New Bill Passes House Bolstering Civil Rights among Immigrants

In early December 2019, the House of Representatives passed a new bill meant to strengthen the activities of the Civil Rights and Civil Liberties Office within the Homeland Security Department. Under the legislation, civil rights and civil liberties officers would have the ability to access relevant department records and subpoena non-federal entities. The legislation comes after whistleblowers came forward contending that the Office failed to uphold certain standards at different immigrant detention facilities, such as detainees being subject to segregation and restraint, receiving expired food, and continuously ignoring claims of civil rights violations. “Reforms will give the agency better tools to ensure more meaningful oversight and lay the groundwork for the DHS to be both more effective in its security objectives and more respectful of American constitutional values in the future,” said Scott Shuchart, former senior adviser to the head of CRCL.