Reading Room Document

Constitutionality of Seizing the Passports of Individuals Found to Be Importing Controlled Substances Into the United States

A Customs Service directive to seize as evidence of a federal crime the passports of individuals found to be importing controlled substances into the United States would not implicate the Fourth or Fifth Amendments to the United States Constitution, nor give rise to any valid constitutional claims of denial of due process or deprivation of freedom to travel. The OLC does not provide release dates for its opinions, so the release date listed is the date on which the opinion was authored. The original opinion is available at www.justice.gov/file/24046/download.

March 15, 1988