Campaign to Hold the Department of Homeland Security Accountable

The protection of the civil liberties and human rights of all people has always been at the core of American values. However since 9-11, in the name of national security, there has been a steady and alarming erosion of the human rights and civil liberties of many people living in the U.S.  In response, the Rights Working Group launched the Hold Department of Homeland Security Accountable! campaign for actions that routinely violate the basic rights of people living in this country, particularly immigrants.

  • DHS regularly conducts warrantless and aggressive raids on homes and workplaces to round up hundreds of immigrants.  Raid victims are often detained without access to counsel or the right to make a phone call to contact family members. 
  • Individuals detained by DHS—many of whom have no criminal record—are being held in inhumane conditions often without charges.
  • DHS’ practice of targeting people because of their race or religion for extra security checks has contributed to a huge backlog in citizenship applications. Many applicants are now waiting an average of 7-9 months longer than normal which will result in the disfranchisement of hundreds of thousands of people in the November 2008 elections.

The Rights Working Group Campaign demands that the DHS:

  • End immigration raids that lock up people without due process;
  • Stop inhumane detention conditions and arbitrary imprisonment without trial; and
  • Provide fair and efficient mechanisms to end the backlog in processing citizenship applications.

The Rights Working Group is collaborating with national organizations such as the Fair Immigration Reform Movement (FIRM) and Detention Watch Network (DWN) in coordination with our Field Coordinators to implement the campaign. We are collectively working to incorporate local campaigns seeking direct outcomes for communities impacted by DHS violations and national advocacy efforts aiming to reform bad laws and policies.

Petition to the Next President

Petición para el nuevo Presidente

I am signing this petition to ask you as the new President to address the violations of human rights and civil liberties resulting from current immigration enforcement policies pursued in the name of national security. I am committed to protecting due process and civil liberties for all people in the U.S., and urge you to hold the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) accountable to protecting the human rights of citizens and non-citizens alike.

Recently DHS has pursued a policy of immigration enforcement that uses extreme measures to lock up undocumented workers, legal permanent residents and, at times, even US citizens.  Raids of homes and businesses, often without a warrant, have not only steamrolled over Constitutional protections, but also torn apart communities and families.   Conditions in immigration detention facilities are overcrowded and dangerous and have deteriorated to the point where people are dying in custody from treatable ailments, and people with chronic conditions are not getting the basic medical care they require.  Lastly, DHS has failed to resolve a massive backlog in the naturalization process. Unfortunately, many of those whose applications have been delayed have been targeted for extra background checks because of their race, religion, or national origin, not because of any evidence of wrongdoing.

The DHS policies which prioritize the appearance of enforcement over this nation’s founding principles of liberty and justice for all do not serve the national interest. The failure to set clear legal standards for DHS officials - standards that uphold the dignity and Constitutional rights of all people in the U.S. – and to hold DHS accountable to these standards should be a priority reform for a new administration.  I join the Rights Working Group in urging you to commit to stopping current immigration enforcement efforts in order to conduct a full review of DHS policies and programs to ensure that they are compliant with Constitutional protections and internationally recognized human right standards. 

Sign the Petition

The Night of 1,000 Conversations is the public education component for the Hold DHS Accountable! campaign. Join the campaign and register to host a conversation.