Border Patrol’s Abusive Practice of Taking Migrants’ Property Needs to End | ACLU

Border Patrol agents routinely confiscate, trash, or force migrants to throw away their precious belongings.

Border Patrol and its parent agency, Customs and Border Protection ( CBP ) have routinely confiscated life-saving medications and medical devices.

Confiscating or destroying documents pose a significant barrier to asylum-seekers’ ability to substantiate their claims.

Border Patrol agents in Yuma told several Muslim migrants they had to throw away their prayer mats.

Migrants’ religious freedom is protected both by the First Amendment and the federal Religious Freedom Restoration Act .

Border Patrol must ensure migrants in its custody and those released from custody have continuous access to their medications and medical devices.