Today, Senators Jeff Sessions (R-AL) and Ron Johnson (R-WI) joined Representative John R. Carter (R-TX-31) in his fight to close a loophole in the current law regarding unaccompanied minors entering the U.S. illegally by filing companion legislation in the Senate. The Protection of Children Act of 2015 (H.R. 1149/S. 2561) will ensure all unaccompanied children who enter the U.S. illegally are processed and safely returned to their home country as soon as possible. Under the current law, Central American children entering the U.S. illegally end up trapped in government red tape instead of being processed by U.S. Customs and returned safely to their home country.

“I welcome Senator Sessions and Senator Johnson to this fight. It is well past time for our government to close this loophole,” said Rep. Carter. “For far too long drug smugglers have continually manipulated our nation’s immigration laws to make billions, all while preying upon the weakest in our society.  The Protection of Children Act of 2015 stops this abuse and removes a loophole human traffickers have used for years. The past few years we have seen the affect this flaw in our law has had on our country and southern border as tens of thousands of juveniles marched across the border and into our cities, all at the taxpayer’s expense. The great state of Texas has felt this burden, probably more than any other state. This Administration needs to stop ignoring the obvious problem, burdening the American public and putting innocent lives at risk.”   

The Protection of Children Act of 2015:

• Ensures that children who are victims of severe forms of trafficking are afforded a hearing before an Immigration Judge within 14 days to avoid subjecting them and American communities to extended immigration limbo.
• Extends the ability of DHS to hold an unaccompanied alien child up to 30 days in secure custody to ensure their appearance before an Immigration Judge and/or any Asylum hearings.
• Provides for greater transparency by requiring Health and Human Services to provide biographical information regarding the sponsors or family members to whom the children are released. (Currently, there is no requirement to share sponsor or family information with Immigration officials. Without this information, there is a great danger these children will be lost in the system and fall victim to criminals.) This bill makes this requirement retroactive to June 15, 2012.
• Mandates that the Department of Homeland Security follow up with whom the child is placed to verify the individuals’ immigration status and issue notices to appear in court should the situation require an Immigration Judge.
• Reaffirms the privilege of having access to counsel to represent immigrants in court shall be at no expense to the United States taxpayer.

Rep. Carter represents Texas District 31, which includes Fort Hood, the largest military installation in the free world. He serves as Chairman of the Homeland Security Subcommittee on Appropriations, is on the Subcommittee for Commerce, Justice and Science and the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee. 

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