Thread by @ReichlinMelnick

CBP routinely, as a matter of general practice, takes peoples' belongings (including phones) and throws them all in the trash, except for "valuables" they let people keep.

All of that is against policy yet they just keep doing it. And it leads to things like this. 👇

https://twitter.com/L_Toczylowski/status/1391973357772439554

In 2019, the DHS Office of Inspector General documented CBP throwing away everyone's belongings except for valuables—including this doll and a little girl's backpack.

CBP's explanation? The "items might be wet, have
bugs, and be muddy, and, therefore, presented a 'biohazard.'"

Not all phones are thrown out, and sometimes people do get them back. But it is inconsistent.

CBP also tosses peoples' medication in the trash as a matter of policy, because it wasn't prescribed in the US. But if people are only held for a few hours, that can be dangerous.

Thanks to @jbwashing for pointing out this great @NoMoreDeaths report on the practice of the Border Patrol throwing peoples' items in the trash and often failing to return valuables—including money and cell phones. Here's one example highlighted.

Read: nomoredeaths.org/abuse-document…