from other officers or employees of the Department engaged in border security or immigration activities. (c) Staffing The Secretary shall take appropriate action to ensure that the Ombudsman’s office is sufficiently staffed and resourced to carry out its duties effectively and efficiently. (d) Functions The functions of the Ombudsman shall be as follows: (1) To establish an independent, neutral, and appropriately confidential process to receive, investigate, resolve, and provide redress, including immigration relief, monetary damages, or any other action determined appropriate, for complaints, grievances, or requests for assistance from individuals, associations, and employers regarding the border security and immigration activities of the Department. (2) To conduct inspections of the facilities, including privately-owned or operated contract facilities, of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and United States Citizenship and Immigration Services. (3) To assist individuals and families who have been victims of crimes committed by aliens unlawfully present in the United States or of violence near the United States border, and individuals and families impacted by situations in which the Department has exercised force against an individual, including by use of a firearm, taser, explosive device, chemical agent, baton, projectile, blunt instrument, body part, canine, or vehicle. (4) To identify areas in which individuals, associations, and employers have identified concerns with respect to interacting with U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or United States Citizenship and Immigration Services. (5) To propose changes in the administrative practices of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and United States Citizenship and Immigration Services to mitigate problems identified under this section. (6) To review, examine, and make recommendations regarding the border security and immigration and