Following President Donald Trump's executive order to shut the de minimis trade loophole, U.S. Customs and Border Protection faced an overwhelming surge in shipments. This event highlights how politically driven trade policies, enforced by CBP, contribute to operational strain and intensify the role of state power in border control.

The article highlights that US Customs and Border Protection has long trained Guatemala’s border security units—a practice that supports the externalization of deportation policies under the Trump administration, thereby empowering authoritarian regimes to enforce repressive border controls.

Republican Attorneys General, led by Kentucky's AG Russell Coleman, have criticized the CBP pilot program known as Entry Type 86, arguing that its streamlined process for low‐value shipments has resulted in minimal inspection of over a billion packages, potentially facilitating the influx of fentanyl into the U.S. The letter sent to top officials highlights concerns that this loophole is being exploited by cartels to smuggle deadly drugs, raising serious national security and public safety issues.

A lawsuit revealed that U.S. Customs and Border Protection deported a 39‐year‐old DACA recipient with valid Advance Parole documents after detaining him at DFW airport, an action that contradicts established due process and raises concerns over authoritarian enforcement practices.

CBP enforces 19 U.S.C. 1307 by issuing Withhold Release Orders and Findings under the UFLPA and CAATSA, preventing goods produced with forced labor from entering the U.S. This action supports worker protections and curbs exploitation in global supply chains.

Following an incident aboard a United Airlines flight, CBP officers forcibly detained and humiliated a passenger, showcasing a pattern of authoritarian enforcement that undermines civil liberties and democratic norms.

A government watchdog report has raised concerns over the U.S. Customs and Border Protection mobile app, which uses facial recognition technology that has reportedly struggled to accurately identify Black asylum seekers. Despite CBP's claims of over 99% accuracy across ethnicities, the identified disparity underscores potential civil rights infringements and risks to marginalized communities.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection has robustly enforced the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act by reviewing over 9,000 shipments worth $3.4 billion, thereby strengthening ethical supply chains, protecting human rights, and ensuring fair economic practices.

The DHS fact sheet details how U.S. Customs and Border Protection has reviewed over 9,000 shipments worth more than $3.4 billion since the enforcement mechanism of the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act was implemented in June 2022, effectively barring goods produced with forced labor from entering the U.S. market.

An article from Just Security highlights how the deployment of AI technologies in U.S. border enforcement, including the CBP One app, exacerbates racial discrimination and undermines migrant rights. The use of biased facial recognition and surveillance tools reinforces an authoritarian approach that adversely affects Black and other marginalized migrants.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection released a fact sheet on due diligence in global supply chains, outlining its approach to identifying and mitigating risks related to unethical sourcing practices and potential human rights abuses. This action is viewed positively as it promotes transparency and accountability in supply chain management, which can help curb exploitative practices often linked to authoritarian economic systems.

A report by the Electronic Frontier Foundation reveals that U.S. Customs and Border Protection is rapidly expanding its surveillance infrastructure along the Mexican border, deploying new integrated towers, drones, AI cameras, and autonomous four-legged robots. The expansion is raising serious concerns about mass surveillance and the erosion of civil liberties among border communities.

The article describes how U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is reinforcing its commitment to preventing the entry of goods produced with forced labor. CBP continues to utilize legal tools such as Withhold Release Orders under Section 307 of the Tariff Act of 1930 and the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA) to block imports made with forced labor. This move is aimed at protecting vulnerable workers and ensuring ethical sourcing practices in global supply chains.

The agency's lobbying profile reveals that in 2024, 146 external entities actively lobbied Customs and Border Protection. This influx of lobbying efforts suggests that the agency could be subject to politically charged pressures which may, according to left‑leaning critics, influence policy in ways that support authoritarian priorities.

CBP, acting under DHS authority, issued five Withhold Release Orders aimed at blocking imports produced with state‑sponsored forced labor in Xinjiang, China. The move is designed to counter inhumane labor practices and protect American workers and businesses from the negative impacts of forced labor.

CBP enforces forced labor trade law under 19 U.S.C. 1307 by issuing Withhold Release Orders and implementing related acts such as the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA) and CAATSA. These proactive measures block goods produced through forced labor from entering the U.S. This action demonstrates a strong commitment to protecting labor rights and combating exploitation, aligning with anti-fascist and ethical practices.

A recent GAO report highlighted federal law enforcement agencies' use of facial recognition technology and identified initial shortcomings in training and policies to protect civil rights. The report noted that while several agencies lacked proper measures, the Department of Homeland Security eventually finalized a department‐wide policy outlining training requirements, limitations on use, and enhanced privacy and civil rights protections. As Customs and Border Protection is a key DHS agency, this development implicates CBP in broader reforms aimed at preventing authoritarian overreach in surveillance practices.

A recent report by the Kino Border Initiative and the Washington Office on Latin America documents widespread human rights abuses by U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents at the southern border, including physical violence, verbal abuse, sexual harassment, and systemic failures in accountability.

Human Rights Watch highlights the deadly impact of harsh border deterrence policies enforced by CBP, documenting increased deaths, injuries, and human rights abuses, including the use of technology like the CBP One application which further entrenches repressive practices.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection released new guidelines detailing the evidence required to demonstrate that imported goods are free from forced labor. This guidance reinforces efforts to ensure ethical supply chains and safeguard human rights by rigorously scrutinizing import submissions under 19 U.S.C. Section 1307.

On August 29, 2021, Customs and Border Protection issued a new set of FAQs on forced labor enforcement, detailing the detention of 1,213 shipments and outlining compliance measures to exclude goods produced by forced labor. This move reinforces U.S. efforts to uphold labor rights and curb unethical supply chain practices.

The analysis details how Customs and Border Protection's increasing enforcement spending and the deployment of advanced surveillance technologies promote an authoritarian approach to border security. The article underscores imbalanced budget priorities favoring enforcement over humanitarian processes, thereby bolstering repressive state practices.