36 DHS Officials Describe 6-Hour Polygraphs and Intimidation in Trump Deportation Push
Updated
Updated · Oz Arab Media · Jul 11
36 DHS Officials Describe 6-Hour Polygraphs and Intimidation in Trump Deportation Push
2 articles · Updated · Oz Arab Media · Jul 11
Summary
More than three dozen current and former DHS officials told the Guardian they faced threats, forced reassignments and polygraphs lasting up to six hours while implementing Trump’s mass-deportation agenda.
Career staff who raised legal or ethical objections said Trump loyalists sidelined or removed them, warned some they could lose jobs or security clearances, and in several cases read them Miranda rights before questioning.
The pressure campaign coincided with sweeping changes inside DHS, where offices handling refugees, asylum, humanitarian protections and family unity were dismantled or stripped of staff and authority.
Those units were hit as Kristi Noem’s tenure saw more than 675,000 deportations, a near halt to refugee resettlement, renewed family separation and offshore detention that a federal judge called impermissibly punitive.
Officials said the practices continued into the transition to Markwayne Mullin, suggesting the personnel purge and intimidation tactics may persist.
How does the mass departure of career officials impact the Department of Homeland Security's core functions?
With internal watchdogs dismantled, who now holds federal immigration agents accountable for their actions?
What unseen logistical hurdles could derail the administration's goal of one million annual deportations?
Inside the 2025-2026 DHS Crisis: Oversight Dismantled, Deportation Drive Intensifies, and Whistleblowers Silenced
Overview
Between 2025 and 2026, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) underwent major internal changes that sparked intense scrutiny and ongoing investigations. Key oversight offices were drastically reduced, leaving hundreds of complaints about civil rights abuses and detention conditions unaddressed. The Inspector General’s office began investigating whether management reassignments were used to retaliate against whistleblowers, raising serious concerns about accountability and the protection of internal dissent. These actions, combined with legal challenges and a chilling effect on staff, have undermined morale and trust within DHS, highlighting the urgent need for restored oversight and transparency.