How to Report Abuse by an Immigration Officer

Contact the U.S. Officer of the Inspector General to report abuse by an immigration officer.

The offices of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, (USCIS) as well as the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) have a code of conduct for all of their employees. There is also a system in place to report any abuse or wrongdoings by USCIS or DHS employees. The system is for reporting mismanagement, abuse, fraudulent activity or misuse in areas such as funds. The Office of the Inspector General (OIG) handles each case. Civilians and employees of USCIS and DHS can use the hotline.

Things You'll Need

• Detailed account of alleged abuse
• Photos, video and/or written evidence.

Instructions

1. Contact the Office of the Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The Inspector General has an email address, mailing address, a toll-free phone number, and a fax number for receiving a report. Do not contact the Office of the Inspector General with questions such as how to apply for U.S. permanent residency, or for a status update on a case. The toll-free number has both an English and Spanish option for callers.

2. Report the abuse. At the moment of making the report, be as detailed as possible. Note information such as the date and time of the event, what happened, and the name of the immigration officer(s) involved. Do not leave any points out. Provide back-up evidence, such as photos, video, or documents. The person reporting the information can ask to remain anonymous.

3. Wait for a response from the Office of the Inspector General. If a report is sent by email, the office will immediately confirm the receipt of the email. The time frame for the next steps depends on the nature of the report. The Office of the Inspector General indicates that email is the best option for a timely response.

Tips & Warnings

• Write down all the events and/or talk it through with another person before making the report.

• Do not falsely report abuse by an immigration officer.

References

• Department of Homeland Security: Office of Inspector General: Hotline Information
• USCIS: Report USCIS Misconduct