I 
114TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 3606 
To provide for enhanced protections for vulnerable unaccompanied alien 
children and female detainees. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
SEPTEMBER 24, 2015 
Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Home-
land Security, Foreign Affairs, and Appropriations, for a period to be 
subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration 
of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee con-
cerned 
A BILL 
To provide for enhanced protections for vulnerable 
unaccompanied alien children and female detainees. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Child Trafficking Vic-
tims Protection Act’’. 
SEC. 2. PROTECTING CHILD TRAFFICKING VICTIMS. 
(a) DEFINED TERM.—In this section, the term ‘‘un-
accompanied alien children’’ has the meaning given such 
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term in section 462 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 
(6 U.S.C. 279). 
(b) MANDATORY
TRAINING.—The Secretary of 
Homeland Security, in consultation with the Secretary of 
Health and Human Services and independent child welfare 
experts, shall mandate appropriate training of all per-
sonnel who come into contact with unaccompanied alien 
children in the relevant legal authorities, policies, prac-
tices, and procedures pertaining to this vulnerable popu-
lation. 
(c) CARE AND TRANSPORTATION.—Notwithstanding 
any other provision of law, the Secretary of Homeland Se-
curity shall ensure that all unaccompanied alien children 
who will undergo any immigration proceedings before the 
Secretary or the Executive Office for Immigration Review 
are duly transported and placed in the care and legal and 
physical custody of the Director of the Office of Refugee 
Resettlement not later than 72 hours after their apprehen-
sion, absent exceptional circumstances. In exceptional cir-
cumstances, such as an influx of children or a natural dis-
aster, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall make 
emergency funds available to the Director of the Office 
of Refugee Resettlement, to the extent and in such 
amounts as are provided in advance in appropriations 
Acts, for the operation of emergency shelters. The Sec-
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retary of Homeland Security, to the extent practicable, 
shall ensure that female officers are continuously present 
during the transfer and transport of female detainees who 
are in the custody of the Secretary. 
(d) QUALIFIED RESOURCES.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Homeland 
Security shall provide adequately trained and quali-
fied staff and resources, including child welfare pro-
fessionals in accordance with subsection (e), at U.S. 
Customs and Border Protection ports of entry and 
stations. 
(2) CHILD
WELFARE
PROFESSIONALS.—The 
Secretary of Homeland Security, in consultation 
with the Secretary of Health and Human Services, 
shall hire or contract with, on a full- or part-time 
basis, child welfare professionals who will provide as-
sistance in the U.S. Customs and Border Protection 
offices or stations having in their custody an average 
of 25 or more children a day in the past fiscal year, 
and subject to review based upon the current fiscal 
year’s monthly statistical reports. 
(e) CHILD WELFARE PROFESSIONALS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary, in consulta-
tion with the Secretary of Health and Human Serv-
ices, shall ensure that qualified child welfare profes-
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sionals, licensed in social work, or other comparable 
training and expertise, and with expertise in cul-
turally competent, trauma-centered, and develop-
mentally appropriate interviewing skills are available 
at ports of entry and stations as described in sub-
section (d). Child welfare professionals shall be pro-
ficient in the most common languages spoken by 
children apprehended at the border. In the case 
where one is not available, an interpreter shall be 
used. 
(2) DUTIES.—Child welfare professionals de-
scribed in paragraph (1) shall— 
(A) develop guidelines for treatment of 
children in the custody of the Commissioner of 
U.S. Customs and Border Protection; 
(B) ensure allegations of abuse or mis-
treatment are referred to the appropriate State 
and Federal child protection authorities and 
that the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and 
Border Protection and the Director of the Of-
fice of Refugee Resettlement satisfy their obli-
gations under applicable child abuse reporting 
laws by— 
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(i) ensuring that children can avail 
themselves of relevant complaint mecha-
nisms to report abuse or misconduct; 
(ii) reporting abuse or mistreatment 
to State and Federal child protection au-
thorities as required, as well as Depart-
ment of Homeland Security Office of the 
Inspector General, Office of Civil Rights 
and Civil Liberties, U.S. Customs and Bor-
der Protection Internal Affairs Office, and 
the Office of Refugee Resettlement; and 
(iii) providing notice to area govern-
ment subcontracted legal service providers 
regarding a child who has made an allega-
tion of abuse and directing provider to rel-
evant authorities regarding availability of 
immigration and administrative relief for 
individuals with pending civil rights com-
plaints; 
(C) conduct screening of all unaccom-
panied alien children in accordance with section 
235(a)(4) of the William Wilberforce Traf-
ficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act 
of 2008 (8 U.S.C. 1232(a)(4)) and refrain from 
screening children from noncontiguous coun-
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