> Toothpaste and toothbrushes are considered potentially lethal non-essential personal property and are disposed of during intake. While in custody, most migran

> Toothpaste and toothbrushes are considered potentially lethal non-essential personal property and are disposed of during intake. While in custody, most migrants will not have access to toothpaste and toothbrushes. > Similar to belts, shoelaces are stripped from shoes because they are considered lethal and could be used to harm themselves or others. Detainees subsequently move through the U.S. court system and are deported with no belt for their pants or shoelaces for their shoes. > All personal property considered non-essential is discarded during intake. There's a legitimate reason to confiscate items like razors. The case for discarding belts and shoelaces is there, but shakier. Confiscating toothpaste, soap, and books is questionable (only figuratively; the migrants don't get the opportunity to question it). Confiscating and discarding all personal property is unjustifiable. There is no conceivable reason it is necessary to discard a child's stuffed toy. But the unjustifiability doesn't change anything; Border Patrol has no need to justify itself to migrants. It has the full authority to take any and all items from them. The fact that when given this opportunity, it takes everything, says something about it. The fact that these are not the actions of an individual agent, but a policy of the organization, say something about the nature and purpose of the organization.