TO DO: Children/Immigration
Source: Migrant Rights and Justice Program
Organizational Sign-on To Support Hirono 22--Child Trafficking Victims Protection Act!
DEADLINE WED 3 PM
As the Senate Judiciary Committee prepares to vote on amendments to S. 744, we hope you and your organization will sign on to this letter urging committee members to support Hirono 22, the Child Trafficking Victims Protection Act, which will amend TVPRA and provide important due process protections and appropriate care for unaccompanied children in CBP custody.
The attached one-page description created by LIRS, USCCB, and WRC explains the importance of this legislation.
Text of legislation can be accessed here: http://www.judiciary.senate.gov/legislation/immigration/amendments/Hirono/Hirono22-(MDM13422).pdf
Sign your organization up here:https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1nS_HFkkhKnrhBWWRqalcuG-8mAnuP7LmDX4pNtu3tmY/viewform
Child Trafficking Victims Protection Act—
drafted by Women’s Refugee Commission (WRC), United States Council of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) and Lutheran Immigrant Refugee Services (LIRS)
The CTVPA was originally introduced by Congresswoman Roybal-Allard in 2011 (H.R.2235, 112th Congress).
What the CTVPA would accomplish:
1. Place HHS/ACF or independent child welfare professionals at Border Patrol stations to provide basic humanitarian assistance to unaccompanied alien children (UACs) held in border stations, including emergency medical and mental health care, clothing, a pillow, blankets, adequate nutrition, sanitary conditions, and consular officials;
2. Ensure appropriate screening of children to identify victims of persecution or trafficking, ensure children are not held for longer than necessary in CBP facilities; and
3. Interview non-parental relatives traveling with children to determine trafficking or family reunification/sponsorship situations.
Why the CTVPA benefits DHS & protects UACs:
1. As part of Section 235(a) of Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2008 (8 U.S.C. 1232(a)), CBP is required to screen arriving unaccompanied children from contiguous countries to determine whether they are victims of trafficking fear return, but numerous NGOs, the GAO and Congress have documented CBP’s failure to do so. Having a HHS/ACF child welfare professional provide trafficking assessments will ensure the integrity of the screening process and safety of these children.
2. Such a transfer of responsibilities will also save CBP money and permit them to focus on enforcement and border security.
3. Children have unique vulnerabilities. Unaccompanied alien children apprehended by CBP are held in CBP holding cells under the same conditions as adults. No one is assigned to oversee or meet the needs of these children, and most children lack sufficient food, clothing, blankets and assistance.
4. Increased screening, identification, and interdiction of child trafficking victims or children at risk of being trafficked, improves the likelihood of collecting actionable intelligence, which enhances enforcement and security.
5. Identification and screening of family units will facilitate the distinction between DHS and HHS responsibilities in detention and reunification of families.
6. Child welfare professionals will also be able to make initial placement recommendations to ORR and streamline the placement process.
7. With child welfare professionals engaged in the screening process, the due process rights of UACs in CBP custody will be better maintained and protected.
TO SIGN PETITION, GO TO: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1nS_HFkkhKnrhBWWRqalcuG-8mAnuP7LmDX4pNtu3tmY/viewform
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