights from within — the impact is already being felt.
