Department of Homeland Security 

Office of Inspector General 

CBP's Handling of 
 
 

Unaccompanied Alien Children 
 
 

OIG-10-117 September 2010 
Office ofInspector General

U.S. Department of Homeland Security

Washington. DC 20528

SEP - 9 2010 8Hom~land

-'~,:!~,., SecurIty

Preface

The Department ofHomeland Security (DHS) Office ofInspector General (OIG) was

established by the Homeland Security Act of2002 (Public Law 107-296) by amendment

to the Inspector General Act of1978. This is one of a series of audit, inspection, and

special reports prepared as part of our oversight responsibilities to promote economy,

efficiency, and effectiveness within the department.

This report addresses Customs and Border Protection's compliance with the Flores

Settlement Agreement in the treatment ofunaccompanied alien children in its custody. It

is based on interviews with employees and officials ofrelevant agencies, direct

observations, and a review of applicable documents.

The recommendations herein have been developed to the best knowledge available to our

office, and have been discussed in draft with those responsible for implementation. We

trust this report will result in more effective, efficient, and economical operations. We

express our appreciation to all ofthose who contributed to the preparation of this report.

c'~8Mt-- Assistant Inspector General for Inspections
Table of Contents/Abbreviations 

Executive Summary.............................................................................................................1
 
 


Background..........................................................................................................................2 
 
 

Results of Review ................................................................................................................5 
 
 

CBP’s Compliance With Terms of the Flores Agreement................................................5
 
 


Recommendations...........................................................................................................11
 
 


Management Comments and OIG Analysis ...................................................................11
 
 


Emergency Medical Assistance ......................................................................................12
 
 


Recommendations...........................................................................................................15
 
 


Management Comments and OIG Analysis ...................................................................15
 
 


Toilets and Sinks.............................................................................................................17
 
 


Recommendations...........................................................................................................18
 
 


Management Comments and OIG Analysis ...................................................................18
 
 


Improvements Needed in Training in Flores Agreement Requirements ........................21
 
 


Recommendations...........................................................................................................23
 
 


Management Comments and OIG Analysis ...................................................................23
 
 


Improvements Needed in Maintaining Unaccompanied Alien Children Information....24
 
 

Recommendations...........................................................................................................26
 
 


Management Comments and OIG Analysis ...................................................................26
 
 


Appendices 

Appendix A: Purpose, Scope, and Methodology.......................................................28
 
 


Appendix B: Management Comments to the Draft Report.......................................29
 
 


Appendix C: Major Contributors to This Report ......................................................33
 
 


Appendix D: Report Distribution .............................................................................34
 
 


Abbreviation 

BP Border Patrol 
 
 

CBP Customs and Border Protection 
 
 

CRCL Civil Rights and Civil Liberties 
 
 

DHS Department of Homeland Security 
 
 

EMT Emergency Medical Technician 
 
 

HSA Homeland Security Act of 2002
 
 

OBP Office of Border Patrol 
 
 

OFO Office of Field Operations 
 
 

OIG Office of Inspector General 
 
 

UAC Unaccompanied Alien Children 
 
 

VLC Virtual Learning Center 
 
 
OIG
 
 


Department of Homeland Security 

Office of Inspector General 

Executive Summary 

The Flores v. Reno Settlement Agreement governs the policy for 

the treatment of unaccompanied alien children in federal custody. 

Unaccompanied alien children are minors less than 18 years old 

who arrive in the United States without a parent or legal guardian 

and are in the temporary custody of federal authorities because of 

their immigration status. The Department of Homeland Security is 

bound by the Flores v. Reno Settlement Agreement, which includes 

requirements that immigration officials detaining minors provide 

(1) food and drinking water, (2) medical assistance in the event of 

emergencies, (3) toilets and sinks, (4) adequate temperature control 

and ventilation, (5) adequate supervision to protect minors from 

others, and (6) separation from unrelated adults whenever possible. 

Customs and Border Protection is one of the Department of 

Homeland Security’s primary immigration enforcement agencies 

for handling unaccompanied children. Customs and Border 

Protection personnel apprehend, process, and detain 

unaccompanied alien children intercepted along the borders and at 

ports of entry for attempting to enter the United States illegally. 

Based on our site visits to 30 Border Patrol stations and ports of 

entry, select document reviews, and independent observations, we 

concluded that Customs and Border Protection was in compliance 

with the general provisions of the Flores v. Reno Settlement 

Agreement. Although we did not identify any significant 

violations of the agreement, we are recommending that the agency 

(1) evaluate its food-purchasing and contracting methods to ensure 

efficient use of resources; (2) ensure that detainees are informed of 

the safety of drinking water provided in hold rooms; (3) determine 

whether unaccompanied alien children are injured or require 

medical attention; (4) document medical care provided; (5) ensure 

that detention facilities maintain sufficient inventories of medical 

supplies; (6) ensure that toilets and sinks are routinely inspected 

and work properly; (7) verify that all required personnel complete 

the mandatory annual refresher Flores v. Reno Settlement 

Agreement training; and (8) accurately and consistently document 

required information pertaining to unaccompanied alien children. 

CBP’s Handling of Unaccompanied Alien Children 
 

Page 1 
 
Background 

The Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Customs and 

Border Protection (CBP) protects United States borders and 

enforces immigration laws by apprehending and detaining aliens 

who attempt to enter the country illegally. Juvenile detainees 

include unaccompanied alien children (UAC), individuals who are 

less than 18 years old with no lawful immigration status and no 

parent or legal guardian in the United States available to provide 

care and physical custody.1 These individuals must be treated 

according to provisions of the Flores v. Reno Settlement 

Agreement (Flores Agreement), which set forth policy for the 

detention, treatment, and release of minors in CBP custody. 

Authorities 

The Flores Agreement is the result of a settlement reached in a 

federal class-action lawsuit filed against the Immigration and 

Naturalization Service, a former subcomponent of the Department 

of Justice responsible for apprehending and detaining minors who 

were in the United States illegally. The suit challenged the arrest, 

processing, detention, and release of UAC who were in the country 

illegally and later detained by the U.S. government. The 

Department of Justice and a coalition of immigrants’ rights groups 

negotiated a settlement in August 1996. The Immigration and 

Naturalization Service agreed to abide by stipulations of the 

agreement for processing, detaining, and releasing minors held in 

its custody. The Flores Agreement established guidance on the 

treatment of minors while in the custody of immigration officials, 

and recognized the particular vulnerability of UAC while detained 

without a parent or legal guardian present. The Flores Agreement 

includes a requirement that immigration officials hold minors in 

facilities that provide (1) access to food and drinking water, 

(2) medical assistance in the event of emergencies; (3) toilets and 

sinks; (4) adequate temperature control and ventilation; 

(5) adequate supervision to protect minors from others; and 

(6) separation from unrelated adults whenever possible. 

In March 2003, the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (HSA) was 

implemented, consolidating several agencies to create DHS. The 

HSA delegated the apprehension, detention, transfer, and 

repatriation of UAC to DHS. 

1 Homeland Security Act of 2002, Public Law 107-296, 462(g), November 2002. 

CBP’s Handling of Unaccompanied Alien Children 

Page 2 
DHS Responsibilities for Handling Unaccompanied Alien 

Children 

Within DHS, CBP and Immigration and Customs Enforcement 

(ICE) share responsibility for UAC. CBP apprehends, processes, 

and detains the majority of UAC arrested along the U.S. borders. 

ICE arrests UAC inside the United States, and removes 

inadmissible UAC after Immigration Judges or United States 

Courts issue removal orders. ICE also coordinates the placement 

and long-term detention of UAC. 

The Office of Border Patrol (OBP) and Office of Field Operations 

(OFO) are the two entities within CBP that process UAC. OBP’s 

mission includes preventing illegal aliens, smugglers, narcotics, 

and other contraband from entering the United States. OFO is 

responsible for processing people, goods, and conveyances 

entering and leaving the United States at its ports of entry along 

land borders and at seaports. 

DHS must abide by the terms of the Flores Agreement, which 

guides the treatment of alien children in federal custody. The 

agreement mandates that juveniles be afforded appropriate care 

and protection given their age and vulnerability. 

Apprehension, Processing, and Short-Term Detention of UAC 

In FY 2009, Border Patrol (BP) agents encountered and 

apprehended about 18,000 UAC while patrolling border areas, 

conducting routine checks at highway checkpoints, or performing 

border security enforcement operations. From March to 

September 2009, OFO apprehended approximately 2,000 UAC at 

ports of entry. Prior to March 23, 2009, OFO did not track UAC 

statistics separately from other juveniles. 

CBP agents and officers process juveniles at CBP facilities to 

determine their names, ages, citizenship, and whether they are 

accompanied or unaccompanied. Processing also includes 

querying federal government immigration and criminal databases 

to determine whether juveniles have the right to remain in the 

country and whether they have committed any criminal offenses. 

When CBP confirms that juveniles have entered the country 

illegally and unaccompanied, they are considered UAC and 

processed for immigration violations. 

CBP’s Handling of Unaccompanied Alien Children 

Page 3 
UAC brought to CBP facilities are detained in hold rooms. OBP 

defines hold rooms as detention cells or search or interview rooms 

where individuals are temporarily detained pending processing or 

transfer. OFO defines hold rooms as areas at ports of entry where 

detained individuals may be temporarily held pending secondary 

processing, which involves verifying documents and conducting 

interviews. UAC are held in these secure areas on a short-term 

basis while their cases are being processed. Short-term detention 

in CBP facilities is generally less than 24 hours; however, CBP’s 

goal is to remove UAC from its custody within 12 hours after their 

apprehension. 

Figure 1 depicts the usual flow of apprehending, processing, and 

detaining UAC while in DHS custody. 

Figure 1. Flow of UAC Apprehension, Processing, and Detention2 

Source: Customs and Border Protection 

2

 DHS’ Immigration and Customs Enforcement is also responsible for apprehending, processing, and 

detaining juveniles, to include UAC, who illegally enter the country. 

CBP’s Handling of Unaccompanied Alien Children 

Page 4 
Results of Review 

CBP’s Compliance With Terms of the Flores Agreement 

CBP is complying with the provisions of the Flores Agreement as 

described in the following sections of this report. 

Food and Drinking Water 

The Flores Agreement requires that UAC in CBP custody have 

access to food and drinking water. To comply with the agreement, 

CBP established internal policies requiring that food and drinking 

water be provided to UAC. 

OBP issued a Hold Room and Short Term Custody policy, dated 

June 2, 2008. According to the policy, meals must be offered to 

UAC at least every six hours. The policy also requires that two of 

the meals served within the 24-hour period must be hot, and that 

juveniles must have regular access to snacks, milk, and juice. 

OFO’s August 8, 2008, policy, Secure Detention, Transport and 

Escort Procedures at Ports of Entry, includes requirements for 

juveniles to have access to meals, snacks, and drinks at any time. 

This policy also urges officers to be sensitive to cultural and 

religious dietary restrictions whenever possible. 

At the 17 BP stations and 13 ports of entry we visited, meals, 

snacks, drinking water, and other beverages were available to 

UAC. Figures 2 and 3 list the types of food served at the facilities 

we visited. 

CBP’s Handling of Unaccompanied Alien Children 
 


Page 5 
 

 

 

 

Figure 2. Meals, Snacks, and Beverages at Select Border Patrol Stations 

OBP Sector OBP Station Meals Snacks Beverages 

Tucson 

Tucson Coordinating 

Center 

Burger King contract for 

hamburgers, chicken 

sandwiches, side salads 

Peanut butter and cheese 

crackers, fruit 

Water, juice, 

milk 

Nogales Chili packets, frozen burritos Peanut butter and 

cheese crackers 

Water, juice 

Sonoita Chili packets Peanut butter and 

cheese crackers 

Water, juice 

El Paso 

El Paso New Facility 

Detainees processed at El Paso Station Processing Center 

El Paso Station 

Processing Center 

Frozen burritos Granola bars Water, juice 

Ft. Hancock Frozen burritos Granola bars Water, juice 

Fabens Frozen burritos Granola bars, 

crackers 

Water, juice 

Santa Teresa Frozen burritos Granola bars Water, juice 

Detroit 

Detroit Meals Ready to Eat3 Peanut butter and 

cheese crackers 

Water, juice 

Marysville Meals Ready to Eat None Water 

Gibraltar Meals Ready to Eat None Water 

San Diego 

Chula Vista Meals Ready to Eat Peanut butter and 

cheese crackers 

Water, 

powdered 

juice 

Imperial Beach Meals Ready to Eat Peanut butter and 

cheese crackers 

Water 

Brown Field Meals Ready to Eat Peanut butter and 

cheese crackers 

Water 

El Cajon Meals Ready to Eat Peanut butter and 

cheese crackers 

Water 

Miami 

Dania Beach Pasta bowls Fruit cups, applesauce, 

crackers 

Water, juice, 

milk 

West Palm Beach Pasta bowls Peanut butter and 

cheese crackers 

Water, juice, 

milk 

Source: OIG observations during site visits 

3 Meals Ready to Eat are prepackaged microwaveable food. Packages include items such as pancakes or 

omelets for breakfast, and spaghetti, chicken pasta, beef ravioli, beef stroganoff, and chili with beans for 

lunch or dinner. 

CBP’s Handling of Unaccompanied Alien Children 

Page 6 
 

 

Figure 3. Meals, Snacks, and Beverages at Select Ports of Entry 

OFO Field 

Office 

OFO Facility Meals Snacks Beverages 

Tucson Nogales Chili packets Peanut butter and 

cheese crackers 

Water, juice 

Paso Del Norte Bridge Frozen burritos Snack bars Water, juice 

El Paso Fabens Frozen burritos Fruit cups, crackers Water, 

Gatorade 

Santa Teresa Frozen burritos Fruit cups, peanut butter 

and cheese crackers 

Water, juice 

Detroit 

Detroit Ambassador 

Bridge 

Noodle cups, pasta bowls Granola bars Water, juice 

Detroit Canada 

Tunnel 

Noodle cups Fruit cups, crackers Water, juice 

Blue Water Bridge Noodle cups, pasta bowls Chips and breakfast bars Water, juice 

San Ysidro Brown bag meal: 

turkey sandwich, macaroni 

salad, carrots, and granola bar 

Granola bars Water, juice 

San Diego 

Otay Mesa Brown bag meal: 

turkey sandwich, macaroni 

salad, carrots 

Granola bars Water, juice 

San Diego 

International Airport 

None Water 

Miami International 

Airport 

Pasta bowls Chips and Jell-O Water, juice 

Miami 

Ft. Lauderdale 

International Airport 

Macaroni and cheese cups, 

noodle cups 

Cereal Water, juice, 

milk 

West Palm Beach 

International Airport 

Noodle cups, pasta bowls None Water 

Source: OIG observations during site visits 

Food 

OBP and OFO agents and officers followed similar practices when 

providing meals and snacks to UAC detained at BP stations or 

apprehended at ports of entry. Typically, OBP and OFO provide: 

meals every 4 to 6 hours after the first meal in custody; and 

snacks, milk, or juice as often as requested, and in 

unlimited quantities. 

Each CBP facility either maintained an inventory of food or had a 

process in place to purchase meals and snacks on an as-needed 

basis. Three facilities, Marysville and Gibraltar BP stations and 

CBP’s Handling of Unaccompanied Alien Children 
 


Page 7 
 

West Palm Beach International Airport, stocked meals, but did not 

keep snacks readily available because of minimal UAC encounters. 

Each facility averaged contact with fewer than ten UAC per year. 

Each of these facilities had established procedures to purchase 

snacks as needed. San Diego International Airport handled fewer 

than five UAC a year and did not maintain a supply of food at its 

location. When CBP officials encounter UAC at this airport, the 

officials purchase food for them from a nearby food court. At the 

time of our visit to the El Paso station, OBP had recently occupied 

the building; therefore, detainees were being processed at the El 

Paso Processing Center. OBP officials told us that processing 

should begin at the El Paso station within a few weeks. 

Even though food was provided to UAC in custody, OBP and OFO 

personnel described large quantities of food being discarded 

because UAC did not eat the meals offered. For example, UAC 

were provided food such as chili, macaroni salad, and turkey 

sandwiches; however, many refused to eat these items based on a 

lack of appeal, cultural preferences, or other reasons. CBP 

managers explained that agents and officers often compensate for 

such occurrences by purchasing food from the facilities’ vending 

machines or in nearby fast food restaurants. Agents and officers 

said that when UAC refuse to eat the food offered, they have 

shared their own lunches and dinners with them. 

Some stations and ports of entry provided meals that they 

considered appealing to children. For example, a Tucson BP 

station contracted with Burger King to provide hamburgers, 

sandwiches, and side salads. At Miami International Airport, 

officers assembled meal packages from items purchased in bulk. 

These items included microwavable pasta dishes, potato chips, 

Jell-O, and juice boxes. Agents and officers at BP stations and 

OFO ports of entry in El Paso said that UAC had no problems 

eating the variety of microwavable burritos they served as meals. 

In addition, OFO managers said that this arrangement works well 

in ports of entry where the volume of UAC is difficult to predict 

and purchasing nonperishable food is more practical. 

CBP’s Handling of Unaccompanied Alien Children 
 


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Examples of meals and snacks available to UAC 

Source: DHS OIG 

Drinking Water 

During our site visits, we observed that drinking water was 

accessible to all UAC detained in CBP facilities through a variety 

of methods, including plastic coolers, water fountains, bottled 

water, and combined toilet-sink units. The combined units were 

located in hold rooms at BP stations, and designed with the sinks 

located directly above the toilet. These sinks also served as 

drinking fountains that dispensed regular tap water from a separate 

water supply than that connected to the toilet. Of the 17 BP 

stations that we visited that used these combined units, 14 stations 

also offered bottled water or water from large plastic coolers to 

UAC. The remaining three stations used the combined units as the 

only source of drinking water. 

BP managers informed us that having water available in bottles 

and coolers stemmed from complaints filed by UAC that they were 

drinking water from toilets. An official from DHS’ Office for 

Civil Rights and Civil Liberties (CRCL) informed us that 

complaints had been filed by or on behalf of UAC who believed 

that since the sink was located directly above the toilet, the 

CBP’s Handling of Unaccompanied Alien Children 

Page 9 
 

 

 

drinking water came from the toilet itself. The CRCL 

representative alerted OBP officials of this situation, which 

resulted in some stations providing water from coolers or bottles. 

Other BP stations indicated in English and Spanish above the 

toilet-sink units that water from the combined unit was safe to 

drink, as illustrated below. 

Source: DHS OIG. 

At the newer BP stations we visited, hold rooms had combined 

toilet-sink units. The combined units have the sink on one side and 

the toilet on the other. UAC detained in hold rooms were less 

apprehensive about drinking water from this type of configuration. 

 Toilet-sink unit at newer Border Patrol stations 

 Source: DHS OIG 

Although drinking water was accessible to UAC in OBP facilities, 

one station did not have disposable cups readily available to hold 

water from the cooler. At another station, the water faucet in the 

combined toilet-sink unit was inoperable. In hold rooms at three 

BP stations, the toilet-sink units had wet toilet paper or paper 

CBP’s Handling of Unaccompanied Alien Children 

Page 10 
towels in or around the units, making it appear that the area may 

not be sanitary and the water from the sink unsafe to drink. 

At OFO ports of entry, water is provided to UAC from fountains 

located in secondary screening areas or from bottles. When UAC 

are placed in hold rooms, they have access to water through toiletsink units as described for OBP. Every OFO facility we visited 

had drinking water available either in bottles or through drinking 

fountains in addition to toilet-sink combinations inside hold rooms. 

According to OBP and OFO juvenile detention policies, milk could 

be available for UAC, as well as other categories of detainees 

including babies, toddlers, and pregnant women. At the time of 

our fieldwork, four of the 30 facilities we visited served milk. In 

addition, most facilities made other beverages available to UAC, 

such as orange or apple juice. Figures 2 and 3 list the beverages 

available to UAC at the sites we visited. 

Recommendations 

We recommend that the Chief, Office of Border Patrol, and 

Assistant Commissioner, Office of Field Operations: 

Recommendation #1: Evaluate the current methods for 

purchasing food to ensure that purchases are efficient and costeffective. 

Recommendation #2: Display information near the toilet-sink 

units in all hold rooms to indicate that the water is safe to drink. 

Management Comments and OIG Analysis 

We evaluated CBP’s written comments and have made changes to the 

report where we deem appropriate. A summary of CBP’s written 

responses to our recommendations and our analysis of the responses 

follow each recommendation. A copy of CBP’s response, in its 

entirety, appears in Appendix B. 

CBP Response: CBP concurred with Recommendation 1. 

Border Patrol sectors will identify current best practices and 

provide food items that will be well received by the 

unaccompanied alien children (UAC). By identifying meals that 

have appeal, are culturally preferred, and cost-effective, we will 

CBP’s Handling of Unaccompanied Alien Children 

Page 11 
eliminate waste and redundancy. The Border Patrol sectors will 

implement best practices by January 31, 2011. 

The Office of Field Operations (OFO) Logistics will survey the 

field offices on the types of food that seem to be popular with the 

“typical child” and share best practices with the field offices and 

Office of Border Patrol (OBP). 

Due Date: January 31, 2011 

OIG Analysis: This recommendation is resolved and open 

pending our receipt of the Office of Border Patrol (OBP) and 

Office of Field Operation’s (OFO) best practices on serving foods 

to UAC in their custody that are appealing, culturally preferred, 

and cost-effective. 

CBP Response: CBP concurred with Recommendation 2. 

OBP will issue field guidance and conduct follow-up conference 

calls with sector field staff by October 21, 2010, to ensure that 

signage is properly displayed to inform everyone that the water is 

drinkable. 

By December 1, 2010, OFO will display information near the 

toilet-sink units in all hold rooms to indicate that the water is safe 

to drink. 

Due Date: December 1, 2010 

OIG Analysis: This recommendation is resolved and open 

pending our receipt of Border Patrol (BP) guidance and OFO 

confirmation that signs indicating water from toilet-sink units is 

safe to drink have been properly displayed. 

Emergency Medical Assistance 

The Flores Agreement requires that UAC have access to emergency 

medical assistance. OBP’s Policy for Encounters with Injured Subjects 

requires that all individuals who are injured or require medical assistance 

when encountered by BP agents be provided access to medical treatment. 

In addition, OBP’s Hold Room and Short-Term Custody policy specifies 

that a qualified medical professional, such as an emergency medical 

technician (EMT), paramedic, or physician, evaluate detainees who 

require medical attention or display symptoms of serious infectious 

CBP’s Handling of Unaccompanied Alien Children 

Page 12 
diseases or contagions such as tuberculosis, severe acute respiratory 

syndrome, or pandemic influenza. 

OFO officers must provide medical assistance at ports of entry when 

encountering UAC who need medical care. Specifically, OFO’s policy, 

Secure Detention, Transport and Escort Procedures at Ports of Entry, 

requires that all persons placed in a secure area at its facilities be asked 

whether they have a medical problem or condition that may require 

medical attention. 

Many BP agents and OFO officers we interviewed stated that juveniles 

occasionally reported having medical conditions. However, according to a 

CRCL official, juveniles may be too intimidated to report an injury or 

illness during processing. OFO policy requires officers to ask all 

detainees whether they need medical treatment, while OBP policy does 

not have a similar requirement. BP agents may observe that juveniles 

require medical assistance or juveniles may request such assistance, but 

OBP policy does not require the agent to ask. Requesting information 

from juveniles about their medical condition might be a useful tool in 

assessing their physical well-being. 

CBP managers, agents, and officers said that when they apprehend and 

process UAC, CBP employees identify injured juveniles. In cases of 

medical emergencies, agents and officers said that they transport or escort 

UAC to hospitals and monitor their condition. When appropriate, UAC 

are returned to BP stations or OFO ports of entry to complete 

administrative processing. 

OFO’s Secure Detention, Transport and Escort Procedures at Ports of 

Entry policy requires officers to complete an Individual Caution Sheet on 

every UAC when they observe obvious medical conditions or UAC claim 

to have an injury or illness. A sector within OBP issued guidance, 

Juvenile Directive, dated May 2003, requiring its BP agents to record 

health-related complaints from juveniles in the narrative portion of Form 

I-213, a document CBP completes when aliens are deportable. 

BP agents reported documenting instances when UAC were transported to 

hospitals for medical care or treated by EMTs. In addition, employees who 

process UAC said that they sometimes include a description of health 

problems, medical emergencies, and any treatment provided on Form I-213. 

However, a BP official said that OBP does not have a nationwide 

requirement to document that type of information on Form I-213. A CRCL 

official commented that its office’s review of Form I-213 indicated that 

these forms do not always identify medical assistance provided to UAC 

when CRCL investigates complaints filed by UAC or their representative. 

CBP’s Handling of Unaccompanied Alien Children 
 


Page 13 
 

More consistent documentation of medical assistance given to UAC could 

provide increased evidence of CBP’s compliance with the Flores 

Agreement. 

According to OBP personnel, all agents are certified to provide 

cardiopulmonary resuscitation and first aid. Additionally, OBP has a 

cadre of 734 trained EMTs nationwide who are able to evaluate the 

severity of an injured or ill detainee’s medical condition to determine the 

appropriate methods of treatment or contact emergency medical services 

(EMS) for conditions that require special medical attention. When an 

OBP facility does not have EMTs available to evaluate a medical 

emergency, agents contact EMS for assistance. 

OFO managers informed us that they had 104 certified EMTs, and 460 

officers trained as first responders. The managers said OFO also certifies 

officers in cardiopulmonary resuscitation and first aid during basic 

training. 

Since certain minor injuries may not warrant treatment by EMS, CBP 

facilities should have first aid kits readily available and supplied with 

basic items, such as adhesive bandages, sterile pads, and cold packs, to 

treat detainees. Of the 30 CBP facilities we visited, 23 had first aid kits 

with a sufficient inventory of medical supplies. However, six BP stations 

and one OFO port of entry had first aid kits that either were empty or 

contained minimal basic first aid items. In one OBP sector, all four 

stations we visited had first aid kits that were completely or almost empty. 

Overall, CBP personnel said that they recognized the need to maintain 

sufficient supplies in order to provide UAC with immediate assistance for 

minor medical conditions. 

 Examples of first aid kits we observed 

 Source: DHS OIG 

CBP’s Handling of Unaccompanied Alien Children 
 


Page 14 
 

Recommendations 

We recommend that the Chief, Office of Border Patrol, and 

Assistant Commissioner, Office of Field Operations: 

Recommendation #3: Establish a procedure that requires CBP 

employees who initially encounter UAC to inquire about any 

injury or illness that might require medical attention. 

Recommendation #4: Develop a process to document any 

medical assistance provided to UAC. 

Recommendation #5: Maintain a sufficient inventory of medical 

supplies in first aid kits at BP stations and ports of entry. 

Management Comments and OIG Analysis 

CBP Response: CBP concurred with Recommendation 3. 

By October 31, 2010, OBP will rerelease previously issued 

guidance to reemphasize adherence to the medical and reporting 

requirements contained in the memo, dated March 20, 2009, signed 

by Chief David V. Aguilar entitled, Implementation of the William 

Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 

2008 (TVPRA, attached), the Hold Rooms and Short Term 

Custody policy issued June 2, 2008, and the Policy for Encounters 

with Injured Subjects signed on November 9, 2007. 

OFO/Admissibility and Passenger Program will reissue 

Implementation of TVPRA field guidance to all ports of entry 

(POE). Reissue will also include a reminder to complete the Initial 

Placement Referral Form, which captures the UAC medical status 

(injury/treatment/illness). 

Due Date: October 31, 2010 

OIG Analysis: The management policies OBP cites in their 

response do not address its personnel specifically asking each 

UAC whether they are ill or injured when initially encountered. 

Implementation of the William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims 

Protection Reauthorization Act of 2008 requires that a child is only 

asked how they received injuries if they show signs of torture, 

malnourishment, fatigue, or emotional abuse. The Hold Rooms 

and Short Term Custody policy and the Policy for Encounters with 

CBP’s Handling of Unaccompanied Alien Children 

Page 15 
Injured Subjects address access to medical assistance, but do not 

mention inquiring about the need for medical attention due to 

illness or injury. 

The intent of this recommendation is to inquire of every UAC 

whether they are ill or injured when initially encountered 

regardless of how they physically appear. This recommendation 

will remain unresolved and open until OBP establishes such a 

requirement. 

OFO’s policy to complete the Unaccompanied Alien Child Initial 

Placement Referral Form, which captures each UAC’s medical 

status, addresses this recommendation. 

CBP Response: CBP concurred with Recommendation 4. 

By October 31, 2010, OBP will rerelease previously issued 

guidance to reemphasize adherence to the medical and reporting 

requirements. This is contained in the memo dated March 20, 

2009, signed by Chief David V. Aguilar entitled, Implementation 

of the William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection 

Reauthorization Act of 2008 (TVPRA, attached), the Hold Rooms 

and Short Term Custody policy issued June 2, 2008, and the Policy 

for Encounters with Injured Subjects signed on November 9, 2007. 

OFO will reissue UAC field guidance including a reminder to 

complete the Initial Placement Referral Form, which captures the 

UAC medical status (injury/treatment/illness) and any medical 

assistance provided. 

Due Date: October 31, 2010 

OIG Analysis: The management policies cited in OBP’s response 

do not include specific procedures for documenting medical 

assistance provided to UAC. Implementation of the William 

Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 

2008 requires that a child is asked only how they received injuries 

if they show signs of torture, malnourishment, fatigue, or 

emotional abuse. The Hold Rooms and Short Term Custody policy 

and the Policy for Encounters with Injured Subjects address access 

to medical care, but do not require any documentation when 

medical assistance is provided. This recommendation will remain 

unresolved and open until OBP establishes a process for 

documenting medical assistance provided to UAC. 

CBP’s Handling of Unaccompanied Alien Children 

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OFO’s policy to complete the Initial Placement Referral Form, 

which captures any medical assistance provided to UAC, addresses 

this recommendation. 

CBP Response: CBP concurred with Recommendation 5. 

By October 31, 2010, OBP will issue guidance reminding sector 

Health and Safety personnel to regularly inspect and stock medical 

supplies to ensure medical kits have the necessary supplies at all 

times. 

OFO Logistics will immediately abate this issue by contacting the 

field offices to fill the first aid kits with the necessary components. 

Due Date: October 31, 2010 

OIG Analysis: This recommendation is resolved and open 

pending our receipt of OBP’s guidance to Health and Safety 

personnel, and OFO’s communication to its field offices to 

replenish first aid kits. OFO’s communication should also include 

guidance to ensure that first aid kits continue to be properly 

stocked following OFO Logistics’ immediate replenishment of 

first aid kits that are currently under stocked. 

Toilets and Sinks 

The Flores Agreement requires that minors be held in DHS 

facilities that are safe and sanitary and have access to toilets and 

sinks. According to OBP and OFO detention policies, all detainees 

will have access to properly equipped restrooms. In addition, OBP 

policy specifies that supervisors must ensure that officers are 

within visible or audible range of secure areas so they can respond 

to detainees’ requests to use the restroom. 

According to CBP personnel, toilets and sinks are always available 

to UAC. CBP agents and officers said that where restrooms are 

not located within open areas or hold rooms where UAC are 

detained, a CBP employee of like gender escorts them to the 

nearest restroom. 

We observed toilets and sinks inside hold rooms designated for 

UAC use. At each facility, we tested toilets and sink faucets to 

ensure that both worked. We noted only one toilet and one faucet 

that did not operate properly and brought that matter to the 

CBP’s Handling of Unaccompanied Alien Children 

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attention of CBP personnel. CBP should routinely check toilets 

and sinks to ensure that they operate properly. 

Recommendation 

We recommend that the Chief, Office of Border Patrol, and 

Assistant Commissioner, Office of Field Operations: 

Recommendation #6: Routinely inspect toilets and sinks to 

ensure they are working properly. 

Management Comments and OIG Analysis 

CBP Response: CBP concurred with Recommendation 6. 

Because some of our stations are leased, OBP will work closely 

with the CBP’s Office of Administration to report toilets and sinks 

that are not working properly. Furthermore, by October 31, 2010, 

OBP will rerelease previously issued guidance on the 

implementation of the TVPRA and the Hold Rooms and Short 

Term Custody policy. 

OFO will issue guidance to the Field Office to routinely check 

toilets and sinks to ensure that they are working properly. 

Due Date: October 31, 2010 

OIG Analysis: OFO’s response addresses guidance that will be 

issued to field offices to routinely inspect toilets and sinks for 

proper operation, which represents a positive step in implementing 

our recommendation. OBP’s response does not address how they 

will ensure that toilets and sinks, in either owned or leased 

facilities, are routinely inspected and working properly. In 

addition, OBP guidance previously issued on the TVPRA and Hold 

Rooms and Short Term Custody policy does not address adequate 

operation of toilets and sinks, as detailed in this report. 

The recommendation is unresolved and open pending our receipt 

of specific efforts by OBP to address this issue, and OFO’s 

guidance to the Field Office as detailed in their response. 

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Proper Temperature Control and Ventilation 

CBP’s internal guidance incorporates the Flores Agreement 

requirement for detention facilities to provide adequate 

temperature control and ventilation. The Flores Agreement does 

not specify the temperature range. Agents and officers explained 

that they had few problems with the buildings’ temperature and 

ventilation and contacted the appropriate maintenance personnel 

when problems occurred. 

We noted variances in the temperatures in the CBP facilities we 

inspected. CBP recognizes the challenges in regulating the 

temperature to suit everyone. The most common complaint from 

detainees was that hold rooms were too cold. However, we 

observed that blankets were available to detainees. 

Supervision for UAC in Custody 

The Flores Agreement requires that detained minors be placed in 

the least restrictive setting appropriate to the minors’ age and 

special needs if the setting is consistent with its interest to protect 

the minors’ well-being and that of others. The Flores Agreement 

further requires that DHS ensure the safety and well-being of 

minors in its custody. 

OBP and OFO policies require that UAC be under direct 

supervision, with agents and officers stationed where they can 

constantly observe or hear detainees. Under OBP policy, detainees 

are to be temporarily held in hold rooms. According to OFO 

policy, when no hold rooms exist at a port of entry, a segregated 

area within the facility should be established, where feasible, away 

from the traveling public, where direct supervision and control of 

all detainees must be maintained. 

CBP personnel use various methods to observe and supervise 

UAC. Those methods include continuous direct observation or 

periodic checks—typically at 15-minute intervals—of hold rooms, 

one-on-one supervision, and closed circuit monitors. 

Based on our observation of areas designated for UAC detainees, 

we concluded that either the proximity of the hold rooms to the 

processing desks or central control rooms, periodic scheduled 

checks, closed circuit monitors, or combinations thereof were 

sufficient to comply with the intent of the Flores Agreement. 

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Processing area at OBP station with view of hold rooms 

Source: DHS OIG. 

Although not required by the Flores Agreement, some CBP 

facilities provide televisions, toys, coloring books and crayons, and 

books for the UAC in their custody. In addition, we noted that 

some agents and officers donate clothing for detainees. 

Separation From Unrelated Adults 

The Flores Agreement stipulates that unaccompanied minors in 

DHS custody be separated from unrelated adult detainees unless it 

is not immediately possible. When separation is impossible, UAC 

detention with an unrelated adult will not exceed 24 hours. 

OBP guidelines require that UAC not be detained with unrelated 

adults. The guidance also requires that, when a separate temporary 

hold room is unavailable, UAC be kept in an open area under 

constant visual supervision of desk officers or other BP agents, if 

feasible. 

OFO policy requires that all detention options be considered when 

detaining UAC at ports of entry, including placing detainees in 

detention cells or hold rooms. The policy requires that UAC not 

be held with unrelated adults, preferring that they be held in 

secondary or temporary holding areas, away from the public and 

under the direct supervision of officers. 

We determined that CBP complies with the requirement of the 

Flores Agreement regarding separating UAC from unrelated 

adults. 

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Other Issues 

Telephones 

The Flores Agreement does not require immigration officials to 

provide access to telephones. However, CBP officials said that 

UAC processed for removal receive a list of free legal service 

providers in the jurisdiction where their apprehension occurred. 

OBP’s policy requires that processing agents grant telephone 

access to UAC as soon as practicable. UAC may use telephones to 

communicate with attorneys, parents, and consular offices. OFO 

policy requires that supervisors determine whether detainees may 

use the telephone. OFO’s policy does not distinguish between 

adult and juvenile detainees; however, OFO managers said UAC 

are always given access to telephones. 

At each detention facility we visited, telephones were available and 

accessible for juvenile use. Telephones were located in areas such 

as hold rooms, interview rooms, and at processing desks. 

Improvements Needed In Training in Flores Agreement 

Requirements 

According to the Flores Agreement, staff must make every effort to ensure 

the safety and well-being of minors detained in CBP facilities. As such, 

the agreement requires appropriate guidance and training for employees 

regarding the terms of the agreement. However, we were unable to 

determine whether all CBP employees responsible for handling UAC 

received sufficient training to comply with this requirement. 

As part of the initial basic training curriculum, BP agents and OFO 

officers receive instruction on CBP’s responsibilities for the care and 

treatment of juveniles in its custody. CBP’s Unaccompanied Alien 

Children training course includes processing and notice of rights and 

disposition, and the treatment and placement of unaccompanied 

juveniles/minors. 

CBP developed a one-hour electronic refresher course, titled 

“Unaccompanied Juveniles/Minors and the Flores v. Reno Settlement 

Agreement,” that is available through its Virtual Learning Center (VLC). 

In addition to this training, CBP personnel said that its staff receives 

policy updates during pre-shift briefings, through email, and by policy 

memorandums. 

CBP’s Handling of Unaccompanied Alien Children 

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In March 2008, OBP issued an internal policy mandating that all 

supervisory and nonsupervisory BP agents complete the VLC training 

“Unaccompanied Juveniles/Minors and Flores vs. Reno Settlement 

Agreement” each year. According to VLC records, 5, 492 agents, or 

approximately 35%, completed the training in FY 2008. In FY 2009, 

7,939 agents, nearly 40%, completed the training. 

In October 2006, the Executive Director, OFO Mission Support, issued a 

memorandum mandating that any CBP officer or agent involved in 

apprehending, processing, reviewing, detaining, releasing, decision 

making or transporting juveniles to take this training annually. However, 

CBP has not established a process to verify that employees responsible for 

handling UAC satisfy the training requirement. According to VLC 

records, 17,661 OFO officers completed the course in FY 2008 and 17,897 

OFO officers did so in FY 2009. Since OFO does not distinguish officers 

with responsibility for handling UAC, it was unable to provide the number 

of officers who were required to complete the Flores Agreement training. 

CBP employees responsible for these functions made the following 

comments regarding the Flores Agreement refresher course provided 

through VLC: 

A BP manager could not remember taking the refresher course 

since 2007. 

A BP manager completed the Flores Agreement training during the 

late 1990s but was unable to recall whether the same information 

was covered in VLC. 

An OFO officer completed the VLC course 2 years ago and was 

unaware that it was a yearly training requirement. 

An OFO officer said that it had been a long time since receiving 

the training, and it may have been given at the basic training 

academy. The officer did not remember taking any refresher 

course through VLC. 

An OFO manager said that the delay in employees completing the 

Flores Agreement refresher course was due to rotations, temporary 

duty assignments, and agents going into active duty. 

Officers and agents who had infrequent or no contact with UAC 

said that they refer to internal detention policies when they 

encounter UAC. 

CBP’s Handling of Unaccompanied Alien Children 
 


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A CBP manager said that the Office of Training and Development 

database contains the names of all CBP agents and officers who have 

completed VLC training. A VLC specialist said that statistical data on 

CBP employees completing the course could be generated only by an 

employee’s name, and not by OBP sectors or OFO field offices. 

OBP and OFO have established policies and developed a course on Flores 

Agreement requirements for employees who maintain contact with UAC. 

However, CBP has not developed a tracking system to verify those 

personnel responsible for processing and detaining UAC complete annual 

refresher training. Such a process would provide greater assurance that 

CBP complies with the Flores Agreement, as well as its own internal 

guidelines. 

Recommendation 

We recommend that the Chief, Office of Border Patrol, and 

Assistant Commissioner, Office of Field Operations: 

Recommendation #7: Mandate that all CBP personnel required to 

take the Flores Agreement training complete the refresher course 

annually. 

Management Comments and OIG Analysis 

CBP Response: CBP concurred with Recommendation 7. 

By October 31, 2010, OBP will re-release previously issued 

guidance to ensure that the field is aware and complies with the 

provisions of the policy signed by Chief Aguilar on March 11, 

2008, entitled, Unaccompanied Juveniles/Minors and Flores vs. 

Reno Settlement Agreement Virtual Learning Center Course 

(attached). The field will be reminded of the requirement to 

complete annual training once every fiscal year through the Virtual 

Learning Center course of the same title. 

The Flores v. Reno online training course is currently available and 

a memorandum was issued in March 2009 requiring all U.S. 

Customs and Border Protection officers, who apprehend process, 

detain, and/or transport a juvenile/minor, complete this course by 

December 2009. There are 7,793 completions to June 28, 2010. 

A memorandum mandating completion of the course for 2010 has 

not been issued pending the revision of the course to include 

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updated material from the Trafficking Victims Protection 

Reauthorization Act of 2008. This development was requested 

early in FY 2010, but was finally approved in May to start 

development. A design meeting is scheduled for July 2010 with an 

expected completion in early November 2010 for full 

implementation towards the end of the first quarter of FY 2011. 

Due Date: January 31, 2011 

OIG Analysis: OBP’s release of guidance previously issued may 

provide awareness, but does not provide assurance that required 

training will be completed. In addition, the CBP response does not 

clearly identify any specific actions taken by OFO to satisfy this 

recommendation. This recommendation remains unresolved and 

open as CBP continues its effort to establish and implement a 

process to verify that CBP personnel complete the refresher course 

annually. 

Improvements Needed in Maintaining Unaccompanied Alien 

Children Information 

The Flores Agreement requires that up-to-date records be maintained on 

minors placed in proceedings and remaining in custody for longer than 72 

hours. The records must include the following information: 

Biographical data such as name, date of birth, and country of 

origin 

Date placed in custody 

Date removed or released 

To whom and where placed, transferred, removed, or released 

Immigration status 

Hearing dates 

OBP policy requires that each BP station maintain a detention log for 

UAC in its custody. According to OBP policy, at a minimum, these logs 

should include the following information: 

Biographical information 

CBP’s Handling of Unaccompanied Alien Children 

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CBP is responsible for collecting and reporting UAC information within 

its jurisdiction, either electronically or manually. A coordinated recordkeeping system can provide increased accountability for the safety and 

well-being of UAC while in CBP custody. 
Alien registration number and nationality 

Reason for placement 

Date and time taken into CBP custody, transferred, and released 

Date and time juvenile coordinator notified 

Final disposition 

Times meals were provided 

Telephone use 

Showers 

Visual checks 

OFO policy requires that officers record and initial the times of visual 

checks, physical observations, and meals offered, eaten, or declined in a 

Personal Detention Log. 

During our site visits, we analyzed UAC detention log entries for 

September 28, 2008, and September 28, 2009. In some locations, CBP did 

not have UAC in custody on those dates. In those instances, we selected 

random dates. Generally, CBP employees were consistent in documenting 

UAC biographical information. However, at 28 of the 30 facilities, 

detention logs did not contain the documentation CBP requires. For 

example, we observed detention logs that included category headings for 

required information; however, documentation was incomplete. We also 

observed detention logs that did not include category headings for all 

required information to be recorded. 

CBP officials provided several reasons for inconsistencies in documenting 

required information, including the following comments: 

Meals are documented when eaten by juveniles, but are not 

documented when a meal was offered and the juvenile refused to 

eat. 

Mealtimes are documented on a whiteboard located in the 
 

processing area.
 
 

Information on alien apprehensions is maintained in the 

Enforcement Case Tracking System; however, there is no 

distinction between UAC and other juveniles. OFO field offices 

keep track of UAC on a weekly basis and send the information to 

headquarters for compilation. 

Officers document meals served and phone usage in a manual log. 

Officers use an internal electronic UAC detention log. However, 

officers are not consistent in documenting meals, especially when 

UAC refuse to eat food from the existing inventory and officers 

purchase a meal or snack for them. 

CBP’s Handling of Unaccompanied Alien Children 

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OBP has developed an electronic system, referred to as e3, which collects 

comprehensive statistical information on alien apprehensions. e3 also 

contains a juvenile module that can function as an electronic juvenile 

detention log. This system has the capacity to differentiate between 

accompanied and unaccompanied juveniles, and captures specific 

information including the times meals are served, phone usage, detainee 

medical conditions, and detainee arrests and releases from CBP custody. 

At the time of our fieldwork, the juvenile module in e3 was under 

development. OBP officials estimated that about 50 BP stations used the 

juvenile module in e3 to some extent in the pilot stage. According to OBP 

manager, all BP stations will use e3 after the system is completely 

developed. 

The Flores Agreement specifies that complete and accurate records be 

maintained concerning detained UAC. A coordinated record-keeping 

system can provide increased accountability for UAC’s safety and wellbeing during all phases of CBP’s custody process. 

Recommendation 

We recommend that the Chief, Office of Border Patrol, and 

Assistant Commissioner, Office of Field Operations: 

Recommendation #8: Establish a CBP-wide procedure to 

document required UAC information. 

Management Comments and OIG Analysis 

CBP Response: CBP concurred with Recommendation 8. 

As OIG is aware, OBP has been working very closely with our 

Enforcement and Information Technology Division to proactively 

address this requirement. In June 2009, the Border Patrol 

developed a standardized Border Patrol juvenile detention 

processing module in e3, our enforcement system of record. The 

module serves as our electronic juvenile detention log. Currently, 

the Rio Grande Valley Sector has mandated the use of the juvenile 

detention module in all its stations. CBP’s Office of Information 

and Technology (OIT) has additional Border Patrol requirements 

that will improve the uniform collection of juvenile data. Once 

OIT implements the improvements by March 31, 2011, OBP will 

mandate the use of the module nationwide. OBP welcomes the 

opportunity to open dialogue with our CBP counterparts and offer 

CBP’s Handling of Unaccompanied Alien Children 

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any lessons learned to adapt or create, if fiscally-sound and 

feasible, a CBP-wide electronic juvenile detention log. 

OFO continues to work with all stakeholders to develop a Joint 

Operations Manual for UAC. Developments in information 

technology and policy guidance are currently being worked on. In 

the interim, OFO will reissue UAC field guidance, no later than 

October 31, 2010. 

Due Date: January 31, 2011 

OIG Analysis: 

CBP’s response needs to address efforts to establish and 

implement a CBP-wide procedure requiring both OBP and OFO to 

capture similar UAC information. The OBP response includes 

their plan for full implementation of the detention processing 

module in e3, which satisfies the intent of this recommendation. 

OFO’s response does not provide specific details regarding the 

technology and policy guidance currently under development. 

OBP is agreeable to open dialogue with OFO to adapt or create a 

CBP-wide electronic juvenile detention log. This could serve as a 

means for achieving a uniform documentation requirement 

throughout CBP. This recommendation remains unresolved and 

open pending additional efforts to develop uniform documentation 

requirements for UAC information. 

CBP’s Handling of Unaccompanied Alien Children 
 


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Appendix A 

Purpose, Scope, and Methodology 

The purpose of our review was to determine whether Customs and 

Border Protection is complying with the Flores Agreement relating 

to UAC in CBP custody. The Flores Agreement requires that 

following arrest, DHS detain minors, to include UAC, in facilities 

that are safe, sanitary, and consistent with their vulnerabilities as 

minors. DHS must provide (1) food and drinking water; 

(2) medical assistance in the event of emergencies; (3) toilets and 

sinks; (4) adequate temperature control and ventilation; 

(5) adequate supervision to protect minors from others; and 

(6) separation from unrelated adults whenever possible. 

We conducted our fieldwork from September to December 2009, 

interviewing 110 CBP personnel and visiting 30 CBP facilities. 

We interviewed senior CBP officials and staff in Washington, DC; 

Arizona, Texas, Michigan, California, and Florida. We also 

consulted with DHS Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties on 

civil rights and civil liberties issues. 

In identifying locations for site visits, we analyzed relevant 

documents and statistical data to determine the number of minors 

CBP apprehended and initially detained in its holding facilities 

during FYs 2008 and 2009. We selected a sample of complaints 

filed with the Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties to 

determine which facilities allegedly violated the Flores Agreement. 

During the fieldwork, we visited CBP holding facilities that 

generated high as well as low volumes of complaints to assess 

compliance with the Flores Agreement. We notified CBP of our 

site visits to 27 of the 30 locations we inspected. We did not 

disclose the location of the remaining three sites. During these 

visits, we observed detention conditions for UAC and assessed 

whether the facilities met the provisions of the Flores Agreement. 

We conducted this review under the authority of the Inspector 

General Act of 1978, as amended, and according to the Quality 

Standards for Inspections issued by the Council of the Inspectors 

General on Integrity and Efficiency. 

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Appendix B 

Management Comments to the Draft Report 

CBP’s Handling of Unaccompanied Alien Children 
 
 

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Appendix B 

Management Comments to the Draft Report 

CBP’s Handling of Unaccompanied Alien Children 
 
 

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Appendix B 

Management Comments to the Draft Report 

CBP’s Handling of Unaccompanied Alien Children 
 
 

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Appendix B 

Management Comments to the Draft Report 

CBP’s Handling of Unaccompanied Alien Children 
 
 

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Appendix C 

Major Contributors to This Report 

Deborah Outten-Mills, Chief Inspector, Department of Homeland 

Security, Office of Inspector General, Office of Inspections 

Jacqueline Simms, Senior Inspector, Department of Homeland 

Security, Office of Inspector General, Office of Inspections 

Tatyana Martell, Inspector, Department of Homeland Security, 

Office of Inspector General, Office of Inspections 

CBP’s Handling of Unaccompanied Alien Children 
 


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Appendix D 

Report Distribution 

Department of Homeland Security 

Secretary 

Deputy Secretary 

Chief of Staff for Policy 

General Counsel 

Executive Secretariat 

Director, GAO/OIG Liaison Office 

Officer for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties 

Assistant Secretary for Office of Policy 

Assistant Secretary for Office of Public Affairs 

Assistant Secretary for Office of Legislative Affairs 

Commissioner for Customs and Border Protection 

CBP Liaison 

Office of Management and Budget 

Chief, Homeland Security Branch 

DHS OIG Budget Examiner 

Congress 

Congressional Oversight and Appropriations Committees, as 

appropriate 

CBP’s Handling of Unaccompanied Alien Children 
 
 

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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND COPIES 

To obtain additional copies of this report, please call the Office of Inspector General (OIG) at (202) 254-4100, 

fax your request to (202) 254-4305, or visit the OIG web site at www.dhs.gov/oig. 

OIG HOTLINE 

To report alleged fraud, waste, abuse or mismanagement, or any other kind of criminal or noncriminal 

misconduct relative to department programs or operations: 

• Call our Hotline at 1-800-323-8603; 

• Fax the complaint directly to us at (202) 254-4292; 

• Email us at DHSOIGHOTLINE@dhs.gov; or 

• Write to us at: 

DHS Office of Inspector General/MAIL STOP 2600, 

Attention: Office of Investigations - Hotline, 

245 Murray Drive, SW, Building 410, 

Washington, DC 20528. 

The OIG seeks to protect the identity of each writer and caller.