Grijalva asks GAO to review CBP’s handling of personal property of asylum seekers

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – On Monday, November 7, 2022, Arizona Representative Raul M. Grijalva made the statement following a joint letter to the Government Accountability Office (GAO).

Therefore, the letter demands that the activities and procedures of the US Customs and Border Protection Service regarding the processing of personal property of asylum seekers be reviewed.

There have been numerous reports of CBP agents seizing and ignoring immigrants’ personal documents.

For example, these include passports, birth certificates and other confidential documents required for asylum and religious property cases.

“CBP has failed in its duty to manage the personal property of immigrants and asylum seekers. These reports are serious and the mishandling and mishandling of sensitive personal items and documents by CBP agents requires additional oversight,” said Rep. Grijalva.

“CBP should not be allowed to abdicate its responsibility to treat asylum seekers with respect and to hold them to a higher standard. As written under CBP policy, detainees and asylum seekers .their personal assets must be protected, bound, documented and accessible. This request for a GAO report is one of many additional steps we are taking to hold CBP accountable. “

If you want to read the full GAO report, click here Here.