Child Trafficking Victims Protection and Welfare Act

Bill: 116-hr-3729
Sponsor: Rep. Roybal-Allard, Lucille [D-CA-40]
Introduced: 2019-07-11 in the House
Policy area: Immigration
Subjects: Appropriations
Border security and unlawful immigration
Child care and development
Child health
Child safety and welfare
Congressional oversight
Crime victims
Crimes against children
Department of Health and Human Services
Department of Homeland Security
Detention of persons
Domestic violence and child abuse
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Executive agency funding and structure
Family relationships
Foreign language and bilingual programs
Government ethics and transparency, public corruption
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
Human trafficking
Immigration status and procedures
Juvenile crime and gang violence
Law enforcement officers
Lawyers and legal services
Medical tests and diagnostic methods
Mental health
Refugees, asylum, displaced persons
Right of privacy
Separation, divorce, custody, support
Social work, volunteer service, charitable organizations

Summary:
action_date: 2019-07-11
text: 

Child Trafficking Victims Protection and Welfare Act
 
 
This bill provides for protections for children detained by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). 
 
DHS shall develop guidelines for the treatment of children (under age 18 with no permanent immigration status) in U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) custody. DHS must provide resources to address the needs of such children, including child welfare professionals, at each port of entry and Border Patrol station. The bill imposes various duties on such child welfare professionals, including the duty to report allegations of abuse.
 
DHS may not remove a child from a parent or legal guardian solely for the purpose of deterring individuals from migrating to the United States or for promoting compliance with the immigration laws. 
 
DHS must (1) assign a family unit tracking number to each family member apprehended at the border, (2) allow humanitarian organizations and state and local child welfare agencies to monitor children in detention and conduct unannounced inspections, (3) promulgate regulations establishing basic standards of care for children in short-term CBP custody, (4) ensure that children apprehended by CBP receive an interview and screening with a child welfare professional and are provided information about their rights, and (5) provide each apprehended parent or legal guardian and each child with access to legal counsel. 
 
The U.S. Agency for International Development shall establish programs to support the safe and sustainable repatriation of an unaccompanied alien child to the child's country of nationality or last habitual residence.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-08-06
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Citizenship.
action_date: 2019-08-02
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Border Security, Facilitation, and Operations.
action_date: 2019-07-11
text: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Homeland Security, Appropriations, and Foreign Affairs, 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 concerned.
action_date: 2019-07-11
text: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Homeland Security, Appropriations, and Foreign Affairs, 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 concerned.
action_date: 2019-07-11
text: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Homeland Security, Appropriations, and Foreign Affairs, 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 concerned.
action_date: 2019-07-11
text: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Homeland Security, Appropriations, and Foreign Affairs, 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 concerned.
action_date: 2019-07-11
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2019-07-11
text: Introduced in House