Kayla Hamilton Act
What this could mean for your district
The Kayla Hamilton Act requires the Department of Health and Human Services to consider additional factors when placing unaccompanied alien children in its custody. • This bill could impact local child welfare services by changing how unaccompanied alien children are assessed and placed. • Local organizations that support immigrant families may need to adapt their programs in response to new placement guidelines. • There may be questions about how effectively HHS can implement the new requirements while ensuring the safety and well-being of the children involved. AI-generated from official bill summary and plain-English note; verify with official text.
Bill details
Bill overview
A neutral overview based on official congressional sources.
Introduced in House
Kayla Hamilton Act This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to consider additional information when it makes placement determinations for unaccompanied alien children in its custody. Under federal law, an unaccompanied alien child is a minor with no lawful immigration status and no parent or legal guardian in the United States to provide care and physical custody. Current law requires HHS to (1) place a child in the least restrictive setting that is in the child's best interest, and (2) assess the safety and suitability of a sponsor prior to placing a child with that sponsor. In determining the least restrictive setting, this bill requires (currently, permits) HHS to consider the child's danger to self, danger to the community, and flight risk. Additionally, the bill requires placement in a secure facility in the case of a child who is 13 years of age or older and has gang-related markings or tattoos or a history of gang-related arrests or criminal conduct. In assessing the safety and suitability of a sponsor, this bill requires HHS to collect and provide to the Department of Homeland Security information about all adult residents of the household, including name, date of birth, Social Security number, immigration status, contact information, and the results of all background and criminal records checks. The bill also prohibits HHS from placing a child with a sponsor who is unlawfully present in the United States.
Related votes
Roll calls that reference this bill in official data.
Primary sources
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