Customs officers didn't effectively remove illegal immigrants, inadmissibles at airport: Report

U.S. customs officers do not have an effective process to detain and remove inadmissible travelers, including illegal immigrants, at an international airport, according to a report from the Department of Homeland Security Inspector General's Office.

From 2021 through 2023, Customs and Border Protection officers at the unnamed airport "released at least 383 inadmissible travelers from custody," 44% of whom did not return for removal flights, according to the report released this month. Additionally, 77 inadmissible travelers who did not return for their flights were not given notices to appear in immigration courts by CPB.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement said that they deny requests from CBP to hold the inadmissible travelers overnight due to staffing and space problems. The issues were compounded by the fact that the CBP decreased the number of staffers responsible for issuing notices to appear to inadmissible travelers, according to the report.

The inspector general's recommended ICE to "establish an effective approach to detain and remove ... inadmissible travelers" and to ensure that inadmissible travelers who did not return for their removal flights are issued a notice to appear in court. ICE agreed and the inspector general considers the recommendations to be resolved.

However, although the agency agreed with the inspector general's recommendation to ensure sufficient staffing for people responsible for issuing notices to appear to inadmissible travelers who fail to return for removal flights, the inspector general found the issue unresolved. While the agency said it would provide additional staffing when necessary, CBP "has not provided a corrective action plan," the inspector general said.

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