HR 3497 — Protecting UACs Through Enhanced Sponsor Vetting Act of 2021

Summary

Protecting UACs Through Enhanced Sponsor Vetting Act of 2021 This bill requires the Office of Refugee Resettlement within the Department of Health and Human Services to take additional actions when placing an unaccompanied alien child in the custody of a sponsor. Before placing such a child with a sponsor and again when a placement decision has been made, the office must notify the governments of the state and the locality in which the prospective or selected sponsor resides. When making determinations concerning the placement of such a child with a sponsor, the office must (1) include the Federal Bureau of Investigation and appropriate state and local law enforcement in its consultations, (2) ensure that the child is protected from designated transnational criminal organizations, (3) conduct a thorough background check of each prospective sponsor using the Next Generation Identification System, and (4) share with the Terrorist Screening Center any information establishing the child's or sponsor's affiliation with a designated transnational criminal organization.

Bill Text

• Introduced Introduced in House Current html May 25, 2021

Compared against current U.S. Code AI-generated reading aid — verify against the official bill.

The bill adds new procedures for placement determinations of unaccompanied alien children, enhancing vetting for sponsors and notifying relevant officials.

• 6 U.S.C. 279

  ; and → ; and

  The bill updates the punctuation to allow for the addition of a new subparagraph.

• 6 U.S.C. 279

  . → ; and

  The bill updates the punctuation to allow for the addition of a new subparagraph.

• 6 U.S.C. 279

  (M) providing notification of the prospective placement of an unaccompanied alien child with a sponsor to the Governor of the State and the chief executive of the county in which the sponsor resides.

  The bill mandates that prior to placement, notice be given to state and local authorities.

• 6 U.S.C. 279

  shall coordinate with appropriate juvenile justice professionals, the Director of the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services, the Assistant Secretary of the Bureau of Border Security, → shall coordinate with appropriate juvenile justice professionals, the Director of the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services, the Assistant Secretary of the Bureau of Border Security, the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and appropriate State and local law enforcement officials to ensure that such determinations ensure that unaccompanied alien children described in such subparagraph

  The bill expands the list of entities with which the Director must coordinate regarding placement decisions.

• 6 U.S.C. 279

  members of a designated transnational criminal organization, or others who might seek to victimize or otherwise engage them in criminal, harmful, or exploitive activity; and → members of a designated transnational criminal organization, or others who might seek to victimize or otherwise engage them in criminal, harmful, or exploitive activity, including by conducting a thorough criminal history background check utilizing the Next Generation Identification System or its successor system on prospective sponsors; and

  The bill adds a requirement for criminal background checks on prospective sponsors to ensure child safety.

• 6 U.S.C. 279

  (g) Additional Procedures for Making Placement Determinations.--

  The bill adds a new subsection that outlines additional procedures for making placement determinations.

• 6 U.S.C. 279

  (1) Criminal records checks.--The Director shall coordinate with the Attorney General to conduct a thorough criminal history background check utilizing the Next Generation Identification System or its successor system for all prospective sponsors before placement of an unaccompanied alien child.

  The bill mandates the coordination with the Attorney General for conducting criminal background checks on all sponsors.

• 6 U.S.C. 279

  (2) Consultation with relevant law enforcement entities.--The Director shall consult with relevant law enforcement entities, including Federal, State, and local law enforcement, prior to making a determination on whether it is appropriate to place an unaccompanied alien child with a prospective sponsor. This consultation will examine any criminal activity in which the prospective sponsor may have been, or is currently, involved.

  The bill requires consultation with law enforcement before placement decisions.

• 6 U.S.C. 279

  (3) Notification to state and local governments.--The Director shall notify relevant State and local governments of the decision to place an unaccompanied alien child with a sponsor. This notification will include the Governor of the state where the sponsor resides, as well as the mayor or equivalent officeholder of the locality where the sponsor resides.

  The bill requires notification to state and local governments of placement decisions.

• 6 U.S.C. 279

  (4) Transnational criminal organization intelligence sharing.--The Director shall provide to the Terrorist Screening Center information uncovered during the placement process of an unaccompanied alien child that establishes membership in, or affiliation with, a designated transnational criminal organization of either an unaccompanied alien child or a prospective sponsor.

  The bill mandates that relevant intelligence regarding criminal organization affiliations be shared with the Terrorist Screening Center.

Action History

1. November 01, 2022

   Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.

2. November 01, 2022

   Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Citizenship.

3. May 25, 2021

   Introduced in House

4. May 25, 2021

   Introduced in House

5. May 25, 2021

   Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Sponsors

• Andrew R. Garbarino · Primary
• Michael T. McCaul · Cosponsor
• Clay Higgins · Cosponsor
• Scott Perry · Cosponsor

Subjects