A group of organizations linked to billionaire George Soros is taking legal action against former President Donald Trump. They are trying to stop him from closing the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties. This office mainly helps migrants and some American citizens.
In February, Trump ordered the elimination of this office, which has been a key resource for newcomers to the U.S. The lawsuit is being led by Democracy Forward, a left-leaning legal firm, and it includes several non-governmental organizations, such as the Urban Justice Center. They argue that shutting down this office is part of Trump’s broader agenda to target immigrants and reduce their protections.
Democracy Forward’s President, Skye Perryman, emphasized that the closure of these offices weakens the support available to immigrants. Critics have pointed out that under President Joe Biden, the office had staff members with strong ties to pro-immigration groups and movements, which some believe influenced its operations.
The organizations involved in the lawsuit have financial connections to the Open Society Foundations, which is Soros’s main organization. This foundation has provided significant funding to groups like Democracy Forward and the Urban Justice Center. For example, it awarded nearly $4 million to the Center for American Progress in 2023 and has given substantial amounts to other immigrant advocacy organizations.
The Urban Justice Center has also received close to half a million dollars from the Open Society Foundations between 2017 and 2021. This funding was intended for services aimed at helping refugees and newly arrived migrants.
In addition to this lawsuit, Democracy Forward is also working on another case to prevent the Trump administration from deporting illegal gang members under the Alien Enemies Act. This ongoing legal battle reflects the tensions between the Trump administration’s immigration policies and the efforts of various advocacy groups to protect immigrant rights.