U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Government Website

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Safely connect using HTTPS

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock () or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

  1. Home
  2. Publications Library
  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.

  • Supplemental Expert Recommendation Memo to ICE Concerning LaSalle Detention Facility

    CRCL conducted an investigation into conditions of detention for ICE detainees at the LaSalle Detention Facility.  CRCL's review focused in large part on operations in the areas of suicide prevention, medical care, and confinement.  This supplemental memorandum focuses on findings regarding four detainee deaths that occurred at the LaSalle Detention Facility between January 23, 2016 and March 13, 2017. 

  • Recommendations Memo Concerning Searches of Transgender Individuals

    The purpose of this memorandum is to provide recommendations to update the CBP Office of Field Operations Personal Search Handbook and issue a muster instructing officers on the appropriate way to search transgender individuals consistent with the 2015 National Standards on Transport, Escort, Detention, and Search (TEDS).

  • Recommendations Memo Concerning Etowah County Jail

    CRCL conducted an investigation into conditions of detention for ICE detainees at the Etowah County Jail in Gadsden, Alabama. CRCL's onsite investigation occurred April 9-11, 2018, and was in response to allegations received alleging civil rights and civil liberties violations of detainees at the facility in the following areas: general conditions of detention, environmental health and safety, and inadequate medical and mental health care.

  • Close Memo for Onsite Investigation at Stewart Detention Center in Lumpkin, Georgia

    CRCL conducted an investigation into the conditions of detention for U.S . Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detainees at the Stewart Detention Center in Lumpkin, Georgia. Following a collaborative process between ICE and CRCL that focused on findings and recommendations made by CRCL's subject matter experts, CRCL considered the issues identified by the experts to be resolved. Consequently, as of the date of this memorandum, CRCL closed the related complaints.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • Retention Memo to ICE Concerning Etowah County Jail

    CRCL opened several complaints involving ICE detainees in custody at the Etowah County Jail alleging inadequate detention conditions.

  • Expert Recommendations Memo Concerning Suicide Prevention

    CRCL conducted an investigation into attempted and successful suicides while in CBP custody. CRCL's onsite investigations occurred on March 28, 2017, and April 4-5, 2017, at the Brownsville Port of Entry, Marfa Border Patrol Station, Marfa Border Patrol Checkpoint, Rio Grande Valley Centralized Processing Center, and the McAllen Station Processing Center. As part of the review, CRCL reviewed policies and procedures of the Office of Field Operations  and U.S. Border Patrol  as they relate to suicide prevention and engaged the assistance of a subject matter expert in the field of suicide prevention in a custodial environment.

  • Expert Recommendations Memo for Onsite Investigation at West Texas Detention Facility in Sierra Blanca, Texas

    CRCL conducted an investigation (August 14-16, 2018) into conditions of detention for ICE detainees at the West Texas Detention Facility in Sierra Blanca, TX.