The Trump administration granted CBP a “Security Agency” designation, exempting it from the obligation to release certain records to the public

WASHINGTON – Today, new reporting revealed that the Trump administration granted Customs and Border Protection (CBP) “Security Agency” status, significantly weakening its accountability to the public by allowing it to refrain from releasing certain records to the public. Restore Public Trust released the following statement in response:

“The Trump administration’s move to shield Customs and Border Protection from accountability to the public is detrimental to our democracy,” said Lizzy Price, director of Restore Public Trust. “Customs and Border Protection took part in one of the most shameful episodes in our nation’s history and allowing the agency to be more secretive is downright dangerous. There are some lines that simply should not be crossed.”

Other agencies under the “Security Agency” designation include the FBI and Secret Service.

Restore Public Trust currently has three unfulfilled records requests with the Department of Homeland Security regarding CBP, including communications related to the agency’s denial of flu shots to migrants in its custody and its former policy allowing the separation of families based on caretakers’ HIV statuses.

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