In August 2024, we conducted unannounced inspections of four 3 U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) short-term holding 4 facilities in the San Diego area — two Border Patrol facilities and 5 two Office of Field Operations ports of entry. We found that CBP 6 facilities generally met the National Standards on Transport, 7 Escort, Detention, and Search for food and beverages, supplies 8 and hygiene items, bedding, and medical care. We also found 9 areas of noncompliance at the facilities, including: 10 11 • One Border Patrol facility did not comply with duration of 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 detention standards, which generally limit time in custody to 72 hours. The facility held more than half of its detainees longer than this standard. • CBP did not comply with relevant standards of processing, documenting, and storing detainees’ personal property. • All facilities could not always provide U.S.-equivalent medication to detainees in a timely manner. 22 • One Border Patrol station did not meet cleanliness and 23 24 sanitation standards.
Open Recommendations
| Recommendation Number | Significant Recommendation | Recommended Questioned Costs | Recommended Funds for Better Use | Additional Details | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | No | $0 | $0 | ||
| We recommend the San Diego Sector Chief, Border Patrol, CBP, implement and regularly monitor quality assurance mechanisms at short-term holding facilities to ensure detainee high-dollar currency amounts and other valuable property are itemized, documented, securely stored, and transited with detainees when they are transferred, repatriated, or released. | |||||
| 2 | No | $0 | $0 | ||
| We recommend the San Diego Field Office Director, OFO, CBP, implement and regularly monitor quality assurance mechanisms at short-term holding facilities to ensure detainee high-dollar currency amounts and other valuable property are itemized, documented, securely stored, and transited with detainees when they are transferred, repatriated, or released. | |||||
| 3 | No | $0 | $0 | ||
| We recommend the Office of Chief Medical Officer, CBP, ensure the medical contractors are following the Migrant Foreign Medications Validation Guidance and identify corrective actions to reduce the number of CBP-purchased prescriptions that are discarded. | |||||
| 4 | No | $0 | $0 | ||
| We recommend the San Diego Sector Chief, Border Patrol, CBP, complete the scheduled antimicrobial coating project of the Chula Vista Border Patrol station holding rooms. | |||||
