Civil rights jobs have been cut. Those ex-workers warn of ICE detention violations

Source: NPR

October 6, 2025 5:00 AM ET


When Jennifer Ibañez Whitlock was an immigration attorney, she would tell clients in detention to look for the hummingbird logo. The hummingbird floated on the tablets of case managers working for the Office of the Immigration Detention Ombudsman, one of three oversight offices at the Homeland Security Department.

Along with those from the Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, these government employees were supposed to help immigration advocates like Whitlock handle the immediate needs of people in detention. That could be making sure detainees got their necessary medication or a culturally appropriate diet. Or it could be handling complaints about the use of solitary detention, sexual assault or issues with infants in detention.

The Trump administration earlier cut hundreds of staff in these congressionally mandated offices in order to save money and because DHS argued they were "internal adversaries that slow down operations." This included federal employees who conducted regular visits to detention centers, reviewed and investigated complaints about detention conditions, and prepared reports due to Congress.

"You don't have anyone to turn to," said Whitlock, now senior policy counsel at the National Immigration Law Center, a legal advocacy group. Without the offices, immigration advocates are turning to members of Congress to address problems on behalf of their clients.

Read more: https://www.npr.org/2025/10/06/g-s1-91947/trump-ice-detention-civil-rights