Press Release
Published on March 4, 2022
WASHINGTON D.C. – Human Rights First today urges the House to pass House Resolution (H.R.) 4349, which will amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to provide the Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties of (CRCL) oversight of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
“H.R. 4349 will enhance civil rights and civil liberties oversight within DHS,” said Kareem Shora, Executive Vice President for Programs and Policy and a twelve-year veteran of DHS CRCL who served in various leadership roles with DHS between 2009 and 2021. “The bill improves accountability, transparency, and responsiveness at DHS helps center civil and human rights in DHS’ policymaking process, and gives CRCL the power to investigate potential civil rights and civil liberties abuses.”
The resolution requires that CRCL investigative reports and reviews of DHS programs be made public on the DHS website, establishes CRCL officers within each of the Department’s operational agencies, and affords CRCL with new subpoena authorities to non-Federal entities to obtain access to information.
