Washington, D.C. – In response to today’s vote in the U.S. House of Representatives on the Secure the Border Act of 2023 (H.R. 2), Kids in Need of Defense (KIND)’s VP of Policy and Advocacy Jennifer Podkul released the following statement:
“Kids in Need of Defense (KIND) is deeply disappointed that the Secure the Border Act passed out of the House today. It is a measure which would have catastrophic consequences for unaccompanied children. With Title 42 set to expire tonight, the vote is a step in the wrong direction for ensuring orderly and lawful processing of migrant children at the United States’ southern border.
“The act would eliminate core bipartisan anti-trafficking protections for unaccompanied children who seek safety at the border and prevent unaccompanied children within the United States from obtaining legal relief, leading to their potential return to trafficking, exploitation, and violence. The United States must embrace reforms that build upon, rather than tear down, existing protections for children who come to the United States seeking safety.”
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More information about the bill’s implications for unaccompanied children is available here. To speak with Jennifer Podkul or other KIND experts, please contact Hannah Gavin at hgavin@westendstrategy.com or 202-765-4290.