How to File a Complaint with DHS

August 10, 2005
Washington, DC – The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) routinely addresses complaints from the public relative to the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The DHS Office of Civil Rights and Civil Liberties (DHS CRCL) is the entity within DHS tasked with addressing these complaints. DHS CRCL has effectively engaged the Arab-American, Muslim, South Asian, and Sikh-American communities on issues of mutual concern.
The DHS CRCL investigates any complaints relative to DHS policies or actions taken by personnel of a DHS component agency. These include such agencies as US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), US Customs and Border Protection (CBP), US Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS), or the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) among others.
The DHS CRCL addresses issues of concern including the Special Registration (NSEERS) Program, the “no fly” or “watch” lists, racial profiling, and the conduct of interviews at ports of entry among others.
While ADC works with DHS CRCL on a regular basis to address such individual and policy concerns, any member of the public may file complaints directly with DHS CRCL. A copy of the complaint may be sent to the ADC Legal Department should the individual wish for ADC to address the matter with DHS CRCL.
In order to file a complaint with DHS CRCL, an individual may:
1) Send a detailed email message to [email protected]
2) Call 1-800-644-8360 [1-866-644-8361 (TTY)]
3) Send a detailed fax to 202-401-4708
The statutory authority for DHS CRCL is described in 6 U.S.C. 345.
For more information please contact the ADC Legal Department via email to [email protected], by calling 202-244-2990, or fax at 202-244-3196.