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  Homeland Security Enterprise
  Civil Rights and Civil Liberties
  Make a Civil Rights Complaint

     Academic Engagement
                
                    
                    
      Civil Rights and Civil Liberties
                
      Overview
                
                    
      
      Results and Reports
                
                    
                    
      Make a Civil Rights Complaint
                
      Submit a Complaint Online
                
                    
      
      Submit a Complaint By Email, Fax, Phone, or Postal Mail
                
                    
      
      Submit a Complaint Using the Fillable PDF FormAdvancing Equity at DHS
                
                    
      
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      Veterans and Homeland SecurityMake a Civil Rights Complaint
If you believe your rights or the rights of someone else have been violated by DHS, you can file a civil rights complaint with DHS's Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties (CRCL).

CRCL reviews and investigates allegations of civil rights and civil liberties violations involving DHS policies, activities, and personnel.  CRCL's jurisdiction includes allegations of racial profiling, implicit bias, and other civil liberties violations arising from state and local law enforcement involvement in federal immigration enforcement and detention.

There are three ways to submit your complaint:
      
      1. Submit Your Complaint Online
                                                      You can use the online portal to submit your complaint directly to CRCL. You will receive a confirmation number and your complaint report will be immediately available for CRCL staff to review.
                                                        Go to CRCL's Complaint Portal
                                                                          
                      2. Submit a Complaint Using the Fillable PDF FormImage
              Image of a person holding a pen and signing a paper
                                                      If you do not want to file your complaint directly using CRCL's online portal, you can download and complete the fillable Adobe PDF complaint form and then email, fax, or mail your completed form to CRCL.
                                                        Use the Fillable PDF Form
                                                                          
                      3. Submit a Complaint by Email, Fax, Phone, or Postal MailImage
              Contact Us
                                                      If you do not want to submit a complaint to CRCL using the optional online portal or PDF fillable form, you can provide CRCL a detailed description of your complaint via email, fax, or postal mail.
                                                        Submit by Email, Fax, Phone, or Postal Mail
              About CRCL's Complaint Authorities
      The Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties (CRCL) reviews and investigates civil rights and civil liberties allegations submitted by the public regarding U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) policies, activities, and personnel. Under 6 U.S.C. § 345 and 42 U.S.C. § 2000ee-1, CRCL receives allegations involving a range of alleged civil rights and civil liberties abuses, such as:

Discrimination based on race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability;
	Violation of rights while in immigration detention or as a subject of immigration enforcement;
	Discrimination or inappropriate questioning related to entry into the United States;
	Violation of due process rights, such as the right to timely notice of charges or access to a lawyer;
	Violation of confidentiality provisions of the Violence Against Women Act;
	Physical abuse or any other type of abuse;
	Denial of meaningful access to DHS or DHS-supported programs, activities, or services due to limited English proficiency; and
	Any other civil rights, civil liberties, or human rights violation related to a Department program or activity, including allegations of discrimination by an organization or program that receives financial assistance from DHS.CRCL also reviews and investigates the following:

Human rights complaints under Executive Order 13107;
	Disability accommodation complaints under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended; and
	Inaccessible Information and Communication Technology (ICT) complaints covered under Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended by the Workforce Investment Act of 1988.Read our Privacy Act Statement, review a flowchart of our complaints process, and learn more about accessible ICT.
              Review a Flowchart of CRCL's Complaint ProcessImage
              Image of various digital gears
                                                      CRCL receives an allegation of wrongdoing from an individual, organization, DHS Component, DHS TRIP, or other government agency and determines how to proceed with the allegation.
                                                        CRCL Complaints Process Flowchart
                                                                          
                      What are the Outcomes of CRCL's Investigations?Image
              Scales of Justice
                                                      CRCL does not provide individuals with legal rights or remedies. CRCL uses information from complaints to find and address problems in DHS policy and its implementation. If you believe your rights or those of someone you know have been violated, you may wish to consult an attorney.
                                                                          
                      Transparency in Civil Rights InvestigationsImage
              Magnifying glass over document
                                                      CRCL strives to maintain transparency in its civil rights investigations processes and developed an online collection of memos and other documents related to CRCL investigations that are available to the public.
                                                        CRCL Investigation and Recommendation Memos
              Employment Discrimination Complaints
      If you would like to make a complaint about employment discrimination, please see Filing an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Complaint.

EEO complaints are addressed by the CRCL's Equal Employment Opportunity and Diversity Division.
              Contact CRCL
      Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties
U.S. Department of Homeland Security
Compliance Branch, Mail Stop #0190
2707 Martin Luther King, Jr. Ave., SE
Washington, DC 20528-0190

**Phone:** 202-401-1474 | 1-866-644-8360 (toll free)**Fax:** 202-401-4708**E-mail:**CRCLCompliance@hq.dhs.gov
              Other Ways to Provide Feedback and Submit Complaints with DHS
      In addition to the CRCL complaint process, DHS has many other ways for the public to provide feedback and submit complaints to the agency about DHS employees or programs, immigration filings, travel issues, DHS employee misconduct, or other types of concerns.

Other Ways to Provide Feedback or Make Complaints
  
    
    TopicsCivil Rights and Civil LibertiesKeywordsCivil Rights
              Feedback

    Last Updated: 04/25/2023
  
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