Upholding Protections for Unaccompanied Children Act of 2025
Summary
The "Upholding Protections for Unaccompanied Children Act of 2025" (H.R. 6389) aims to amend the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act" (Public Law 119-21) to strengthen protections for unaccompanied children. It seeks to repeal or modify provisions that undermine safeguards and increase risks for these children. The bill addresses concerns related to fees, protection screenings, body examinations, and information sharing.
Expected Effects
The bill would eliminate certain fees for unaccompanied children seeking asylum, employment authorization, and special immigrant juvenile status. It also seeks to reinstate protection screenings, limit body examinations, and restrict information sharing with immigration enforcement agencies. Ultimately, it aims to provide greater protections and due process for unaccompanied children.
Potential Benefits
- Eliminates financial barriers (fees) for unaccompanied children seeking legal relief.
- Reinstates protection screenings to identify trafficking and other risks.
- Limits potentially harmful body examinations.
- Restricts information sharing that could lead to family separation.
- Reinforces due process and fair legal proceedings for unaccompanied children.
Potential Disadvantages
- May increase costs for other immigration applicants if fees are not collected from unaccompanied children.
- Could potentially create administrative burdens in distinguishing unaccompanied children from other applicants.
- Some may argue that limiting information sharing hinders immigration enforcement efforts.
- There might be concerns about potential abuse of the system if protections are not carefully managed.
- The bill could face political opposition, making its passage uncertain.
Most Disadvantaged Areas:
Constitutional Alignment
The bill aligns with constitutional principles of due process and equal protection, particularly the Fifth Amendment, which guarantees due process for all persons. By ensuring fair legal processes and protections for unaccompanied children, the bill supports these constitutional rights. The emphasis on protecting vulnerable individuals also reflects broader constitutional values of justice and fairness.
Impact Assessment: Things You Care About ⓘ
This action has been evaluated across 19 key areas that matter to you. Scores range from 1 (highly disadvantageous) to 5 (highly beneficial).