DHS OIG Gives CBP Mixed Review

DHS OIG, Mar. 15, 2024

"In July 2023, we conducted on-site, unannounced inspections of six U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) facilities in the Rio Grande Valley area, specifically three U.S. Border Patrol facilities and three Office of Field Operations ports of entry. At the time of our on-site inspection, Border Patrol held 2,020 detainees in custody in the Donna and Ursula Centralized Processing Centers (CPC). We found that detainees in both Donna and Ursula Centralized Processing Centers were held in custody longer than specified in the National Standards on Transport, Escort, Detention, and Search, which generally limits detention to 72 hours. Additionally, the Ursula Centralized Processing Center was over its maximum holding capacity. We also found data integrity issues with information in Border Patrol’s electronic system of record, e3. CBP generally met other applicable standards to provide or make available amenities such as food, water, sleeping mats, and medical care to detainees. Border Patrol also implemented an innovative operational practice of having multiple caregivers present in holding pods with unaccompanied children at Ursula CPC. However, we found contract medical personnel were understaffed and instances where agents did not offer telephone calls to two unaccompanied children. The Brownsville Gateway, McAllen-Hidalgo, and Progreso-Donna Office of Field Operations ports of entry did not hold any detainees in custody longer than 72 hours and met the National Standards on Transport, Escort, Detention, and Search standards we observed."