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Civil Rights

Last Updated: | Press Releases

Civil Rights Listening Sessions with Disability Stakeholders in Disaster Impacted Areas

The DHS Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, in coordination with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, conducted a series of listening sessions with disability stakeholders following the 2017 hurricane season.

Last Updated: | Publication

Civil Rights Listening Sessions with Disability Stakeholders

The purpose of these listening sessions was to hear about concerns and experiences related to the impact of the disasters on individuals with disabilities.  Participants also shared effective practices for serving individuals with disabilities and others with access and functional needs.  By better understanding these experiences, and in partnership with state and local entities, including non-profit organizations, DHS can work to improve preparedness, response, and recovery for persons with disabilities in future disasters

Last Updated: | Site Page

Civil Rights in Emergencies and Disasters

The DHS Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties (CRCL) supports individual and community resilience to natural disasters, acts of terrorism, or other emergencies. Through guidance, planning and coordination, CRCL works to ensure that civil rights and civil liberties are integrated into disaster-related policies and procedures.

Last Updated: | Publication

Affirmative Action Plan for the Recruitment, Hiring, Advancement, and Retention of Persons with Disabilities

EEOC regulations (29 C.F.R. § 1614.203(e)) and MD-715 require agencies to describe how their affirmative action plan will improve the recruitment, hiring, advancement, and retention of applicants and employees with disabilities.  Each agency shall make the information submitted to the Commission pursuant to paragraph (e)(1) of this section available to the public by, at a minimum, posting a copy of the submission on its public Web site and providing a means by which members of the public may request copies of the submission in accessible formats.

Last Updated: | Site Page

Overview

The Department of Homeland Security integrates civil rights and civil liberties protections into all department activities.

Last Updated: | Site Page

FOIA and Transparency Initiative

The Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties strives to maintain transparency in its civil rights investigations processes.

Last Updated: | Publication

Expert Recommendations Memo for Onsite Investigation at Orange County Jail in Goshen, New York

CRCL conducted an investigation into conditions of detention for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detainees at the Orange County Jail in Goshen, New York. CRCL's review focused in large part on operations in the areas of medical care, general conditions of detention, and environmental health and safety.

Last Updated: | Publication

Expert Recommendations Memo for Onsite Investigation at Otay Mesa Detention Center in San Diego, California

CRCL conducted an investigation into conditions of detention for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detainees at the Otay Mesa Detention Center in San Diego, California. The onsite investigation was conducted September 25 -27, 2017, in response to allegations received in 2016 and 2017 alleging civil rights and civil liberties violations of detainees at the facility in the following areas: general conditions of detention at the facility and inadequate medical and mental health care.

Last Updated: | Publication

Expert Recommendations Memo for Onsite Investigation at Adelanto Correctional Facility in Adelanto, California

CRCL conducted an investigation into conditions of detention for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detainees at the Adelanto Correctional Facility in Adelanto, California. CRCL's onsite investigation, which occurred on November 13-14, 2017, was a follow-up review to our December 2015 investigation. In addition, the investigation was in response to three detainee deaths and CRCL's receipt of more recent allegations at the facility in the areas of: medical care, mental health care, use of force, hunger strikes, segregation, grievances, staff-detainee communication, legal access, language access, and suicide prevention and intervention.

Last Updated: | Publication

DHS Civil Rights Evaluation Tool

Entities selected to receive a grant, cooperative agreement, or other award of Federal financial assistance from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) or one of its Components must complete the DHS Civil Rights Evaluation Tool and submit required data within thirty (30) days of receipt of the Notice of Award or, for State Administering Agencies, thirty (30) days from receipt of this form from DHS or its awarding component.