Responsibility for Unaccompanied Minors Act

Bill: 117-hr-4391
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Miller-Meeks, Mariannette [R-IA-2]
Introduced: 2021-07-09
Policy area: Immigration
Subjects: Administrative remedies

Border security and unlawful immigration

Child safety and welfare

Congressional oversight

Criminal justice information and records

Department of Health and Human Services

Detention of persons

Family relationships

Immigration status and procedures

Judges
Latest action: action_date: 2022-11-01
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Citizenship.

Summaries:
action_date: 2021-07-09
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><b>Responsibility for Unaccompanied Minors Act</b></p> <p>This bill amends provisions relating to responsibilities of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) for the care of unaccompanied alien children.</p> <p>The Office of Refugee Resettlement of HHS may provide care for an unaccompanied alien child until the conclusion of the child's immigration proceedings or the child reaching 18 years of age, whichever occurs first. Before placing an unaccompanied alien child with a sponsor, the office shall evaluate the child's future need for follow-up services. </p> <p>Before placing an accompanied alien child, HHS shall (1) require the proposed sponsor to execute a sponsor care agreement, (2) notify the welfare agency of the state where the child will be placed, and (3) conduct a background check of the sponsor and all adults living in the household in which the child will reside. </p> <p>Under the care agreement, each sponsor shall agree to (1) provide for the child's physical and mental well-being, and (2) ensure the child's presence at immigration proceedings and compliance with all court and agency orders. HHS shall assume physical custody of a child if the non-parent or legal guardian sponsor fails to comply with the care agreement. HHS shall periodically report to Congress on instances where a sponsor failed to comply with a care agreement.</p> <p>The Department of Justice shall increase the number of immigration judge teams by at least 225.</p>

tv_txt: I 117th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 4391 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES July 9, 2021 Mrs. Miller-Meeks (for herself, Mr. Cuellar , Ms. Tenney , Mr. Van Drew , Mr. Meijer , and Mr. Johnson of South Dakota ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary A BILL To clarify responsibilities related to unaccompanied alien children, to provide additional protections and tracking mechanisms for such children, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Responsibility for Unaccompanied Minors Act . 2. Findings Congress makes the following findings: (1) The Department of Health and Human Services, under Federal law as in effect on the date of the enactment of this Act, is responsible for the care of each unaccompanied alien child in the United States, including any such child placed with a sponsor, until the earlier of— (A) the date on which the immigration proceedings of the child are concluded; or (B) the date on which the child attains 18 years of age. (2) Follow-up services provided to certain unaccompanied alien children released to sponsors under section 235 of the William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2008 ( 8 U.S.C. 1232 ) are valuable to help ensure child safety, integration, and appearance at immigration court proceedings. 3. Responsibilities of the Director of the Office of Refugee Resettlement Section 462(b) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 ( 6 U.S.C. 279(b) ) is amended by adding at the end the following: (5) Clarification of period of care (A) In general Pursuant to the obligation established under section 235(b)(1) of the William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2008 ( 8 U.S.C. 1232(b)(1) ), the Director of the Office of Refugee Resettlement is authorized to care for and provide follow-up services to an unaccompanied alien child, including any such child placed with a sponsor, from the time the child is identified as an unaccompanied alien child until the earlier of— (i) the date on which the immigration proceedings of such child are concluded; or (ii) the date on which the child attains 18 years of age. (B) Rule of construction Nothing in this paragraph limits the authority of a State or local welfare or emergency services provider to address an allegation of abuse or neglect or an emergency situation. (6) Follow-up services Before placing an unaccompanied alien child with a sponsor, the Director of the Office of Refugee Resettlement shall evaluate, to the extent possible, the need for such child to receive follow-up services once such child is placed with a sponsor. . 4. Responsibilities of the Secretary of Health and Human Services (a) Sponsor care agreement; follow-Up services Section 235(c)(3) of the William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2008 ( 8 U.S.C. 1232(c)(3) ) is amended— (1) in subparagraph (A)— (A) by striking custodian and inserting sponsor ; and (B) by striking custodian’s and inserting sponsor’s ; (2) in subparagraph (B), by adding at the end the following: Neither an unaccompanied alien child nor any sponsor of such child may refuse the follow-up services required or authorized under the preceding sentence. ; (3) by redesignating subparagraph (C) as subparagraph (E); and (4) by inserting after subparagraph (B) the following: (C) Sponsor care agreement (i) In general Before the Secretary of Health and Human Services places an unaccompanied alien child with a sponsor, the proposed sponsor shall execute a sponsor care agreement. (ii) Requirements (I) In general A sponsor care agreement required under clause (i) shall include an agreement by the sponsor— (aa) to provide for the physical and mental well-being of such child, including providing food, shelter, clothing, education, medical care, and other services, as needed; (bb) to ensure the child’s presence at all future immigration proceedings related to such child; (cc) to notify local law enforcement or the appropriate State or local child protective services agency if such child has been, or is, at risk of being physically, mentally, or sexually abused, abandoned, neglected, threatened, or kidnapped; (dd) to notify the Secretary of Health and Human Services if the sponsorship status of such child has changed for any reason, including a change of custodian or sponsor, kidnapping, or flight; (ee) to accept any follow-up services authorized or required under subparagraph (B); (ff) to comply with, and ensure the compliance of, such child with all lawful orders of a court of the United States or Federal agency with jurisdiction related to the child; and (gg) to notify the Secretary of Health and Human Services, the Director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, and the Director of the Executive Office for Immigration Review of the current mailing address of such child if such address changes. (II) Other matters A sponsor care agreement required under clause (i) may include such other matters as the Secretary of Health and Human Services considers appropriate. (D) Termination of sponsor (i) Nonparental sponsors (I) In general Except as provided in subclause (II), with respect to an unaccompanied alien child released to a sponsor who is not the parent or legal guardian of such child, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall terminate the sponsorship arrangement and assume physical custody of such child if such sponsor fails to comply with the provisions of the sponsor care agreement required under subparagraph (C). (II) Exceptions The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall not terminate a sponsorship arrangement under subclause (I)— (aa) in the case of a minor violation of subparagraph (C)(ii)(I)(gg) that the sponsor timely remedies; or (bb) if the Secretary finds that terminating the sponsorship arrangement would not be in the best interest of the child. (III) Duties of the Secretary In the case of a termination of a sponsorship arrangement under subclause (I), the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall— (aa) place the unaccompanied alien child with a new sponsor or in another placement that is in the best interest of the child; and (bb) on the date on which a sponsorship arrangement is terminated, provide to the individual the sponsorship of whom is terminated a written notification and justification of the decision to terminate the sponsorship, and information relating to the appeals process under subclause (IV). (IV) Appeals (aa) In general The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall establish a process by which an individual the sponsorship of whom is terminated under subclause (I) may appeal the termination. (bb) No judicial review An appeal under item (aa) shall not be subject to judicial review. (V) Right to reapply for sponsorship An individual the sponsorship of whom is terminated under clause (i)(I) may reapply to serve as a sponsor after the date on which the individual has remedied the one or more conditions on which the termination was based. (ii) Parental sponsors With respect to an unaccompanied alien child released to a sponsor who is the parent or legal guardian of such child, in the case of the failure by the sponsor to comply with the provisions of the sponsor care agreement required under subparagraph (C), the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall notify the State agency responsible for administering the State plans under parts B and E of title IV of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 621 et seq. , 670 et seq.). (iii) Reporting (I) Definition of appropriate committees of Congress In this clause, the term appropriate committees of Congress means— (aa) the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, the Committee on the Judiciary, and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate; and (bb) the Committee on Homeland Security, the Committee on the Judiciary, and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives. (II) Quarterly report Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of the Responsibility for Unaccompanied Minors Act , and quarterly thereafter, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report that includes, for the preceding quarter— (aa) a description of each instance in which a sponsor failed to comply with a provision of the sponsor care agreement under subparagraph (C)(ii) and the action taken under clause (i) or (ii), including— (AA) with respect to a sponsor who is not a parent or legal guardian of the child, whether the sponsorship arrangement was terminated, an analysis whether termination is contrary to the best interests of the child, and whether the individual the sponsorship of whom was terminated filed an appeal under clause (i)(IV); and (BB) with respect to a sponsor who is a parent or legal guardian of the child, whether the Secretary of Health and Human Services notified the State agency responsible for administering the State plans under parts B and E of title IV of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 621 et seq. , 670 et seq.); and (bb) in the case of a determination by the Secretary of Health and Human Services that a sponsor is not in compliance with a provision of the sponsor care agreement but termination of sponsorship is not in the best interest of the child, an explanation of the reasons for such determination. . (b) Notifications Section 235 of the William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2008 ( 8 U.S.C. 1232 ) is amended— (1) by redesignating subsection (h) as subsection (j) and moving such subsection so that it appears immediately after subsection (i); and (2) by inserting after subsection (g) the following: (h) Notifications (1) In general Before releasing any unaccompanied alien child to a sponsor, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall submit to the State agency responsible for administering the State plans under parts B and E of title IV of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 621 et seq. , 670 et seq.)— (A) written notification of the specific location at which the unaccompanied alien child will reside while in such jurisdiction; and (B) written certification that— (i) the unaccompanied alien child will have undergone appropriate health screen­ings and received appropriate vaccinations; and (ii) the Secretary of Health and Human Services has completed background checks under section 5(a)(3) of the Responsibility for Unaccompanied Minors Act with respect to each individual who will be a sponsor of an unaccompanied alien child to be placed in the State and has determined that the individual does not present a risk to the unaccompanied alien child. (2) Exempt from disclosure Any personally identifiable information submitted under paragraph (1)— (A) shall be exempt from disclosure under section 552(b)(6) of title 5, United States Code; and (B) may not be disclosed by the recipient State agency (directly or indirectly) to any nongovernmental entity. (3) Purpose The purpose of this subsection is to facilitate cooperation between the Federal Government and the States to promote the best interests of unaccompanied alien children. . (c) Conforming amendments Section 235(c)(4) of the William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2008 ( 8 U.S.C. 1232(c)(4) ) is amended— (1) by striking custodians and inserting sponsors ; and (2) by striking custodian's and inserting sponsor’s . 5. Releasing unaccompanied minor children to sponsors (a) Mandatory background checks Before releasing any unaccompanied alien child (as defined in section 462(g) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 ( 6 U.S.C. 279(g) )) to a sponsor, including a sponsor who is the parent or legal guardian of the unaccompanied alien child and any other sponsor, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall— (1) verify the sponsor’s identity and relationship to the unaccompanied alien child; (2) interview the sponsor; and (3) conduct a background check on the sponsor and all other adults living in the household in which the unaccompanied alien child will reside, which shall include a fingerprint check against the information maintained by law enforcement agencies. (b) Limitation on liability (1) Injunctive relief Any individual with standing to challenge an action by the Department of Health and Human Services that violates this Act or section 235 of the William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2008 ( 8 U.S.C. 1232 ), as amended by section 4, or any entity representing such an individual, may bring an action in an appropriate Federal court for injunctive relief. (2) Prohibition against monetary damages A court may not award monetary damages to a plaintiff in a lawsuit described in paragraph (1). 6. Emergency immigration judge resources The Attorney General shall increase the number of immigration judge teams by not fewer than 225, as compared to the number of immigration judge teams on the date of the enactment of this Act.