CBP ends policy seeking donations for migrants in custody

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has withdrawn permission for a Biden-era policy that let the agency solicit and accept private gifts and donations for migrants held in its custody, according to Fox News, which obtained a memo from CBP Commissioner Rodney S. Scott announcing the move.

The policy, DHS Delegation Order 07107, was signed in 2022 by then-Deputy Homeland Security Secretary John K. Tien and gave the CBP commissioner and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) director authority to solicit, accept, and distribute donated gifts related to the “care of undocumented noncitizens” in federal custody. CBP sought the authority at the time, Scott’s memo said, “due to the elevated number of aliens encountered, processed and held in our facilities.”

Scott said that rationale no longer applies. “With the significant decrease in encounters and apprehensions, CBP no longer requires private donations or gifts for distribution to aliens in custody,” he wrote, adding that the delegation “does not align with the Trump Administration’s strengthened enforcement posture at our borders and related presidential actions.”

The memo, addressed to CBP leadership and effective immediately, said the agency will continue to provide for migrants in its custody through its normal appropriations rather than donated gifts or services. The underlying delegation had let CBP and ICE accept both physical donations and gratuitous services, provided the value was documented and, for services, a formal agreement was signed, waiving any future claims against the government.

Zeale News sought clarification from CBP on the types of donations that were sought and whether any gifts came from family members of the detained immigrants. A response was not available by press time. 

The withdrawal is the latest in a series of moves by the administration to unwind Biden-era border policies as illegal crossings have fallen sharply since Trump returned to office. CBP has not said which organizations, if any, had been providing gifts under the now-rescinded delegation.