End Child Trafficking Now Act

Mr. President, reserving the right to object, I understand this bill is intended to ``require a DNA test to determine the relationship between'' asylum-seeking adults at the border and ``any accompanying children.'' However, it fails to accomplish this goal, and our current laws already include provisions to allow for DNA testing.

Under current law, as written, DHS and the State Department already have the necessary authority to collect DNA when there is any question about the familial relationship between a noncitizen and a minor child traveling with them.

At the southwest border, the Department of Homeland Security currently conducts DNA testing when there is any question about the validity of the parent-child relationship, and additional scrutiny is placed on individuals who are not related to the child to ensure that a child is not being trafficked.

Due to what I assume is a drafting error in this proposal before us, I have to note that this bill will not even apply to families seeking asylum at the border. As it is currently written, this bill only applies to someone who is ``admitted'' to the United States, but under our immigration laws, asylum seekers at the border ``enter'' the United States but are not usually ``admitted.'' There is a big distinction here. That means that this bill would apply to any noncitizen family coming to the United States through our legal immigration system but not families crossing the border to claim asylum--exactly the opposite of what the Senator says she wanted to achieve.

The family relationships of those who are coming to our country through the legal immigration system are usually validated by multiple agencies before applicants are issued a visa. For example, assume that a family from Mexico wanted to come to Disney World in Florida and applied for visitors visas for that purpose for themselves and their children. They would need to prove at the airport, under this bill, that they are the relatives or guardian of the children or submit to a DNA test. Is that what we are going to expend our energy on? If the family refuses, the adults may be arrested. The children would be treated as unaccompanied children and placed in custody. Is that what we want to achieve?

This bill would require every such family to prove their relationship with their children at the airport or other ports of entry. The burdensome requirements in this bill could bring our system for processing lawful travelers to a halt and deter legitimate trade and tourism in the United States.

As the Senator from Tennessee knows, protecting kids has been one of our top priorities in the Judiciary Committee. Last year, we held two hearings on the safety and well-being of children seeking refuge in the United States. We heard from child trafficking experts and government witnesses. Following up on these hearings, the committee is in the midst of ongoing investigation into the issue.

We all agree that no child should be abused, exploited, or trafficked, whether the President is a Republican or a Democrat.

I vigorously opposed the Trump administration's inhumane family- separation policy, and I have demanded that the Biden administration do more to protect migrant children.

It is easy to criticize the executive branch, but let's take a look at the reality of the situation. We need to look in the mirror. It has been decades--over 30 years--since Congress passed meaningful immigration legislation. In less than an hour, at 2 o'clock, every Senate Republican and Democrat will have a chance to make history, to start us on a bipartisan conversation for a better immigration system.

Instead of lobbing pro-partisan attacks, let's come together across the aisle to fix the broken immigration system. We should provide funding for enforcement against child labor violations and ensure child migrants have the services they deserve.

I have introduced legislation to improve sponsor vetting and placement,

help children navigate our legal system, and better protect minors in government custody. I welcome my colleagues from either side of the aisle to join me. I would be more than happy to sit down with any of my colleagues to discuss solutions that would prevent child trafficking. Sadly, this bill does not accomplish that goal at all.

I object.

Mr. President, I think the esteemed chairman of the Judiciary Committee is misreading the bill because this would apply to people who are entering the United States. It would apply to those who are coming to the southern border.

This is a process that had been in place. The Biden administration chose to stop this process. What we understand is that they chose to stop this because the test takes 45 minutes--45 minutes to determine if that child is or is not related, 45 minutes to determine if that child should be left with those adults. Thirty percent of the children that are DNA-tested at that southern border are found to not be related to the adult who is holding them by the hand, who is bringing them into the country.

So I would ask my colleagues, is 45 minutes too much time to take to be sure that a child is secure?

We have had 10 million people come to that border. We have had 400,000 of those children. Don't we want to provide the best for these children and separate them from traffickers?

By the way, HHS has lost track of 85,000 of these children. They can't tell the Presiding Officer's committee where those children are. They can't tell the Judiciary Committee where those children are-- 85,000 children. We do not know if they are dead or alive. We do not know if they are being labor trafficked, sex trafficked. We do not know what is happening.

DNA testing is a way to help save some of these children. We should return to this policy.

By the way, again I will mention that H.R. 2 has been in here. The Homeland Security Committee has had 374 days to have a markup on a border security bill. They chose not to. The Judiciary Committee could have had a markup on a border security bill. They did not do it. But they are bringing a political stunt bill to the floor today to try to push it through to give cover to vulnerable Members of your party.

I yield the floor.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that following my unanimous consent request, the following Senators be allowed to speak prior to the scheduled rollcall vote: Senator Lankford for up to 5 minutes, Senator Sinema for up to 7 minutes, and Senator Murphy for up to 7 minutes.