Safety of children with no lawful immigration status living in and moving into the state ensured.
Impact
The implementation of HF4927 will alter existing laws and practices surrounding the care and placement of unaccompanied minors in Minnesota. By instituting stricter background checks for sponsors and care providers, the bill is expected to provide a safer environment for vulnerable children who find themselves without guardians and living in the state. Furthermore, the bill seeks to instill a higher level of responsibility among organizations involved in the transportation of these minors, mitigating risks associated with their placement in potentially harmful settings.
Summary
House File 4927 aims to enhance the safety of children residing in Minnesota without lawful immigration status. The bill introduces specific provisions to ensure thorough screening of care providers and sponsors before unaccompanied children can be placed in their care. A crucial aspect of the bill mandates that care providers are required to verify the criminal status of potential sponsors through the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension or local law enforcement, effectively preventing placements of children with individuals who have a history of crimes related to child abuse, neglect, or human trafficking.
Contention
While the intent behind HF4927 is to protect unaccompanied children, it is likely to evoke a range of opinions and reactions from various stakeholders. Proponents of the bill argue that these measures are necessary to safeguard the welfare of children, while opponents may view them as an additional burden on already vulnerable populations. The increased scrutiny could raise concerns about accessibility to care resources for unaccompanied minors, potentially leading to debates on the balance between ensuring safety and facilitating care for children in need.
Border Security and Enforcement Act of 2023 Legal Workforce Act Immigration Parole Reform Act of 2023 Visa Overstays Penalties Act Protection of Children Act of 2023 Ensuring United Families at the Border Act Border Safety and Migrant Protection Act of 2023 Asylum Reform and Border Protection Act of 2023
Secure the Border Act of 2023 This bill addresses issues regarding immigration and border security, including by imposing limits to asylum eligibility. For example, the bill requires the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to resume activities to construct a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border; provides statutory authorization for Operation Stonegarden, which provides grants to law enforcement agencies for certain border security operations; prohibits DHS from processing the entry of non-U.S. nationals (aliens under federal law) arriving between ports of entry; limits asylum eligibility to non-U.S. nationals who arrive in the United States at a port of entry; authorizes the removal of a non-U.S. national to a country other than that individual's country of nationality or last lawful habitual residence, whereas currently this type of removal may only be to a country that has an agreement with the United States for such removal; expands the types of crimes that may make an individual ineligible for asylum, such as a conviction for driving while intoxicated causing another person's serious bodily injury or death; authorizes DHS to suspend the introduction of certain non-U.S. nationals at an international border if DHS determines that the suspension is necessary to achieve operational control of that border; prohibits states from imposing licensing requirements on immigration detention facilities used to detain minors; authorizes immigration officers to permit an unaccompanied alien child to withdraw their application for admission into the United States even if the child is unable to make an independent decision to withdraw the application; imposes additional penalties for overstaying a visa; and requires DHS to create an electronic employment eligibility confirmation system modeled after the E-Verify system and requires all employers to use the system.