New Legislation Aimed at Preventing Trafficking of Unaccompanied Alien Children
Rep. Nancy Mace, a Republican from South Carolina, has put forth a new bill intended to combat the trafficking of unaccompanied alien children (UACs). This initiative, titled the “No More Missing Children Act,” seeks to establish a comprehensive anti-trafficking program specifically focused on protecting these vulnerable children from exploitation.
Mace expressed her concerns regarding the Biden administration’s handling of UACs, stating that children have been left vulnerable within a chaotic system, making them easy targets for traffickers and other predators. She emphasized the urgency of acting, saying, “As mothers and lawmakers, we refuse to sit while our children are being exploited.”
If enacted, the legislation would introduce robust measures to ensure the safety of these children. This includes thorough background checks for sponsors, as well as all adults residing in the household, utilizing biometric and DNA data. Additionally, the bill proposes GPS tracking for both the children and their sponsors, inspections of homes before placement, unexpected follow-up visits, regular phone check-ins, and instant removal from custody if any safety issues arise.
Moreover, the law would prevent individuals with criminal backgrounds, gang affiliations, or any links to terrorism from gaining custody of these children. Mace has positioned child safety as a central priority, ensuring strict guidelines for sponsors.
This legislative effort comes in light of alarming statistics; since 2019, Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE) has reportedly lost track of more than 32,000 unaccompanied children. According to a recent report from the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Inspector General, there were also about 291,000 children who did not receive court notifications after crossing the border illegally.
During an audit, it was revealed that ICE has lost track of these children after release or transfer from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Data has shown that over 32,000 UACs have “failed to appear” for their scheduled court hearings during this timeframe.
Mace’s bill was introduced alongside other immigration reform measures, including an Illegal Alien Act, which aims to impose penalties on those who exploit these illegal immigrants. The urgency of this issue is compounded by reports estimating that a significant portion of UACs may be misappropriated by cartels for illicit activities.
