Summary of CRCL Recommendation Memo and CBP's Response: U.S. Citizenship Verification

In December 2016, CRCL received a complaint regarding a 15-year-old girl apprehended by U.S. Border Patrol (USBP). The minor, who did not possess a passport, claimed to USBP that she was a U.S. citizen. She explained that she was born in the United States and provided USBP a copy of her Social Security card. After two days of custody, USBP was not able to verify her citizenship and transferred her to the custody of U.S. Health and Human Services, Office of Refugee Resettlement, which later verified her U.S. citizenship and released her to family members.