Us Congress 2023-2024 Regular Session

Us Congress House Bill HB6522

Introduced

11/30/23

Refer

11/30/23

Refer

11/30/23

Caption

PRINTS Act Preventing the Recycling of Immigrants is Necessary for Trafficking Suspension Act

Impact

The PRINTS Act amends existing immigration law to introduce new protocols for handling cases involving unaccompanied minors. Specifically, it compels the Secretary of Homeland Security to obtain fingerprints from suspected child trafficking victims and report the data regularly. This creates an additional layer of law enforcement oversight aimed at combating child trafficking while also simplifying the tracking of trafficking incidents. However, the bill carries significant implications for how unaccompanied minors are treated upon entry to the U.S., effectively formalizing the collection of sensitive personal data.

Summary

House Bill 6522, known as the PRINTS Act (Preventing the Recycling of Immigrants is Necessary for Trafficking Suspension Act), aims to establish strict measures for the protection of noncitizen minors who may be victims of human trafficking. The bill mandates the Secretary of Homeland Security to fingerprint minors under the age of 14 who are entering the United States and are suspected of being victims of trafficking. This process is intended to enhance the identification and protection of vulnerable children at risk of exploitation.

Contention

Opponents of the PRINTS Act may argue that the fingerprinting requirement raises privacy concerns and could deter vulnerable families from seeking refuge in the U.S. The potential criminal penalties imposed on noncitizen adults who use unrelated minors for entry also invoke debate. Critics may highlight how this provision could disproportionately affect innocent parties caught up in difficult circumstances, thus complicating humanitarian responses to migration. Proponents, however, stress the importance of protecting children from trafficking and exploitation, suggesting the benefits of such measures outweigh the potential downsides.

Latest HB6522 Activity

Companion Bills

US SB3239

Same As PRINTS Act Preventing the Recycling of Immigrants is Necessary for Trafficking Suspension Act

Previously Filed As

US SB3239

PRINTS Act Preventing the Recycling of Immigrants is Necessary for Trafficking Suspension Act

US SB53

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.  