CBP Official Reiterates Agency Plans to Self-Initiate Forced Labor Investigations

CBP intends to self-initiate withhold release orders and, alongside Immigration and Customs Enforcement, investigations into imports produced by forced labor, CBP Deputy Commissioner Kevin McAleenan said during a Customs Commercial Operations Advisory Committee meeting on Nov. 17 in Washington. The COAC had adopted a recommendation at the meeting that CBP clarify its ability to “self-initiate allegations.” A representative from the advocacy group Human Rights First that participated in a COAC work group on the forced labor issue urged CBP to self-initiate forced labor investigations during the meeting and, noting that the recommendations that came out of the work group didn’t “represent consensus,” asked CBP to provide an opportunity for public comments. A representative from another advocacy group that participated in the COAC work group, Humanity United, also said she has concerns about the recommendations, including disagreement with one that said CBP should set a time limit on how long it has to respond to an importer’s proof of admissibility after issuing a withhold release order. CBP Commissioner Gil Kerlikowske told the Senate Finance Committee in May that CBP plans to self-initiate forced labor investigations (see 1605110042).