Former Officials Warn of Reduced Monitoring and Increased Risks in ICE Facilities
Recent staff reductions in the Department of Homeland Security’s oversight offices have sparked concern among former employees and immigrant rights advocates, who warn that the lack of internal monitoring could lead to increased abuses and unsafe conditions in immigration detention centers operated by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
The affected divisions include the Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties (CRCL) and the Office of the Immigration Detention Ombudsman. These offices were responsible for handling complaints, ensuring access to medical care and proper nutrition, and investigating reports of abuse or discrimination.
Hundreds of federal positions were cut this year as part of an initiative to streamline government operations. The DHS stated that all legally required functions continue “efficiently and cost-effectively,” though it has not clarified how many employees remain in place.
Rising Detention Numbers and Deaths Amid Oversight Gaps
In fiscal year 2025, at least 15 people died while in ICE custody — the highest number since 2020. During that same period, more than 59,000 individuals were detained, marking the largest total in six years.
Former oversight staff warn that the expansion of ICE facilities without sufficient internal personnel heightens the risk of civil rights violations. Several have joined a legal appeal filed with the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB), arguing that the DHS lacks legal authority to abolish congressionally mandated functions.
Advocates also emphasize that with fewer oversight mechanisms, detainees may have limited options to report mistreatment or seek help.
The absence of strong internal monitoring, combined with expanded detention capacity, raises questions about transparency and accountability within the U.S. immigration enforcement system — and the ability to ensure detainees’ safety and civil rights protections.
