Transparency for Unaccompanied Children Act

Bill: 118-hr-8020
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Eshoo, Anna G. [D-CA-16]
Introduced: 2024-04-16
Policy area: Families
Latest action: action_date: 2024-04-16
text: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Summaries:

tv_txt: I 118th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 8020 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES April 16, 2024 Ms. Eshoo introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary A BILL To require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to publish data on the Unaccompanied Children Program.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Transparency for Unaccompanied Children Act . 2. Online publication of data on the Unaccompanied Children Program (a) In general Not later than 30 days after the date of enactment of this Act, and monthly thereafter, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall publish, on a publicly accessible webpage of the Department of Health and Human Services, data on the Unaccompanied Children Program. (b) Required data The data published pursuant to subsection (a) shall include the following: (1) The total number of unaccompanied alien children transferred to the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) during the previous month. (2) The total number of unaccompanied alien children discharged by ORR into the custody of sponsors during the previous month, disaggregated by the number of such children discharged to a sponsor who is— (A) a parent or legal guardian of the discharged child; (B) a brother, sister, or grandparent of the discharged child, or an aunt, uncle, or first cousin of the discharged child who previously served as the child’s primary caregiver; (C) an aunt, uncle, or first cousin of the discharged child who was not previously the child’s primary caregiver; or (D) a distant relative of the discharged child or not related to the discharged child. (3) The total number of unaccompanied alien children who were discharged by ORR into the custody of sponsors during the previous month, and who meet the requirements for a mandatory home study under section 235(c)(3)(B) of the William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2008 ( 8 U.S.C. 1232(c)(3)(B) ), disaggregated by the number of such children discharged to a sponsor who is— (A) a parent or legal guardian of the discharged child; (B) a brother, sister, or grandparent of the discharged child, or an aunt, uncle, or first cousin of the discharged child who previously served as the child’s primary caregiver; (C) an aunt, uncle, or first cousin of the discharged child who was not previously the child’s primary caregiver; or (D) a distant relative of the discharged child or not related to the discharged child. (4) The average length of time spent in ORR custody by unaccompanied alien children who were discharged from ORR custody during the previous month. (5) The total number of home studies conducted by ORR (or by an ORR grantee or contractor) to assess whether potential sponsors are able and willing to care for an unaccompanied alien child, disaggregated by the number of such home studies that are— (A) mandatory under current law or existing ORR policies; or (B) discretionary under current law and existing ORR policies. (6) The total number of sponsorship applications that were pending with ORR at any point during the previous month, disaggregated by the number of such applications that— (A) were approved during the previous month; (B) were denied during the previous month; or (C) remained pending as of the end of the previous month. (7) The total number of sponsorship applications that were pending with ORR at any point during the previous month and submitted by any individual seeking to become the sponsor of an unaccompanied alien child who meets the requirements for a mandatory home study under section 1232(c)(3)(B) of title 8, United States Code, disaggregated by the number of such applications that— (A) were approved during the previous month; (B) were denied during the previous month; or (C) remained pending as of the end of the previous month. (8) The total number of calls received by the ORR National Call Center during the previous month reporting instances of trafficking, neglect, or abuse of children discharged into the custody of sponsors by ORR. (9) The total number of follow-up calls to discharged children and their sponsors conducted by ORR (or by an ORR grantee or contractor) during the previous month, disaggregated by the number of such calls conducted— (A) in accordance with the timeframe required by ORR policy; or (B) later than required by ORR policy. (10) The total number of unaccompanied alien children discharged from ORR custody who have received post-release services furnished by ORR during the previous month, disaggregated by the number of such children who have received— (A) one or more virtual check-ins; (B) case management services; or (C) intensive in-home services and engagement. (11) The total number of unaccompanied alien children discharged from ORR custody who have received full legal representation furnished by ORR during the previous month. (c) Notification of congressional committees Upon publishing new monthly data pursuant to subsection (a), the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall notify the Chair and ranking member of— (1) the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives; (2) the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate; (3) the Committee on Oversight and Accountability of the House of Representatives; and (4) the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate. (d) Definitions In this section: (1) The term ORR means the Office of Refugee Resettlement of the Department of Health and Human Services. (2) The term sponsor means an individual who has been selected by the Department of Health and Human Services to be the custodian of an unaccompanied alien child under section 235(c)(3) of the William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2008 ( 8 U.S.C. 1232(c)(3) ). (3) The term sponsorship application means the application submitted to ORR by an individual seeking to become the custodian of an unaccompanied alien child. (4) The term unaccompanied alien child has the meaning given to such term in section 462(g)(2) of the Homeland Secretary Act of 2002 ( 6 U.S.C. 279(g)(2) ). (5) The term Unaccompanied Children Program means the program of ORR for the care and custody of unaccompanied alien children under section 235(b) of the William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2008 ( 8 U.S.C. 1232(b) ).