Nancy Mace Proposes Anti-Trafficking Bill for Unaccompanied Children
Republican Representative Nancy Mace of South Carolina has introduced a significant piece of legislation aimed at tackling the issue of human trafficking involving unaccompanied migrant children. The proposed bill, titled the No More Missing Children Act, seeks to establish an Unaccompanied Alien Child (UAC) Anti-Trafficking Program to safeguard these vulnerable minors from trafficking, kidnapping, and exploitation.
Mace’s initiative responds to the alarming number of unaccompanied minors reported missing during the Biden administration. According to her, hundreds of thousands of children have been lost, many of whom became victims of human and sex trafficking. In her statement, Mace emphasized the urgent need for action, claiming that “the Biden Administration’s reckless negligence left UAC to roam a lawless system, preyed upon by traffickers, predators, and cartels.”
Key Measures of the Proposed Legislation
If enacted, the No More Missing Children Act would introduce stringent measures to ensure the safety of unaccompanied children. Key provisions include comprehensive background checks for sponsors and all adults in their households, employing biometric and DNA data. The legislation mandates GPS tracking for both the child and the sponsor, as well as home inspections prior to placement and unannounced follow-up visits.
Additional safety measures call for monthly phone check-ins and the immediate removal of a child from custody if any safety concerns arise or program rules are violated. Notably, individuals with criminal records, gang affiliations, or ties to terrorism would be barred from obtaining custody of these children. Mace’s bill aims to prioritize child safety above all else.
This legislative push comes in the wake of a report from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Office of the Inspector General, which revealed that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) lost track of more than 32,000 unaccompanied migrant children since fiscal year 2019. The report highlighted that nearly 291,000 children did not receive court notices after crossing the Southern border illegally.
The Urgency of Action
The audit conducted by DHS underscored ICE’s inability to effectively monitor the whereabouts and status of unaccompanied children after their release from federal custody. The findings revealed that ICE had transferred over 448,000 unaccompanied children to the Office of Refugee Resettlement between fiscal years 2019 and 2023. Alarmingly, the agency could not determine the whereabouts of children who failed to appear in immigration court, with over 32,000 missing children reported.
Mace’s efforts are part of a broader initiative to enhance immigration and border security. Alongside the No More Missing Children Act, she has proposed the Preventing Violence Against Women by Illegal Aliens Act, which seeks to impose swift penalties on predators residing illegally in the U.S., and the Expedited Removal Expansion Act, aimed at accelerating the removal of illegal immigrants.
The urgency of this legislation is further underscored by alarming statistics from the Coalition Against Trafficking in Women, which estimates that 60% of unaccompanied alien children are seized by cartels and exploited for purposes such as child pornography and drug trafficking. As Mace noted, “As a mother and a lawmaker, we refuse to sit by while children are exploited.”
In conclusion, the introduction of the No More Missing Children Act marks a critical step toward addressing the vulnerabilities faced by unaccompanied migrant children. With its proposed measures, the bill aims to restore safety and accountability within the immigration system, echoing the commitment to protect the most vulnerable members of society.
