Blackburn, Ernst seek immigrant child protections at the nation’s southern border

U.S. Sens. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) and Joni Ernst (R-IA), the first two Republican women to serve on the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee, recently introduced the End Child Trafficking Now Act of 2019 to protect the rights of children crossing into the United States at the Mexican border.

“The current crisis at our border is multifaceted and requires a holistic approach,” said Sen. Blackburn, who sponsored the bill. “By tackling these problems piece by piece, we will get this situation under control.”

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) since May 2018 uncovered more than 5,500 fraudulent asylum claims, while U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement determined earlier this year that one-in-five claims of kinship were proven false.

If enacted, S. 2420 would amend current law to require a DNA test to substantiate the familial relationship between an alien and an accompanying minor, according to a bill summary provided by the lawmakers.

“It is horrifying that children are becoming victims of trafficking at our southern border,” Sen. Blackburn said. “By confirming a familial connection between an alien and an accompanying minor, we can determine whether the child was brought across the border by an adult with nefarious intentions.”

Having DNA testing in place also would ensure that unaccompanied minors aren’t “being used as an innocent pawn to skirt our immigration laws,” said Sen. Ernst, the bill’s cosponsor.

“During my visit to the southern border this summer, I heard directly from Customs and Border Patrol agents about children who are tragically being trafficked across the border by illegal immigrants who falsely claim they are related,” Sen. Ernst said. “These children are being used as a ‘passport’ to get across our border, and this needs to stop.

S. 2420 also would require DHS to immediately deport alien adults if they refuse a DNA test and would mandate a maximum 10-year prison sentence for all alien adults who lie about family ties or guardianship over a minor, among other provisions.

The same-named companion legislation, H.R. 3864, was introduced in July by U.S. Rep. Lance Gooden (R-TX).