Stop Human Trafficking of Unaccompanied Migrant Children Act of 2025

This bill sets strict rules for placing unaccompanied migrant children with sponsors. Before any child is released, the sponsor must pass a full background check, including checks of public records, the sex offender registry, FBI fingerprint records, child abuse and neglect databases, and state and local criminal records. Every adult living in the sponsor’s home must pass the same checks. A home visit is required before placement, then at least five unannounced in‑person visits in the first year and one visit each quarter in the second year. The bill also blocks placement with someone living in the U.S. without legal status unless that person is the child’s parent, legal guardian, or a relative.

It also orders “catch‑up” vetting for anyone who took in a child on or after January 20, 2021, until all such sponsors have been vetted. Starting 30 days after the law takes effect, federal agencies must send monthly reports to Congress with counts of children encountered, children in custody, children released to sponsors, background checks and home visits completed, and the rate of rejected sponsorship applications. They must also report monthly on efforts to account for children who were reported missing or for whom the agency has no record since release.

• Who is affected: Unaccompanied migrant children; sponsors and all adults in their households; federal and state child welfare officials.
• What changes: Mandatory background checks and home visits before and after placement; limits on who can be a sponsor; retroactive vetting; monthly public‑safety reporting to Congress .
• When: Before release for all new placements; ongoing visits for two years after release; retroactive checks back to January 20, 2021; monthly reports starting 30 days after enactment .