Submit DHS Civil Rights Complaint Online

1. Home
2. Topics
3. Homeland Security Enterprise
4. Civil Rights and Civil Liberties
5. Make a Civil Rights Complaint

• Academic Engagement
• Artificial Intelligence at DHS
• Civil Rights and Civil Liberties
• Results and Reports Make a Civil Rights Complaint
  • Submit a Complaint Online Headquarters EEO Office
• Customer Experience (CX) at DHS
• DHS Center for Faith
• Do Business with DHS
• Federal Protective Service
• Financial Assistance
• Homeland Security Investigations
• Information Sharing
• Intelligence and Analysis
• International Engagement
• Law Enforcement
• Ombudsman Offices
• Privacy
• Veterans and Homeland Security

Make 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 civil rights and civil liberties violations.

• 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

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, 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; 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 and learn more about accessible ICT.

• 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.

• 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 CRCL's Equal Employment Opportunity Division.

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

• Topics

• Civil Rights and Civil Liberties

• Keywords

• Civil Rights

• Feedback
  Last Updated: 04/08/2026 Was this page helpful? Yes No This page was not helpful because the content has too little information has too much information is confusing is out-of-date