Garbarino sponsors bill to bolster sponsor vetting for unaccompanied alien children

U.S. Rep. Andrew Garbarino (R-NY) on June 15 sponsored legislation that would create additional procedures for making placement determinations with sponsors for all unaccompanied alien children (UAC) who are in federal custody.

“Current law clearly requires the administration to repatriate unaccompanied children to their last residence or home country. However, Secretary Mayorkas has repeatedly stated that they will not expel young children who have crossed the border alone,” Rep. Garbarino said. “This failure to enforce the law encourages an increasing number of entries and puts these children in danger by creating a situation where officials are placing them in the custody of hastily vetted sponsors. Once there, they could be forced into child labor, sex trafficking, or transnational gangs like MS-13 on Long Island.”

The Protecting UACs Through Enhanced Sponsor Vetting Act of 2023, H.R. 4164, which Rep. Garbarino introduced alongside two Republican cosponsors, would amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to task the director of the Office of Refugee Resettlements of the Department of Health and Human Services to establish the new sponsor vetting procedures.

“The Protecting UACs Through Enhanced Sponsor Vetting Act of 2023 would require more stringent vetting of sponsors so that these kids don’t fall victim to gang recruitment schemes which bolster the ranks of criminal enterprises and further endanger migrants and American citizens alike,” said Rep. Garbarino.

If enacted, H.R. 4164 also would mandate additional procedures for making placement determinations, including criminal records check 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, according to a bill summary provided by Rep. Garbarino’s staff.

The bill has been referred for consideration to the U.S. House Judiciary Committee.