Senators Rick Scott (R-FL) and Ron Johnson (R-WI) have introduced the Stop Human Trafficking of Unaccompanied Migrant Children Act, a comprehensive legislative effort aimed at protecting unaccompanied migrant children from human trafficking and exploitation.
The bill comes in response to a shocking Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Inspector General report from August 2023, which revealed that the Biden administration had lost track of more than 320,000 unaccompanied migrant children who entered the United States, leaving them vulnerable to sex trafficking, forced labor, and other forms of abuse.
The legislation seeks to address systemic failures in the vetting and monitoring of sponsors who take custody of unaccompanied children, ensuring their safety and well-being through stricter oversight and accountability measures.
READ: Florida Sen. Scott Reintros Protect Our Seniors Act To Safeguard Social Security, Medicare
Senator Rick Scott emphasized the urgency of the situation, calling the loss of hundreds of thousands of children a “terrifying” consequence of the Biden administration’s immigration policies.
“It is terrifying to think that over 300,000 young, innocent children have been brought into this nation, potentially forced into unsafe conditions and at risk for human trafficking,” Scott said. “As a parent or grandparent, it’s unimaginable to think what might happen to these children, and that former president Joe Biden allowed this to happen by completely dismantling our immigration system and opening our southern border, completely ignoring the consequences or the tolls on human life.”
Scott praised President Donald Trump’s efforts to secure the border and locate the missing children, adding, “Thank God President Trump is in office and has already made incredible strides to secure our border and find the thousands of migrant children unaccounted for and at risk under Joe Biden. Our bill, the Stop Human Trafficking of Unaccompanied Migrant Children Act, will support President Trump’s actions by making critical changes to fix Biden’s broken process and protect innocent children from being trafficked in our nation.”
READ: Florida Sen. Scott Joins Texas Sen. Cruz Leading Effort On Stop Illegal Reentry Act, Kate’s Law
The Stop Human Trafficking of Unaccompanied Migrant Children Act introduces several measures to strengthen the vetting and monitoring of sponsors and ensure the safety of unaccompanied migrant children:
- Comprehensive Vetting Standards: The bill requires background checks, including fingerprinting, criminal history, and child abuse checks, for all prospective sponsors to ensure they are fit to care for a child.
- Screening of Adult Household Members: All adults living in the sponsor’s household must undergo the same vetting process as the primary sponsor to prevent unsafe placements.
- Limits on Placements with Illegal Aliens: The legislation prohibits releasing unaccompanied children to sponsors who are unlawfully present in the U.S., unless the sponsor is a biological parent, legal guardian, or relative.
- Pre- and Post-Release Monitoring: The bill mandates pre-release home visits and a minimum of five unannounced post-release visits within the first year to monitor the child’s safety and well-being.
- Ongoing Reports and Retroactive Vetting: Monthly reports on the status of children placed with sponsors will be required, and all past sponsors will be retroactively vetted to ensure compliance with the new standards.
READ: Trump Announces New Measures To Combat Anti-Semitism In Wake Of Campus Incidents
Senator Ron Johnson highlighted the Biden administration’s failure to protect unaccompanied migrant children, noting that over 85,000 children were lost in just the first two years of the administration.
“Biden’s HHS compounded this lunacy by making a mockery of its duty to ensure these children were placed with properly vetted sponsors who would ensure their safety,” Johnson said. “Many of these children have been exploited for labor and even sex trafficking. We need to fix our broken immigration system to reduce the number of unaccompanied children entering the country illegally. But those that do come here need to be cared for appropriately, and this legislation would ensure that HHS thoroughly vets sponsors before releasing any children and keeps track of them post-release.”
The issue of human trafficking and the exploitation of unaccompanied migrant children has drawn bipartisan concern, with lawmakers and advocacy groups calling for urgent action to address the crisis. The Stop Human Trafficking of Unaccompanied Migrant Children Act represents a significant step toward ensuring the safety and well-being of vulnerable children who enter the United States without a parent or guardian.
The bill has been introduced in the Senate and is expected to be referred to the Judiciary Committee for further consideration. Senators Scott and Johnson are urging their colleagues to support the legislation, emphasizing the need for immediate action to protect children from trafficking and exploitation.
Please make a small donation to the Tampa Free Press to help sustain independent journalism. Your contribution enables us to continue delivering high-quality, local, and national news coverage.
Connect with us: Follow the Tampa Free Press on Facebook and Twitter for breaking news and updates.
Sign up: Subscribe to our free newsletter for a curated selection of top stories delivered straight to your inbox.