Retention Memo Concerning Maritime Interdiction, Protection Screening, and Custody of Migrants in the Caribbean

CRCL has opened a complaint investigation into DHS’s operations involving the interdiction, protection screening, and care and custody of migrants who are interdicted by U.S. Coast Guard (USCG); screened for protection claims by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS); and cared for by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) at the Migrant Operations Center at the U.S Naval Station in Guantanamo Bay. This investigation will also evaluate the role of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) in the care and/or custody of interdicted unaccompanied children and migrants with emergent medical concerns. The purpose of this memorandum is to notify you of the complaint, inform you that CRCL will retain these complaints for investigation, and explain how CRCL will work with USCG, USCIS, ICE, and CBP due to the interconnected role the agencies perform interdicting maritime migrants.