CBP Guidance on Personal Belongings Act

Bill S 5389, the CBP Guidance on Personal Belongings Act, requires U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to create new guidelines for handling personal property of individuals detained by CBP. The guidelines mandate that CBP allow detainees to keep essential medical items (like prescription eyewear, prosthetics, and medications), documents, phones, and other personal property where feasible, and return stored items upon release. CBP must provide written receipts for stored property, follow specific protocols for medical needs, and prohibit discarding essential items without justification. The bill also requires annual reports to Congress on discarded essential property and CBP compliance with the new guidelines.