Trump Governance Dismantled Civil Rights Oversight, Targeted Disability Protections, Former DHS official Reveals
WASHINGTON D.C. – A former Department of Homeland Security (DHS) official alleges the Trump administration systematically dismantled internal civil rights mechanisms,including offices dedicated to oversight of immigration detention and U.S. citizenship and Immigration Services, as part of a broader effort to eliminate perceived “internal adversaries.” The revelations, stemming from an interview with former DHS official Maria Fernandez, coincide with a documented pattern of disparaging remarks made by Donald Trump regarding people with disabilities.
Fernandez,who worked in the Office of Civil Rights and Civil Liberties (CRCL) within DHS,was informed in late March that her position was being eliminated. The entire office, mandated by the department’s founding statute, was deemed “non-essential or not legally mandated” by the administration, despite its crucial role in safeguarding civil liberties. Fernandez was placed on paid administrative leave and terminated at the end of May.
The dismantling of CRCL occurred amidst broader layoffs initiated by the Department of Government Efficiency. Though, Fernandez’s account suggests a deliberate targeting of offices focused on oversight and accountability. A DHS spokesperson reportedly referred to the eliminated offices - including those overseeing immigration detention – as “internal adversaries.”
this action aligns with a history of publicly documented instances of Trump’s dismissive and, at times, hostile attitude toward individuals with disabilities. At a 2015 campaign rally, he openly mocked the hand movements of a disabled New York Times reporter. During his first term, aides reported he expressed reluctance to appear with military amputees, stating it “doesn’t look good for me.”
Perhaps most disturbingly, a 2020 memoir by Trump’s nephew, who has a disabled son, alleges the former President made the chilling statement, regarding people with serious disabilities: “The shape they’re in, all the expenses, maybe those kinds of people should just die.”
The pattern continued after his second inauguration,with Trump reportedly blaming President Biden’s recruitment of “individuals with ‘severe intellectual’ disabilities” as a contributing factor to an aircraft collision over the Potomac River in 2024,wich tragically resulted in sixty-seven fatalities.
Fernandez, initially relieved by the layoff given the overall chaos of the administration, now faces the challenge of securing new employment to support her family, including her husband, who is a green card holder working irregular freelance jobs, and their two children. She expressed a desire to continue “good work” that “moves the world forward,” but acknowledges the difficulty of finding such a role outside the public sector, given her career focus.
The elimination of CRCL and the documented history of Trump’s rhetoric raise serious concerns about the erosion of disability rights protections during his presidency and the potential long-term consequences for vulnerable populations. The incident underscores the importance of robust civil rights oversight within government agencies and the need for continued advocacy to ensure the protection of all citizens.
