Stop Human Trafficking of Unaccompanied Migrant Children Act of 2025

Senate Bill

S. 286

119th Congress

Stop Human Trafficking of Unaccompanied Migrant Children Act of 2025

In Committee

Introduced:Jan 28, 2025

Primary Sponsor

Rick Scott

R - FL

Cosponsors

2

Quick Stats

Policy Area

Immigration

Summary

This bill establishes comprehensive vetting requirements before unaccompanied migrant children can be placed with sponsors. Sponsors and all household adults must undergo fingerprint background checks including sex offender registry, FBI criminal history, and child abuse checks. HHS must conduct pre-placement home visits and periodic follow-ups. Children cannot be placed with unlawfully present sponsors unless they are parents, relatives, or legal guardians. Requirements apply retroactively to placements since January 20, 2021.

Latest Action

Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

Introduced1/28/2025

StatusRead twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

ChamberSenate

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Vote Prediction

Stop Human Trafficking of Unaccompanied Migrant Children Act of 2025

This bill establishes comprehensive vetting requirements before unaccompanied migrant children can be placed with sponsors. Sponsors and all household adults must undergo fingerprint background checks including sex offender registry, FBI criminal history, and

Community Breakdown

Pass

0%

Fail

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0 predictions

This bill establishes comprehensive vetting requirements before unaccompanied migrant children can be placed with sponsors. Sponsors and all household adults must undergo fingerprint background checks including sex offender registry, FBI criminal history, and child abuse checks. HHS must conduct pre-placement home visits and periodic follow-ups. Children cannot be placed with unlawfully present sponsors unless they are parents, relatives, or legal guardians. Requirements apply retroactively to placements since January 20, 2021.

Bill Number: 286
Introduced: 1/28/2025
Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Policy Area: Immigration

Data from Congress.gov

AI-generated summary

Fact Sheet

Title: Stop Human Trafficking of Unaccompanied Migrant Children Act of 2025
Bill Number: 286
Sponsor: No sponsor
Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Introduced: 1/28/2025
Summary: This bill establishes comprehensive vetting requirements before unaccompanied migrant children can be placed with sponsors. Sponsors and all household adults must undergo fingerprint background checks including sex offender registry, FBI criminal history, and child abuse checks. HHS must conduct pre

Data from Congress.gov

AI Summary

Plain-English explanation of this bill

This bill establishes comprehensive vetting requirements before unaccompanied migrant children can be placed with sponsors. Sponsors and all household adults must undergo fingerprint background checks including sex offender registry, FBI criminal history, and child abuse checks. HHS must conduct pre-placement home visits and periodic follow-ups. Children cannot be placed with unlawfully present sponsors unless they are parents, relatives, or legal guardians. Requirements apply retroactively to placements since January 20, 2021.

Last updated: 1/4/2026

Official Summary

Congressional Research Service summary

Stop Human Trafficking of Unaccompanied Migrant Children Act of 2025This bill establishes requirements relating to placing unaccompanied alien children with sponsors. (Under federal law, an unaccompanied alien child is a minor with no lawful immigration status and no parent or legal guardian in the United States to provide care and physical custody.)Before the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) may release such a child to a sponsor, the sponsor must complete a fingerprint background check and vetting that includes (1) a public records check, (2) a National Sex Offender Registry check, (3) a Federal Bureau of Investigation National Criminal History Check, (4) a child abuse and neglect check, and (5) state and local criminal history checks. Each adult in the sponsor's household must also undergo such vetting before the placement.The bill also requires HHS to visit the home of a proposed sponsor before the placement and to conduct periodic home visits after.A child may not be placed with a sponsor who is unlawfully present in the United States unless the sponsor is the child's parent, relative, or legal guardian.HHS must retroactively apply these vetting standards to all sponsors for placements made since January 20, 2021.

Key Points

Main provisions of the bill

Requires fingerprint background checks for sponsors and household adults
Mandates checks of sex offender registry, FBI records, and child abuse databases
Requires HHS home visits before and after placement
Prohibits placement with unlawfully present sponsors (with family exceptions)
Applies retroactively to all placements since January 20, 2021

How This Impacts Americans

Potential effects on citizens and communities

This legislation responds to concerns about child safety in the sponsor placement system. Proponents argue enhanced vetting will protect vulnerable children from trafficking and abuse. Critics may note implementation challenges and the burden of retroactive compliance. The bill represents a significant expansion of oversight for the unaccompanied children program, with substantial resource implications for HHS.

Policy Areas

Primary Policy Area

Immigration

Scope & Jurisdiction

Jurisdiction Level

federal

Congressional Session

119th Congress

Citation Reference

286, 119th Congress (2025). "Stop Human Trafficking of Unaccompanied Migrant Children Act of 2025". Source: Voter's Right Platform. https://votersright.org/bills/118-s-286