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  3. CRCL Recommendation and Investigation Memos Collection

CRCL Recommendation and Investigation Memos Collection

The DHS Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties reviews and investigates civil rights and civil liberties complaints and alleged abuses filed by the public regarding DHS policies and activities. The investigations involve a range of alleged abuses, including violation of rights while in immigration detention. CRCL issues recommendations to the relevant DHS Component aimed at addressing any civil rights or civil liberties concerns identified as part of its investigation. Redacted memos and other documents related to these investigations are included in this library.

  • Recommendation Memo to ICE Concerning Moshannon Valley Processing Center

    CRCL conducted a "spot-check" into conditions of detention of the ICE Moshannon Valley Processing Center in Philipsburg, Pennsylvania on August 24 -25, 2022. Based upon detainee and staff interviews, document reviews, review of use of force video footage, and direct onsite observations, CRCL's subject matter expert found several areas of concerns and is issuing 29 recommendations contained herein.

  • Close Memo Regarding CBP's Treatment of Children with Disabilities

    On September 10, 2020, CRCL issued a Recommendation Memorandum to CBP following an investigation of several CRCL complaints concerning the separation of children with disabilities from their families. CRCL found that existing CBP measures and guidelines did not fully address the factors that CBP should consider when separating a child with a disability from his or her parent or guardian, and that CBP documentation was often inadequate.

  • Close Memo to ICE Concerning Immigration Centers of America in Farmville, Virginia

    On May 26, 2021, CRCL provided ICE with an Expert Recommendation Memorandum, which contained 43 recommendations, along with the experts' written reports. On May 26, 2022, ICE responded to the recommendations, concurring with nine, partially concurring with eight, and non-concurring with 26.

  • Close Memo to ICE Concerning Wakulla County Jail in Crawfordville, Florida

    From December 3-5, 2019, CRCL conducted an onsite investigation at Wakulla County Jail, using four subject matter experts in the areas of medical care, mental health care, environmental health and safety, and conditions of detention.

  • CRCL Recommendation Memo to ICE Regarding ICE Use of Maryland Database and Facial Recognition Searches

    The purpose of this memorandum is to make recommendations to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) regarding the implementation of effective protocols to document certain information in its case management system. Specifically, these recommendations relate to when ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations officers access databases containing facial images and other sensitive data.

  • Expert Recommendation Memo to ICE Concerning Plymouth County Correctional Facility

    CRCL conducted an investigation into conditions of detention for ICE detainees at the Plymouth Country Correctional Facility (PCCF) in Plymouth, Massachusetts. CRCL’s virtual onsite investigation occurred February 9–11, 2022 and was in response to complaints alleging civil rights and civil liberties violations at PCCF related to legal access, religious accommodations, inadequate food and/or nutrition, inadequate medical care, lack of COVID-19 policies and procedures, and claims of retaliation.

  • CRCL Recommendations Memo on Implementation of ICE's Segregation Oversight Program

    As a continuation of the extensive work that CRCL has done with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) related to the use and oversight of segregation for detained individualism ICE custody, and pursuant to CRCL's authority to “periodically review Department policies and procedures to ensure that the protection of civil rights and civil liberties.

  • Determination Memo to CBP Concerning Section 504

    The purpose of the memorandum is to inform CBP about the results of the investigation conducted by CRCL into the allegation that CBP discriminated against an unaccompanied minor in violation of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, 29 U.S.C. § 794(a) (Section 504).

  • Reconsideration Memo to CBP Concerning Alleged Discrimination at Blaine Port of Entry

    On July 16, 2021, CRCL issued a Recommendation Memorandum following an investigation of alleged nationality and place of birth discrimination at the Blaine Port of Entry. CRCL issued three recommendations to CBP. On November 19, 2021, CBP responded to CRCL’s Recommendation Memorandum, partially concurring with one recommendation and concurring with two recommendations.

  • Expert Recommendations Memo to ICE Concerning Torrance County Detention Facility

    CRCL conducted an investigation concerning ICE detainees at Torrance County Detention Facility (Torrance) in Estancia, New Mexico. CRCL’s onsite investigation occurred June 27-30, 2022, and was in response to complaints regarding the conditions of detention, COVID-19 policies, medical care policies, mental health and suicide prevention and intervention policies, and environmental health and safety.