The federal watchdog system at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) that oversees complaints about civil rights violations, including in immigration detention, has been gutted so thoroughly that it could be laying the groundwork for the Trump administration to abuse people with impunity, experts warn. Former federal oversight officials have sounded the alarm at the rapid dismantling of guardrails against human rights failures at the same time as the government pushes aggressive immigration enforcement operations.
Alden declined to comment on the content of the subpoenas because they are still under seal, but he said the release could undermine IOLERO's efforts to protect the investigation, the privacy of Sheriff's Office staff and the whistleblower, who has not been publicly identified. The subject of the whistleblower complaint is also not publicly known. However, in an attempt to quash the subpoenas, Deputy Sheriffs' Association attorney Murphy wrote to county counsel on May 10, 2024: