11311: Confiscation and Return of Original Documents

FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY

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Confiscation and Return of Original Documents

FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY

Confiscation and Return of Original Documents

Policy Number:

Issue Date:

Effective Date:

11311

January 13, 2023

Superseded: Torres Memorandum, Confiscation and Return of Original

Documents, August 25, 2006

Federal Enterprise Architecture Number: 306-112-002b

1. Purpose/Background.

1.1 This Directive provides U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)

Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Officers with policy and procedures

for confiscating and returning original documents upon initiation of removal

proceedings against any noncitizen, including Lawful Permanent Residents

(LPRs), as well as the subsequent release and/or removal of these individuals.

Such documents may include, among other items, passports, driver’s licenses,

social security cards, permanent resident cards (I-551), birth certificates, foreign

identification cards, and school records.

1.2 This Directive provides ERO Officers with guidance regarding the procedures for

retention and recordkeeping of confiscated documents of noncitizens in removal

proceedings. While these guidelines apply to both detained and non-detained

noncitizens, standards on the handling of identity documents and the provision of

certified copies for detained noncitizens are in the Performance Based National

Detention Standards (PBNDS) 2011 Standards 2.1 and 2.5, the PBNDS 2008

Standards on Admission & Release and Funds & Personal Property, National

Detention Standards (NDS) 2019 Standards 2.1 and 2.4, and the Family

Residential Standards (FRS) 2020 Standards 2.1 and 2.3.

2. Policy.

2.1 ERO Officers will generally confiscate any foreign and domestic government-

issued documents either in the noncitizen’s possession or submitted to ERO by

the noncitizen. ERO will generally retain all confiscated documents of noncitizens

in removal proceedings, with some exceptions, and those of noncitizens with final

orders of removal released from ERO custody.

2.2 All confiscated documents shall be recorded. Officers shall add details such as

the type of document confiscated in the Miscellaneous Numbers menu in the

Enforce Alien Removal Module (EARM). Images of the documents may also be

scanned to this location. The noncitizen shall be provided with a certified copy of

U.S. IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT

ENFORCEMENT AND REMOVAL OPERATIONS

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Confiscation and Return of Original Documents

FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY

their documents with a notation that ICE is in possession of the original. If a

document was returned to the issuing authority, an officer shall indicate so in

EARM.

2.3 In some cases, noncitizens who are not detained may request access to

documents in ERO’s possession. There are several common reasons for

requesting the return of documents, including for opening a bank account,

enrolling in school, and filing taxes. If, during removal processing, the noncitizen

requests a passport or other document in ERO’s possession, ERO officers shall

make a determination on a case-by-case basis. Pursuant to the procedures

outlined below, ERO officers will review the validity of a noncitizen’s request,

assess ICE’s operational and evidentiary need for the document, and render a

decision.

2.4 Prior to a scheduled removal, all original documents shall be returned to

noncitizens excluding those generally necessary to effectuate a noncitizen’s

removal (i.e., a passport / travel document), as well as documents which are

confirmed or suspected to be fraudulent, and documentation the noncitizen is no

longer entitled to, such as work permits or I-551 cards following issuance of a

final order of removal. See Procedures below for more information on these

exceptions. At any point a document is returned, officers shall record it in EARM.

3. Definitions. None.

4. Responsibilities.

4.1 The Executive Associate Director for ERO is responsible for ensuring

compliance with the provisions of this Directive within ERO.

4.2 The Assistant Directors for Custody, Enforcement, Field Operations, and

Non-Detained are responsible for ensuring compliance with the provisions of this

Directive within their respective Divisions and Programs.

4.3 Field Office Directors (FODs), or their supervisory designees (Deputy FODs

and AFODs), are responsible for ensuring that field office personnel follow the

procedures in this Directive for confiscating, returning, and retaining original

documents.

4.4 ERO Officers are responsible for:

1) Consulting with the Office of the Principal Legal Advisor (OPLA) to determine

whether to return or retain confiscated documents, if necessary;

2) Ensuring that documents are returned to the noncitizen or their attorney when

appropriate;

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Confiscation and Return of Original Documents

FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY

3) Ensuring that decisions to retain documents are based on a clearly articulated

operational need;

4) Documenting the return or retention of documents in EARM.

5. Procedures.

5.1 Receipt of Documents. If ICE confiscates identification documents, they shall

be stored in a plastic zip-lock-style ID documents envelope within the

noncitizen’s A-File. The confiscation of these documents shall be logged in

EARM, and a certified copy of the documents shall be provided to the noncitizen,

including a notation that ICE is in possession of the original.

5.2 Return of Documents. In determining whether to return a particular document,

the officer should, if necessary, consult with the local OPLA to assess whether

the noncitizen is legally entitled to possess the document, whether the noncitizen

has a legitimate need for the document, and whether ICE has an operational

need to retain the document. In general, ERO officers should apply the following

guidelines:

•

If the noncitizen cannot legally possess the document, and ICE has no

operational need to retain the document, then the document should be

returned to the government agency that issued the document.

•

If the noncitizen can legally possess the document, and ICE has no

operational need to retain the document, then ICE can return the document

upon request by the noncitizen or attorney who represents the noncitizen.

•

If the noncitizen can legally possess the document but ICE has identified an

operational need to retain the document, then the document may be retained

until either the noncitizen is granted relief, or depending on the type of

document, an officer processes it for the noncitizen’s removal by placing it in

a travel document envelope or otherwise returning it to the noncitizen upon

their departure from the country. If ERO determines that the document will be

retained, such retention should be based upon a clearly articulated

operational need.

Factors that may contribute to the decision of whether an operational need to

retain a document exists may include the difficulty associated with getting a new

passport, the level of recalcitrance of the noncitizen’s country of citizenship, and

whether a consulate issues documents irregularly. OPLA may also have need of

the document for litigation purposes. The officer should also consider whether

the government is in possession of supplemental identification documents.

Upon returning a detained noncitizen’s documents, the noncitizen should sign an

appropriate property receipt form to acknowledge possession of their documents.

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Confiscation and Return of Original Documents

FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY

All documents that are returned will first be photocopied, and the photocopies will

be placed in the A-File. Upon return of the documents, comments shall be

entered into EARM. Copies of the passport shall be uploaded in the electronic

Travel Document (eTD) system and placed in the noncitizen’s A-File for future

use if the noncitizen returns to the United States.

5.3 Alternatives to Returning Original Identification Documents while

Proceedings are Ongoing. If the totality of a noncitizen’s circumstances

suggests the agency should retain the noncitizen’s passport or other identity

documents, the officer should consider returning other supporting identity

documents to the noncitizen.

5.4 Recordkeeping of Original Documents. Requests for records, the agency’s

response, and a copy of any documents returned to a noncitizen should be

placed in the noncitizen’s A-File and must be accompanied by a dated form or

notation by the noncitizen acknowledging receipt/return of the original document.

Notation can also be added to the noncitizen’s record in EARM.

5.5 Copies of Documents. In cases in which an original document may not be

necessary for the noncitizen’s stated intent, the officer should consider providing

a copy of the requested document with a dry seal or other certification that the

document made is a true copy of the original on file, unless the noncitizen cannot

legally possess it or there is an operational concern to restrict access.

Some circumstances for which a noncitizen parent may have a legitimate need for

a certified copy of original documents include:

• School enrollment for children (schools may need birth certificates or other

identification documents and immunization records).

• Detained parents seeking reunification before removal with a U.S. citizen child

may need a copy of the child’s birth certificate to get a U.S. passport for the

child.

5.6 Lawful Permanent Residents. LPRs are entitled to evidence of permanent

status while going through removal proceedings. If an LPR is placed in detention,

the ERO officer can confiscate the LPR’s I-551 and place the document in the

noncitizen’s A-File. Whenever LPRs are pre-order released from detention, ICE

should make a copy of the I-551 to be retained in the LPR’s A-File and the

original is to be returned to the LPR. If an administratively final order of removal is

entered against the LPR, their status terminates and their I-551 should be

confiscated.

Non-detained LPRs in removal proceedings are legally entitled to identification

such as driver’s licenses and social security cards until an administratively final

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Confiscation and Return of Original Documents

FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY

order of removal is entered against them. Therefore, if an LPR who is not in

custody and not a final order requests the return of a government-issued

document, the ERO officer should ensure the document is returned in a timely

manner. A copy of the document should be placed in the LPR’s A-File.

5.7 Criminal Prosecutions. For cases being presented to the U.S. Attorney’s Office

for criminal prosecution, ICE will retain all confiscated government issued

documents. Identity documents are not to be shredded upon completion of the

criminal prosecution. If the identity documents were in a prosecution work folder,

they must be returned to the A-File.

5.8 Noncitizens under Orders of Supervision. Generally, ICE will retain all foreign

issued identity documents, including, but not limited to, passports, identity cards,

and birth certificates of noncitizens under a final order of removal, as these may

be needed to obtain a valid travel document for the noncitizen in order to

effectuate removal.

5.9 Requests by Foreign Governments. When an administratively final order of

removal has been issued and is in effect, ICE officials generally prepare and

submit a request for a travel document to the noncitizen’s embassy and/or

consular office. Such requests include copies of documents that may verify an

individual’s identity, citizenship and/or nationality. ICE will retain the originals of

the government issued documents submitted to the embassy and/or consular

office. However, if foreign and/or domestic officials submit written inquiries

requesting the return of the original document(s), after conferring with local OPLA,

ICE may surrender the document(s) and follow similar procedures as in section

5.2.

No information contained in or related to an asylum application may be released

to a foreign government

5.10 Fraudulent Documents. Foreign and domestic government documents (i.e.,

passports, social security cards, driver’s licenses, etc.) that are suspected to

be counterfeit or were obtained fraudulently will be confiscated and retained

by ICE officials in all instances. Only documents believed to be authentic will

be considered for return or certified copies.

5.11 Notice to Detained Noncitizens. The detainee handbook or equivalent should

notify noncitizens that, upon request, they will be provided an ICE/ERO-certified

copy of their documents (e.g., passport, birth certificate) and describe the process

for requesting copies.

6. Recordkeeping. All documents created or received by ICE must be maintained in

accordance with a National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) General

Records Schedule or an applicable DHS or ICE records schedule. If a schedule

See “Disclosure to third parties,” 8 CFR § 208.6

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Confiscation and Return of Original Documents

FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY

does not exist that covers the records, they are considered unscheduled.

Unscheduled records cannot be destroyed or deleted until a schedule has been

developed and approved by NARA. In the event the records are subject to a

litigation hold, they may not be disposed of under a records schedule until further

notification.

7. Authorities/References. None.

8. Attachments. None.

9. No Private Right. This document provides only internal ERO policy guidance,

which may be modified, rescinded, or superseded at any time without notice. It is

not intended to, does not, and may not be relied upon to create any right or

benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law by any party in any

administrative, civil, or criminal matter. Likewise, no limitations are placed by this

guidance on the otherwise lawful enforcement or litigative prerogatives of ICE.

This guidance does not alter any provision of any statute or regulation that

contains legally binding requirements, and it is not itself a regulation.

_______________________

Corey A. Price

Executive Associate Director

Enforcement and Removal Operations

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement