Civil rights jobs have been cut. Those ex-workers warn of ICE detention violations
Ximena Bustillo
October 06, 2025 / 2:00 am
When Jennifer Ibañez Whitlock was an immigration attorney, she would tell clients in detention to look for the hummingbird logo.
The hummingbird floated on the tablets of case managers working for the Office of the Immigration Detention Ombudsman , one of three oversight offices at the Homeland Security Department.
Along with those from the Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, these government employees were supposed to help immigration advocates like Whitlock handle the immediate needs of people in detention. That could be making sure detainees got their necessary medication or a culturally appropriate diet. Or it could be handling complaints abo