Rep. Andrew Garbarino
U.S. Rep. Andrew Garbarino (R-NY) recently introduced a bill to improve screenings for sponsors of unaccompanied alien children (UACs).
The Protecting UACs Through Enhanced Sponsor Vetting Act of 2021, H.R. 3497, which Rep Garbarino sponsored on May 25 with cosponsors including U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul (R-TX), would amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to task the director of the Office of Refugee Resettlements in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services with establishing additional procedures that would make placement determinations for all UACs who are in federal custody, according to a bill summary provided by Rep. Garbarino’s staff.
“For years, these children have slipped through the cracks of our immigration system and, unfortunately, many have fallen prey to gang recruitment, creating a national security crisis throughout our communities,” Rep. Garbarino said on June 2 in a statement.
On Long Island, for instance, the congressman said that the MS-13 gang deployed a “sinister recruitment scheme” to target UACs who are young, alone and seeking a sense of belonging in a new country.
“It’s despicable that MS-13 and other gangs would prey on vulnerable children to perpetuate their criminal operations,” said Rep. Garbarino. “We must do everything we can to protect these children and our communities from gang violence by requiring more stringent vetting of sponsors and cutting gang recruitment schemes off at the knees.”
If enacted, H.R. 3497 would establish additional sponsor vetting requirements, including criminal records checks for all sponsors; consultation with relevant law enforcement agencies about a prospective sponsor’s criminal activity; notification to state and local governments of the decision to place a UAC with a sponsor that lives within their jurisdiction; and intelligence sharing related to a UAC or prospective sponsor’s involvement in a transnational criminal organization, the summary says.
“If we are placing children with sponsors, we have a moral responsibility to ensure these children are placed with safe sponsors,” Rep. McCaul said. “This legislation bolsters our vetting system to ensure UACs aren’t subject to senseless violence and I’m proud to join my colleagues in introducing this legislation.”