Michigan AG Dana Nessel Joins 20-State Legal Push Against DHS's

Source: Michigan Department of Attorney General

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel, alongside a powerful coalition of 20 other states' attorneys general, is taking a stand against the Department of Homeland Security's decision to close three key oversight offices. As reported by Michigan's Government news release, the offices in question—the Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, the Citizenship and Immigration Services Ombudsman, and the Office of Immigration Detention Ombudsman—are designed to protect civil rights and aid in immigration matters. According to Nessel and her fellow AGs, the closure of these offices bypasses congressional authority and poses significant threats to those reliant on their services.

The move by DHS to abolish these oversight entities came despite congressional disapproval, and the attorneys general argue this action could leave many individuals and employers without crucial support. For instance, the DHS's Citizenship and Immigration Services Ombudsman alone used to assist with tens of thousands of immigration benefits cases each year. "These offices within the Department of Homeland Security play a vital role in investigating civil rights violations within the Department and helping immigrants obtain green cards and work and student visas," Nessel stated in the Michigan AG's office news release. The coordinated legal challenge insists that the abrupt march towards closure neglects the indispensable aid these offices provide residents across multiple states, including Michigan.

Before planned shutdowns, the Office of Immigration Detention Ombudsman played a pivotal role through site visits and unannounced inspections, helping to ensure detainees were not subject to dangerous or unsanitary conditions. The elimination of this oversight means potential unchecked violations of rights and standards. The attorneys general, in their brief, highlight the direct assistance previously provided by OIDO case managers, including efforts to rectify problems like inadequate medical staffing and subpar living conditions.