No More Missing Children Act

This bill, called the No More Missing Children Act, creates a federal program to prevent trafficking and disappearance of unaccompanied alien children. The Health and Human Services Department, working with Homeland Security, must enroll these children and keep them in the program until they turn 18, leave the U.S. under a removal order, or gain lawful status. It applies to children released now and to those released earlier who are still in the U.S. when the law takes effect.

Sponsors must pass strict checks, and both the child and sponsor are tracked by GPS while living together. Children age 4 and up and their sponsors must do monthly phone check-ins that use voice matching. The government collects DNA from the child, the sponsor, and all adult household members to confirm family ties before placement. HHS must inspect the home before release, make at least six unannounced visits in the first year, and at least four per year after. If HHS believes a child may be in danger, it must take the child back right away.

Background checks include criminal, immigration, sex offender, and national security databases, with follow-up checks at least every quarter. People are barred from sponsoring if they have certain criminal records, are required sex offenders, have ties to gangs or terrorist groups, or are unlawfully present (unless they are the child’s parent, legal guardian, or biological relative). If a sponsor misses court or breaks a judge’s order, HHS must remove the child and ban that sponsor from sponsoring any child again.

• Who is affected: unaccompanied alien children; their sponsors and adult household members.
• What changes: GPS tracking; monthly phone check-ins; DNA collection; home inspections and unannounced visits; strict background checks and sponsor bans for certain crimes or affiliations.
• When: applies to children released on or after the law starts, and to those released earlier who are still in the U.S.; ends at age 18, removal, or lawful status.