The crisis at the southern border continues to escalate as illegal immigrants flood into the United States. While many of them claim to be seeking asylum, there is growing concern that some are using children as pawns to gain entry into the country. But fear not – Tennessee Senator Marsha Blackburn has reintroduced a bill that could put a stop to this criminal behavior. Her End Child Trafficking Now Act would require DNA testing to determine the relationship between illegal immigrants and any accompanying children at the border.
This new bill comes on the heels of a shocking revelation: the Biden administration has reportedly ended all DNA familial testing at the border as of May 31, 2023. The memo obtained by Just the News reads, “The U.S. Customs and Border Protection familial DNA contract with BODE Technologies will end on May 31, 2023 and all familial DNA testing will conclude on that date.” This decision by the Biden administration could be catastrophic as it will surely lead to an uptick in migrants using minors to falsely present themselves as family units and seek asylum.
Senator Blackburn’s bill would require the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to deport illegal immigrant adults if they refuse a DNA test. It would also mandate a maximum 10-year prison sentence for all illegal immigrant adults who fabricate family ties or guardianship over a minor. This is a crucial step in stopping child trafficking by illegal immigrants. Furthermore, the End Child Trafficking Now Act would criminalize “child recycling,” which happens when the same child is used repeatedly to gain entry by illegal immigrant adults who are neither relatives nor legal guardians. This is a horrifying practice that must be stopped.
If family ties or legal guardianship cannot be proven with the accompanying adult, the bill would require the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to process the child as an unaccompanied minor under current law. This is an important measure to ensure that children are not being used as pawns in illegal activities.
According to Senator Blackburn, “As many as 30% of children DNA tested were found not to be related to the illegal immigrants posing as family members. Meanwhile, drug cartels and gangs use minors to falsely present themselves as family units and seek asylum at our southern border.”
The Biden administration’s decision to halt all DNA familial testing is a grave misstep that not only puts the safety of Americans at risk but also increases the number of migrant children being trafficked.
It is time for action. Senator Blackburn’s End Child Trafficking Now Act is a crucial piece of legislation that must be passed immediately. This is not a partisan issue – it is a matter of protecting children from exploitation. We urge all Americans to support this bill and put an end to child trafficking at our southern border.
