I
117th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 1958
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
March 17, 2021
Mr. Carter of Texas introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs
A BILL
To amend the William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2008 to provide for the expedited removal of unaccompanied alien children who are not victims of a severe form of trafficking in persons and who do not have a fear of returning to their country of nationality or last habitual residence, and for other purposes.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the Protection of Children Act of 2021
.
Repatriation of unaccompanied alien children
In general
Section 235 of the William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2008 (8 U.S.C. 1232) is amended—
in subsection (a)—
in paragraph (2)—
by amending the heading to read as follows: Rules for unaccompanied alien children.
;
in subparagraph (A);
in the matter preceding clause (i), by striking who is a national or habitual resident of a country that is contiguous with the United States
;
in clause (i), by inserting and
at the end;
in clause (ii), by striking ; and
and inserting a period; and
by striking clause (iii);
in subparagraph (B)—
in the matter preceding clause (i), by striking (8 U.S.C. 1101 et seq.) may—
and inserting (8 U.S.C. 1101 et seq.)—
;
in clause (i), by inserting before permit such child to withdraw
the following: may
; and
in clause (ii), by inserting before return such child
the following: shall
; and
in subparagraph (C)—
by amending the heading to read as follows: Agreements with foreign countries.
; and
in the matter preceding clause (i), by striking The Secretary of State shall negotiate agreements between the United States and countries contiguous to the United States
and inserting The Secretary of State may negotiate agreements between the United States and any foreign country that the Secretary determines appropriate
; and
in paragraph (5)(D)—
in the matter preceding clause (i), by striking , except for an unaccompanied alien child from a contiguous country subject to the exceptions under subsection (a)(2),
and inserting who does not meet the criteria listed in paragraph (2)(A)
; and
in clause (i), by inserting before the semicolon at the end the following: , which shall include a hearing before an immigration judge not later than 14 days after being screened under paragraph (4)
;
in subsection (b)—
in paragraph (2)—
in subparagraph (A), by inserting before the semicolon the following: believed not to meet the criteria listed in subsection (a)(2)(A)
; and
in subparagraph (B), by inserting before the period the following: and does not meet the criteria listed in subsection (a)(2)(A)
; and
in paragraph (3), by striking an unaccompanied alien child in custody shall
and all that follows, and inserting the following:
an unaccompanied alien child in custody—
in the case of a child who does not meet the criteria listed in subsection (a)(2)(A), shall transfer the custody of such child to the Secretary of Health and Human Services not later than 30 days after determining that such child is an unaccompanied alien child who does not meet such criteria; or
in the case of a child who meets the criteria listed in subsection (a)(2)(A), may transfer the custody of such child to the Secretary of Health and Human Services after determining that such child is an unaccompanied alien child who meets such criteria.
; and
in subsection (c)—
in paragraph (3), by inserting at the end the following:
Information about individuals with whom children are placed
Information to be provided to Homeland Security
Before placing a child with an individual, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall provide to the Secretary of Homeland Security, regarding the individual with whom the child will be placed, the following information:
The name of the individual.
The social security number of the individual.
The date of birth of the individual.
The location of the individual’s residence where the child will be placed.
The immigration status of the individual, if known.
Contact information for the individual.
Special rule
In the case of a child who was apprehended on or after June 15, 2012, and before the date of the enactment of the Protection of Children Act of 2021, who the Secretary of Health and Human Services placed with an individual, the Secretary shall provide the information listed in clause (i) to the Secretary of Homeland Security not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of the Protection of Children Act of 2021.
Activities of the Secretary of Homeland Security
Not later than 30 days after receiving the information listed in clause (i), the Secretary of Homeland Security shall—
in the case that the immigration status of an individual with whom a child is placed is unknown, investigate the immigration status of that individual; and
upon determining that an individual with whom a child is placed is unlawfully present in the United States, initiate removal proceedings pursuant to chapter 4 of title II of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1221 et seq.).
; and
in paragraph (5)—
by inserting after to the greatest extent practicable
the following: (at no expense to the Government)
;
by striking have counsel to represent them
and inserting have access to counsel to represent them
.
Effective date
The amendments made by this section shall apply to any unauthorized alien child apprehended on or after June 15, 2012.
Special immigrant juvenile status for immigrants unable to reunite with either parent
Section 101(a)(27)(J)(i) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(27)(J)(i)) is amended by striking 1 or both of the immigrant’s parents
and inserting either of the immigrant’s parents
.
Jurisdiction of asylum applications
Section 208(b)(3) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1158) is amended by striking subparagraph (C).