Unaccompanied alien child anti-trafficking program

(a)

Establishment

The Secretary of Health and Human Services (referred to in this Act as the Secretary), in coordination with the Secretary of Homeland Security, shall establish a program to be known as the Unaccompanied Alien Child Anti-Trafficking Program (referred to in this Act as the Program) to prevent the trafficking, disappearance, or loss of unaccompanied alien children. (b)

Enrollment

(1)

In general

The Secretary shall enroll in the Program— (A)each unaccompanied alien child released from the custody of the Secretary on or after the date of enactment of this Act; and (B)each unaccompanied alien child released from the custody of the Secretary before the date of enactment of this Act who is physically present in the United States as of such date of enactment. (2)

Duration

Each unaccompanied alien child enrolled in the Program shall remain so enrolled until the earliest of— (A)the removal of the child, if ordered removed; (B)the date on which the child attains the age of 18; or (C)the child obtains lawful status under the immigration laws. (c)

Duties of the Secretary

In carrying out the Program, the Secretary shall do the following: (1)Ensure that any sponsor to whom an unaccompanied alien child is released under section 235 of the William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2008 (8 U.S.C. 1232) is vetted in accordance with subsection (d), and is not ineligible to serve as a sponsor under subsection (e). (2)Require each unaccompanied alien child and each sponsor of such child to be continuously monitored by GPS for the duration of the period that the child resides with the sponsor. (3)In the case of an unaccompanied alien child who has attained the age of 4, require telephonic reporting for both the sponsor and the child, not less than once per month. (4)Collect the DNA of each unaccompanied alien child, each sponsor of such child, and each adult member of the household of such sponsor, and in the case of a sponsor who asserts that they are a biological parent or biological relative of an unaccompanied alien child, confirm such relationship using DNA testing. (5)Immediately take custody of any unaccompanied alien child the Secretary has reason to believe may be subject to exploitation, abuse, or subject to unsafe conditions, and notify the Secretary of Homeland Security. (6)Conduct home visits as follows: (A)Visit and inspect the household in which each unaccompanied alien child is proposed to be placed before such child may be released from the custody of the Secretary. (B)Conduct not fewer than 6 unannounced, in-person visits during the first year of a placement of an unaccompanied alien child, and not fewer than 4 unannounced, in-person visits per year thereafter. (d)

Vetting of sponsors

(1)

Initial vetting

Before releasing an unaccompanied alien child from the custody of the Secretary into the custody of a sponsor, the Secretary shall require such sponsor, and any adult member of the household of such sponsor, to provide the Secretary with their biometric information, and in consultation with the Attorney General, conduct a background check and vetting process that includes— (A)an in-person interview and inspection; (B)a public records check; (C)a check of the Combined DNA Index System; (D)a Federal Bureau of Investigation National Criminal History check; (E)an interagency check through the National Vetting Center; (F)a check of the National Counterterrorism Center and Terrorism Screening Center; (G)a child abuse and neglect check in relevant States; (H)a check of the criminal history repository of the relevant States, localities, and any foreign country in which the sponsor has resided (to the greatest extent possible); (I)a check of all Department of Homeland Security databases, to include a determination of immigration status; (J)a check of the National Sex Offender Registry; and (K)a synthetic identity check against fraudulent identities. (2)

Supplementary background checks

After placing an unaccompanied alien child into the custody of a sponsor, the Secretary shall, on an ongoing basis, and not less frequently than quarterly, conduct supplementary background checks and vetting to ensure that the sponsor and any adult member of the household of such sponsor continue to be eligible to have custody of the unaccompanied alien child. (e)

Sponsor eligibility

The Secretary of Health and Human Services may not release an unaccompanied alien child to the custody of a sponsor, if such sponsor, or an adult member of the household of such sponsor— (1)is an alien unlawfully present in the United States, unless such alien is the parent, legal guardian, or a biological relative of such unaccompanied alien child; (2)is an associate or member of— (A)a transnational criminal organization; (B)a criminal street gang; (C)an enterprise involved in a pattern of racketeering activity or through the collection of an unlawful debt; (D)a foreign terrorist organization, designated pursuant to section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1189); or (E)an entity designated as Specially Designated Global Terrorist, pursuant to the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1702); (3)is a sex offender who is required to register on the National Sex Offender Registry under section 113 of the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act of 2006 (34 U.S.C. 20913); (4)has been convicted of crime under the laws of the United States, a State, or a political subdivision of a State, which— (A)carries a maximum sentence of 1 year or greater; or (B)carries a maximum sentence of less than 1 year, during the 10-year period preceding the custody determination made by the Secretary; (5)has been convicted of a crime of violence under the laws a foreign country; or (6)has been charged with a crime under the laws of the United States, a State, or a political subdivision of a State, with respect to which the disposition is pending. (f)

Failure To comply with conditions of release

(1)

In general

If, at any time, a sponsor fails to ensure that an unaccompanied alien child in the custody of the sponsor complies with the conditions of their release from the custody of the Secretary or the conditions of the Program, the Secretary shall— (A) terminate the placement of the unaccompanied alien child with such sponsor; (B) take custody of the unaccompanied alien child; and (C) prohibit such sponsor from sponsoring that unaccompanied alien child or any other unaccompanied alien child. (2)

Failure to comply

In this subsection, failure to comply with the conditions of release includes failing to attend a court proceeding and violating an order of an immigration judge. (g)

Definitions

In this Act: (1)The term adult means an individual who is 18 years of age or older. (2)The terms alien and immigration laws have the meanings given such terms in section 101(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101(a)). (3)The term continuously monitored by GPS means uninterrupted tracking of a person’s location and movement history using satellite technology through a body worn device. (4)The term crime of violence has the meaning given such term in section 16(a) of title 18, United States Code. (5)The term criminal street gang has the meaning given such term in section 521(a) of title 18, United States Code. (6)The terms enterprise, racketeering activity, pattern of racketeering activity, and unlawful debt have the meanings given to such terms in 1961 of title 18, United States Code. (7)The term member of the household means, with respect to any person, any individual sharing a common abode as part of a single family unit with the person, including a domestic employee. (8)The term telephonic reporting means a telephone call that compares the voice of the person calling to a biometric voiceprint of the person required to place such call. (9)The term transnational criminal organization has the meaning given such term in section 3003 of the FEND Off Fentanyl Act (21 U.S.C. 2341). (10)The term unaccompanied alien child has the meaning given such term in section 462(g) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 279(g)).