Washington, D.C. – Kids in Need of Defense (KIND) today decried House passage of legislation that significantly weakens protections for unaccompanied children seeking safety in the United States. The Kayla Hamilton Act (H.R. 4371) would keep children in government custody for longer periods, block reunification with parents and other safe sponsors, and prioritize immigration enforcement over children’s best interests. Following today’s vote, KIND President Wendy Young issued the following statement:
“This bill is rooted in punitive measures, not child protection. It uses a tragic act of violence against Kayla Hamilton to endanger unaccompanied children, who are often victims of violence themselves. It would impose restrictive sponsor requirements that would not make children safer and would use information about sponsors for immigration enforcement purposes, which would deter safe caregivers from coming forward and eliminate children’s ability to reunify with parents and other safe sponsors altogether. It would also allow intrusive physical examinations, including possible strip searches, expand the detention of children in jail-like settings based on unsubstantiated allegations, and increase the risk of indefinite detention. Together, these provisions threaten due process, family unity, and the safety and wellbeing of some of the most vulnerable children. Today’s vote is out of step with well-established child welfare standards and ultimately endangers unaccompanied children. Congress should and must do better to protect the most vulnerable among us.”
###
Media Contact: Megan McKenna, mmckenna@supportkind.org, 202-631-9990