PRINTS Act

Senate Bill

S. 53

119th Congress

PRINTS Act

In Committee

Introduced:Feb 4, 2025

Primary Sponsor

Marsha Blackburn

R - TN

Cosponsors

11

Quick Stats

Policy Area

Immigration

Summary

The PRINTS Act criminalizes using a minor to gain U.S. entry if not a close relative or guardian. CBP must fingerprint children under 14 if trafficking is suspected. DHS must share fingerprints with HHS for unaccompanied children and report monthly on false family claims.

Latest Action

Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

AI Summary

Plain-English explanation of this bill

The PRINTS Act criminalizes using a minor to gain U.S. entry if not a close relative or guardian. CBP must fingerprint children under 14 if trafficking is suspected. DHS must share fingerprints with HHS for unaccompanied children and report monthly on false family claims.

Last updated: 1/5/2026

Official Summary

Congressional Research Service summary

Preventing the Recycling of Immigrants is Necessary for Trafficking Suspension Act or the PRINTS ActThis bill addresses migrant minor children entering the United States. Specifically, the bill makes it a crime for a person to knowingly use a minor to gain entry to the United States if the minor is not a close relative or if the person is not the minor’s guardian. In addition, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) must fingerprint all non-U.S. nationals (aliens under federal law) entering the United States who are younger than 14 years of age if a CBP officer suspects that the child is victim of human trafficking.The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) must share with the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) any fingerprints collected under this bill from an unaccompanied child if that child is transferred to HHS custody.DHS must report to Congress on the number of children fingerprinted annually under this bill. DHS must also publish on a monthly basis the number of individuals apprehended for falsely claiming a child accompanying them into the United States was a close relative.

Key Points

Main provisions of the bill

Criminalizes using unrelated minors to gain U.S. entry
Requires fingerprinting children under 14 if trafficking suspected
Mandates DHS sharing of fingerprints with HHS
Requires monthly reporting on false family claims
Addresses child trafficking at the border

How This Impacts Americans

Potential effects on citizens and communities

Border officials would have new tools to identify child trafficking by fingerprinting suspected victims and tracking false family claims. This targets adults who use unrelated children to gain entry to the United States.

Policy Areas

Primary Policy Area

Immigration

Scope & Jurisdiction

Jurisdiction Level

federal

Congressional Session

119th Congress

Citation Reference

53, 119th Congress (2025). "PRINTS Act". Source: Voter's Right Platform. https://votersright.org/bills/118-s-53