Texas Border Business
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) released the following statement after his Kayla Hamilton Act, which would require the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to conduct thorough background and criminal record checks on unaccompanied alien children (UACs) and potential sponsors prior to their placement, passed the U.S House of Representatives. This legislation is named in honor of Kayla Hamilton, a young woman who was sexually assaulted and brutally murdered by a 17-year-old MS-13 gang member and UAC who illegally entered the country through the southern border and was released by the Biden administration to a sponsor.
“The Biden-Harris border crisis allowed for countless unvetted aliens to flood into the country and harm innocent Americans, and I am glad the House has passed my legislation named in honor of Kayla Hamilton to fix this vetting loophole,” said Sen. Cornyn. “We owe it to Kayla and other victims of senseless tragedies to ensure comprehensive background and criminal record checks are conducted on unaccompanied alien children and potential sponsors prior to their placement, and I am glad we are one step closer to ensuring more thorough vetting is the law of the land.”
Additional cosponsors include Sens. Ted Cruz (R-TX), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Katie Britt (R-AL), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), Ted Budd (R-NC), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), and Thom Tillis (R-NC). Congressman Russell Fry (SC-07) introduced this legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Background:
The Kayla Hamilton Act would require thorough background and criminal record checks on UACs prior to their release to a sponsor and prohibit the release of any UAC into the custody of criminals or illegal aliens. The bar to placement applies not only to individuals seeking to sponsor a UAC, but also any adult living in the household of the potential sponsor who has a criminal history.
The bill also requires the federal government to:
- Ensure UACs show up for their immigration and judicial proceedings;
- Place UACs in a secure facility if they are a danger to themselves or others, a flight risk, committed gang-related crimes, are aggravated felons, or have committed and/or been convicted of other serious crimes;
- Obtain the UAC’s criminal records from their country of nationality or last habitual residence;
- Requires HHS to collect information from the potential sponsor and individuals residing in the household of that sponsor including immigration status, background and security checks, full names, social security numbers, dates of birth, telephone numbers and email addresses;
- And examine all UACs over the age of 12 for gang-related markings and tattoos.
