U.S. Customs and Border Protection
DHS border and trade agency; modified its forced-labor detention order on Fanjul-owned Central Romana sugar in March 2025, citing documented improvements; excluded Maxeon solar panels
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) was established on 1 March 2003 within the Department of Homeland Security, combining the Customs Service, immigration inspection and Border Patrol functions, and agricultural inspection. It describes its mission as to protect the American people, safeguard the borders and enhance the nation's economic prosperity, and reports over 69,000 personnel. USAspending data show it obligated $30.72 billion in fiscal 2025. CBP ordered detention of Central Romana Corporation's sugar from 23 November 2022 after finding five of the ILO's 11 forced-labor indicators, then modified the order on 17 March 2025, saying the decision followed documented improvements verified by sources it did not name. Under the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act, CBP detained Mexico-made Maxeon solar modules from July 2024; Maxeon says that on 6 November 2024 CBP kept excluding 156 containers and made no forced-labor finding. In August 2026 a federal judge overseeing the Flores settlement appointed a special master and independent monitor to oversee ICE and CBP compliance, citing a history of noncompliance.
● confirmed by a primary document · ○ reported
● confirmed by a primary document · ○ reported
Figures
1 source
- USAspending.gov agency sub-components FY2025DocumentAPI JSON, fiscal_year 2025
{"name":"U.S. Customs and Border Protection","id":"us-customs-and-border-protection","total_obligations":30723434359.14,"total_outlays":24107384643.93,"total_budgetary_resources":93929407168.52}
1 source
- Maxeon Solar Technologies (company press release)Document
the Company submitted additional applicability packets relating to the detention of 156 containers of its Performance line panels and on November 6, while CBP still made no findings of forced labor in violation of UFLPA, it has determined to continue to exclude the Company's Performance line modules.
1 source
- U.S. Customs and Border Protection (cbp.gov)Document
Effective November 23, 2022, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) personnel at all U.S. ports of entry will detain raw sugar and sugar-based products produced in the Dominican Republic by Central Romana Corporation Limited (Central Romana).
1 source
- WLRN
U.S. Customs and Border Protection modified a “withhold release order” that had been issued in 2022 for raw sugar and sugar products made by the Central Romana Corp., blocking exports to the United States from the company. The customs website now lists the order as “inactive.”