Washington, DC – Kids in Need of Defense (KIND) warns that today’s narrow final passage of a reconciliation bill that guts fundamental protections for unaccompanied children and puts them at greater risk of trafficking and exploitation is out of step with our nation’s longstanding commitment to protect children from those who seek to do them harm. In addition to establishing a pay-to-play fee structure for vulnerable children seeking protection, the final bill eviscerates key anti-trafficking protections enshrined in the bipartisan and longstanding Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2008 (TVPRA), including safeguards that protect against summary removal from the United States, require children’s prompt release to safe sponsors, and facilitate their access to asylum and other legal protections.
Following today’s vote, KIND President Wendy Young issued the following statement:
“Nearly every word of this legislation puts politics above protections for the most vulnerable among us, including unaccompanied children fleeing war, trafficking, human rights abusers and other child predators, and other dangers. This turns back the clock on decades of bipartisan consensus about the need to keep unaccompanied kids safe and out of the hands of those who exploit their inherent vulnerability for financial gain. Just as appalling are the bill’s provisions that permit strip searches of minors at the border and in government care, fund the indefinite detention of families, establish a pay-to-play legal protection system, and impose new requirements that threaten to prevent family unity. For example, no child should be expected to pay $5,000 for access to protections under our justice system.
“While this is a dark chapter in the work to protect unaccompanied children from further harm, it cannot be the end of the story. Congressional leaders must take immediate action to introduce legislation to reverse the harmful language contained in this bill and restore fundamental protections for unaccompanied children seeking safety.”
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For more information or to request an interview with KIND, contact Hannah Gavin (hgavin@westendstrategy.com).