Security and Opportunity for Vulnerable Migrant Children Act of 2014

Bill: 113-hr-5368
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Roybal-Allard, Lucille [D-CA-40]
Introduced: 2014-07-31
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Border security and unlawful immigration

Child safety and welfare

Crime victims

Crimes against children

Crimes against women

Diplomacy, foreign officials, Americans abroad

Economic development

El Salvador

Foreign aid and international relief

Guatemala

Homelessness and emergency shelter

Honduras

Human rights

Human trafficking

Immigration status and procedures

Latin America

Refugees, asylum, displaced persons

Sex offenses
Latest action: action_date: 2014-09-26
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Border Security.

Summaries:
action_date: 2014-07-31
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p>Security and Opportunity for Vulnerable Migrant Children Act of 2014 - Directs the Secretary of State to submit to Congress a strategy to address the economic, social, and security factors driving large numbers of unaccompanied alien children from El Salvador, Honduras, and Guatemala to the United States.</p> <p> Directs the Administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) to: (1) coordinate with the heads of federal agencies and the governments of El Salvador, Honduras, and Guatemala to promote public policies which prioritize growth, poverty reduction, and sustainable alternatives to emigration; and (2) incorporate such programming with assistance to communities and economic sectors in such countries. </p> <p>Amends the the William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2008 to remove pilot program status from (and so make permanent) the program to repatriate unaccompanied alien children.</p> <p>Directs the Secretary to designate an Ambassador-at-Large for unaccompanied alien children.</p>

tv_txt: I 113th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 5368 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES July 31, 2014 Ms. Roybal-Allard (for herself, Mr. Polis , Mr. McGovern , Mr. Farr , Ms. Chu , Mr. Cárdenas , Mr. Sires , and Mr. Lowenthal ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs , and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary , 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 A BILL To direct the Secretary of State to develop a strategy to address the factors driving large numbers of unaccompanied alien children from El Salvador, Honduras, and Guatemala to seek admission to the United States, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Security and Opportunity for Vulnerable Migrant Children Act of 2014 . 2. Findings The Congress finds the following: (1) Extreme violence, including sexual assault, trafficking, and persecution, is a primary factor driving dramatically increased levels of child migration from Central America. (2) A true commitment by the Government of the United States is essential to addressing the root causes of child migration in the region, including robust efforts to enhance human security, augment economic development, and promote the health, safety, and well-being of children. (3) Existing human rights conditions on the provision of United States assistance to El Salvador, Honduras, and Guatemala continue to play an important role in addressing the root causes of child migration by encouraging good governance and the rule of law in these countries. 3. Definition For purposes of this Act, the term unaccompanied alien children has the meaning given such term in section 462 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 ( 6 U.S.C. 279 ). 4. Strategy addressing factors driving unaccompanied alien children to seek admission to the United States The Secretary of State, in consultation with the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development, and the heads of other Federal agencies that the Secretary determines appropriate, shall submit to Congress a strategy to address the economic, social, and security factors driving large numbers of unaccompanied alien children from El Salvador, Honduras, and Guatemala to seek admission to the United States. The strategy shall recommend future United States Government assistance and technical support, and ensure the engagement of the national and local governments of El Salvador, Honduras, and Guatemala, and civil society organizations located in such countries. In general, the strategy shall prioritize the safety of vulnerable women and girls and make recommendations for improving the sheltering of victims of sexual violence and trafficking in the region. 5. Development of public policies and programming to prevent migration to the United States The Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development shall coordinate with the heads of appropriate Federal agencies and the Governments of El Salvador, Honduras, and Guatemala to promote public policies which prioritize inclusive growth, poverty reduction, and sustainable alternatives to emigration. The Administrator shall incorporate programming to assist communities and economic sectors in such countries, including communities— (1) with high rates of migration to the United States; (2) in which individuals have been subjected to a severe form of trafficking in persons, or in which individuals are at a high risk of being subjected to a severe form of trafficking in persons; (3) which have a large number of individuals who have been removed from the United States returned to that community; (4) affected by destabilizing levels of violence; or (5) that have developed partnerships with nongovernmental organizations based in the United States. 6. Repatriation program for unaccompanied alien children Section 235(a)(5)(A) of the William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2008 ( 8 U.S.C. 1232(a)(5)(A) ) is amended— (1) in the heading, by striking pilot ; and (2) by striking pilot . 7. Ambassador-at-large for unaccompanied alien children The Secretary of State shall designate an Ambassador-at-Large for unaccompanied alien children. The Ambassador-at-Large shall formulate policies and responses to address the factors leading to child migration to the United States, and shall consult and coordinate with the relevant bureaus of the Department of State and the United States Agency for International Development, as well as with the Governments of El Salvador, Honduras, Guatemala and Mexico and with other regional governments, to develop and implement policies to safeguard the well-being of unaccompanied alien children, including the protection and care of such children.