Mission

The Department of Homeland Security Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties (CRCL) supports the Department's mission to secure the nation while preserving individual liberty, fairness, and equality under the law.

View the Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties Organizational Chart

CRCL integrates civil rights and civil liberties into all of the Department activities:

• Promoting respect for civil rights and civil liberties in policy creation and implementation by advising Department leadership and personnel, and state and local partners.
• Communicating with individuals and communities whose civil rights and civil liberties may be affected by Department activities, informing them about policies and avenues of redress, and promoting appropriate attention within the Department to their experiences and concerns.
• Investigating and resolving civil rights and civil liberties complaints filed by the public regarding Department policies or activities, or actions taken by Department personnel.
• Leading the Department's equal employment opportunity programs and promoting workforce diversity and merit system principles.

Read our mission statement in alternate languages.

Leadership and Organization

Megan H. Mack is the Department of Homeland Security's Officer for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties.

• Department of Homeland Security Organizational Chart
• CRCL's Legal Authorities

CRCL Structure

CRCL's Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) and Diversity Division issues final agency decisions relating to EEO on complaints of employment discrimination and leads departmental diversity reporting and analysis efforts.

EEO and Diversity Division includes:

• Complaint Management Adjudication
• Diversity Management
• Headquarters EEO Management

Programs and Compliance Division includes:

• Compliance Branch: Investigates complaints from the public alleging violations of civil rights and civil liberties in Department of Homeland Security activities.
• Antidiscrimination Group: Leads anti-discrimination and language access required initiatives for Department-supported activities.
• Programs Branch: Provides Department of Homeland Security senior leadership with constructive civil rights and civil liberties advice that spans the issues confronting the Department.

The Programs Branch includes the following sections:

• Civil Rights Civil Liberties Institute
• Community Engagement
• Immigration
• Security, Intelligence, and Information Policy

Office of Accessible Systems and Technology (OAST)

OAST is a joint office of CRCL and the Office of the Chief Information Officer. OAST leads the Department's implementation of Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act, which requires that the federal government ensure its information and data are accessible to persons with disabilities.