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New York Attorney General Letitia James today led a coalition of 20 other attorneys general in urging the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia to maintain three offices within the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) that are meant to oversee the agency, protect people’s civil rights, and help noncitizens with immigration matters.

In March, DHS announced plans to shut down three offices, including the Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties (CRCL), the Citizenship and Immigration Services Ombudsman (CIS Ombudsman), and the Office of Immigration Detention Ombudsman (OIDO), which were created by Congress to exercise oversight of various DHS programs. The sudden closure affects pending complaints and investigations, leaving individuals without an alternative avenue for redress.

Attorney General James argues that the unilateral closure of these congressionally mandated offices exceeds the statutory and constitutional authority of the DHS and will harm residents and employers who interact with the agency. The CIS Ombudsman, prior to its closure, provided direct assistance in tens of thousands of immigration benefits cases each year, including employment authorization and naturalization.

The coalition warns that without these services, individuals may face denials or extreme delays in obtaining vital immigration benefits, such as work and student visas, work authorizations, and green cards. The closing of the CIS Ombudsman will also be costly for states that issue grants to fund legal assistance programs.

Attorney General James and the coalition also highlight the dangers faced by detained individuals without access to OIDO’s site visits and unannounced facility inspections, which were crucial in identifying and remedying systemic issues at detention facilities.