Washington, D.C. — Colorado U.S. Senators Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper joined U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) and 19 of their Senate Democratic colleagues to introduce the Upholding Protections for Unaccompanied Children Act, legislation to reverse the provisions in Republicans’ so-called “One Big Beautiful Bill” that harm children seeking safety from trafficking, abuse, and exploitation in their home countries.
“All too often, our immigration system fails to protect unaccompanied migrant children seeking asylum,” said Bennet. “This legislation will protect unaccompanied children fleeing violence by reversing cruel provisions in Republicans’ Big Beautiful Bill. I won’t stop pushing the Trump Administration to ensure that these children are treated with the respect and dignity they deserve.”
“MAGA Republicans created new fees and recurring charges for unaccompanied children fleeing violence as their cases are stuck being processed,” said Hickenlooper. “It’s a betrayal to our original promise of justice and freedom. We’re working to stop it.”
“As members of Congress, it’s our duty to stand up for those who can’t stand up for themselves,” said Cortez Masto. “That includes the unaccompanied children who come to the United States after escaping trafficking and abuse. It’s essential that we reverse the Republican tax law’s cruel provisions and protect these kids.”
This summer, President Donald Trump and congressional Republicans passed the so-called “One Big Beautiful Bill” into law, which imposed a new $5,000 Border Apprehension Fee on any child who arrives to the U.S. between ports of entry. The bill also required children to pay a mandatory asylum application fee and new annual asylum maintenance fees for every year their case remains pending in the government’s yearslong backlog. For children fleeing human trafficking and extreme violence, these fees are often impossible to pay.
Republicans’ One Big Beautiful Bill also provides funding for intrusive body examinations of minors, who are often the victims of abuse and trafficking, and provides funding for deporting unaccompanied children who have not been screened for signs of trafficking or allowed a full review of their case before an immigration judge.
The Upholding Protections for Unaccompanied Children Act would reverse these provisions and protect unaccompanied children by:
- Exempting unaccompanied children from the following fees:
- Asylum fee, employment authorization document fee, annual asylum fee, employment authorization renewal fees, and others;
- Repealing the Special Immigrant Juvenile Status fee;
- Repealing a provision that funds summary returns of “specified” unaccompanied children;
- Repealing funding for body examinations of children in Customs and Border Protection or Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) custody;
- Prohibiting ORR from sharing sponsor information with the Department of Homeland Security or any other federal agency for the purpose of immigration enforcement; and
- Refunding fees that have been paid under any of the provisions that have been repealed or amended under this bill.
Bennet has consistently advocated for the protection of children in the immigration system. In November, Bennet joined U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) and 48 bicameral colleagues to introduce the Restoring Access to Detainees Act, legislation to ensure the Department of Homeland Security allows noncitizens who have been detained to contact their legal counsel and families. In March, Bennet urged the Trump Administration to reinstate critical protections for unaccompanied migrant children following the U.S. Department of Justice’s Executive Office for Immigration Review’s (EOIR) decision to rescind the 2023 Memorandum on Children’s Cases in Immigration Court and reinstate 2017 guidelines. In March, Bennet also urged the Trump Administration to ensure unaccompanied children in the immigration system receive legal representation. Last year, alongside Senate colleagues, Bennet called on Senate Appropriations leaders to ensure EOIR reports on the implementation of specialized children’s immigration courts. In 2023, Bennet and U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) introduced the Immigration Court Efficiency and Children’s Court Act, a bipartisan bill to establish a dedicated Children’s Court within EOIR. The legislation would combat the immigration court backlog and strengthen due process rights for unaccompanied migrant children.
In addition to Bennet, Hickenlooper, and Cortez Masto, U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Angus King (I-Maine), Andy Kim (D-N.J.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), and Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) cosponsored the bill.
The text of the bill is available HERE.
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