TL/DR –
The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has placed over 100 people from three oversight offices on paid leave, marking part of a wider government reduction by the Trump administration. Workers affected include those in the Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, and their layoffs are part of a planned downsizing across federal agencies expected to result in mass firings. The DHS claims these offices have slowed down operations and obstructed immigration enforcement, but there are concerns the aggressive efforts could infringe on the rights of immigrants and US citizens.
US Homeland Security Department Slashes Oversight Offices
The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) dismissed over 100 employees from three oversight divisions on Friday, as per reliable sources. Trump administration’s large-scale government reduction move saw many workers, including those from the DHS Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, receiving layoff notices.
A DHS spokesperson, Tricia McLaughlin, stated that these offices often acted as internal adversaries that slowed down operations, obstructing immigration enforcement by adding bureaucratic hurdles. She announced the government’s plan for a “reduction in force,” a term for mass layoffs.
Following his inauguration on January 20, Trump initiated a comprehensive immigration crackdown. He diverted resources from various federal sectors to focus on enforcement. However, critics are worried that these stern measures could infringe on the rights of both immigrants and US citizens.
White House officials are currently assessing federal agencies’ downsizing strategies, which could result in mass firing of government workers in the upcoming weeks. The Trump administration required agencies to prepare for a second wave of mass layoffs by March 13, as part of his plan to reduce and restructure the federal government, often criticized as bloated and inefficient.
The DHS Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, one of the targeted offices, investigates potential rights violations within the department and handles public complaints. The other two offices facing cuts are the Citizenship and Immigration Services Ombudsman and the Immigration Detention Ombudsman, both serving similar oversight roles.
Thousands of workers dismissed in Trump’s government workforce reduction effort have filed lawsuits, seeking reinstatement of their jobs by federal judges.
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