U.S. Senator Katie Britt Calls for Closing Legal Loophole that Incentivizes Illegal Migration of UAC to U.S.

"I believe that this creates a safety issue not only … for the lives of the UACs but also for the American people"

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Katie Britt (R-Ala.) participated in a Senate Judiciary Border Security and Immigration Subcommittee Hearing titled, "Another Biden Blunder: Missing Unaccompanied Alien Children and Criminal Sponsors," where she called for reform of current laws that incentivize the mass illegal migration of Unaccompanied Alien Children (UAC) to the southern border and lead to them being released into our country. Witnesses included former Chief Border Patrol Agent Chris Clem who provided insight into how loopholes allowing known gang members to enter and be released into the United States can be closed. He also discussed how Congress can take steps in this area of the law to prioritize the safety of American citizens.

Senator Britt began her questioning by calling to reform a glaring loophole that has incentivized illegal migration of UAC across our southern border: "I believe we need to amend Section 235 of the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2008, which is primarily the loophole that is used in our laws to incentivize the illegal [migration] of UAC to our southern border. I've been proud to cosponsor a number of bills that will actually do just that."

Chief Clem explained how the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2008 could be reformed, "Once we've done an initial screening to ensure that [UAC are] not, you know, trafficked or not victims of any kind of abuse. But once that (is) cleared, we should treat them and get them back to their home country as quickly as possible … I think that would close a loophole and … come up with a more clear and direct process for someone to lawfully immigrate to the United States versus sending their child in here and hoping they can reconnect later."

Senator Britt stated, "I believe that this creates a safety issue not only, in many times, for the lives of the UACs but also for the American people …"

Senator Britt highlighted the massive influx of UAC that illegally entered the United States under the Biden-Harris Administration and the lack of policies to determine whether UAC are known gang members or criminals: "… More than 400,000 UACs were released to sponsors by the Biden-Harris Administration, which is a 100% increase compared to that of the first Trump Administration. Most of them were teenage boys. And if you look at it, nearly 70% of UACs referred to HHS were 15 years of age or older … The (House Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration Integrity, Security and Enforcement) report also found that HHS did not have a policy to refer known gang members to the Justice Department."

She continued, "It's worth noting and remembering that the Biden-Harris Administration released a 17-year-old MS13 gang member who had entered the country as a UAC and then went on to sexually assault and murder 20-year-old Kayla Hamilton."

When Senator Britt asked Chief Clem what reforms would be needed within the UAC program to prevent the release of even more UACs who pose a threat to American citizens, he responded, "In order to find this bipartisan solution, we have to recognize that there is a criminal element associated with illegally entering the United States, whether you're an adult or a child. Let's focus on that piece to protect everyone involved, most importantly the American citizens, but the migrants themselves."

You can watch the Senator's full line of questioning here.

Senator Britt has long voiced disapproval of the Biden-Harris Administration's handling of UAC and has advocated for reforms to protect children from potential abuses and exploitation. She previously supported a Congressional Review Act resolution that would overturn a Biden-era rule that perpetuated the endangerment of unaccompanied migrant children. Senator Britt also signed a letter urging the Biden-Harris administration to prevent UAC from being placed into the hands of unvetted sponsors who often abuse and exploit them.

###