Secure the Northern Triangle Act

Summary

Secure the Northern Triangle Act This bill expresses the sense of Congress that the United States must address the violence and humanitarian crisis resulting in the elevated numbers of unaccompanied children, women, and refugees from the Northern Triangle (El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras) arriving at the southwestern border of the United States. The bill authorizes appropriations for the United States Strategy for Engagement in Central America. Funds are made available for combating criminal violence and corruption and advancing economic development. The President shall designate a senior official to coordinate federal and international efforts to strengthen the rule of law and economic prosperity in Central America. The Millenium Challenge Corporation may fund concurrent compacts for regional integration. The Department of State shall submit a three-year strategy to secure international and regional support for the Plan of the Alliance for Prosperity in the Northern Triangle. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) shall expand law enforcement partnership efforts in El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Mexico to combat human smuggling and trafficking. The Department of Justice (DOJ) and DHS shall expand collaborative programs aimed at human smugglers and traffickers targeting Central American children and families. The bill provides for: (1) increased sanctions against foreign narcotics traffickers and their foreign supporters operating in Central or South America; (2) increased resources for, and expedited processing under, the Central American Minors (CAM) program; and (3) strengthening the capacity of Mexico and other regional countries to provide asylum and global resettlement. The Office of Refugee Resettlement of the Department of Health and Human Services shall perform record checks of prospective sponsors prior to placing an unaccompanied alien child with a sponsor. DHS shall: (1) monitor unaccompanied alien children after placement, and (2) provide funds to states for criminal registry and child abuse searches of prospective sponsors. The Department of Education shall provide funds to eligible school districts for unaccompanied alien children. A local educational agency shall: (1) ensure that unaccompanied alien children in the area are immediately enrolled in school following placement, and (2) remove enrollment and participation barriers. DHS shall: (1) ensure that legal orientation programs are available for all DHS-detained aliens, and (2) consult with the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees to develop a child-centered repatriation process. DOJ may appoint or provide legal counsel to individuals in immigration proceedings and shall appoint legal counsel for children and vulnerable individuals in such proceedings. DOJ shall increase the number of immigration judges and Board of Immigration Appeals attorneys.

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Timeline

1. 14 July 2016

   Introduced

   Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, Financial Services, Education and the Workforce, Armed Services, and Intelligence (Permanent Select), for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

   Source: IntroReferral

2. 14 July 2016

   Introduced

   Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, Financial Services, Education and the Workforce, Armed Services, and Intelligence (Permanent Select), for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

   Source: IntroReferral

3. 14 July 2016

   Introduced

   Introduced in House

   Source: IntroReferral

4. 14 July 2016

   Introduced

   Introduced in House

   Source: IntroReferral

5. 19 September 2016

   Referred

   Referred to the Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education.

   Source: Committee

Votes

No vote records are attached yet.

Versions

• Introduced in House · 14 July 2016 · Official file

Documents

3 official files

• Introduced in House (text)

  Introduced in House · EN · 14 July 2016

  ViewDownloadOpen at official source

• Introduced in House (PDF)

  Introduced in House · EN · 14 July 2016

  ViewDownloadOpen at official source

• Introduced in House

  summary · EN · 14 July 2016

  Open at official source

Sponsors

• Zoe Lofgren · D · Sponsor
• ELIOT ENGEL · D · Sponsor
• Steny Hoyer · D · Sponsor
• JOHN CONYERS · D · Sponsor
• XAVIER BECERRA · D · Sponsor
• Norma Torres · D · Sponsor
• Rep. Nadler, Jerrold [D-NY-12] · D · Sponsor
• Theodore Deutch · D · Sponsor
• LUIS GUTIERREZ · D · Sponsor
• Rep. Castro, Joaquin [D-TX-20] · D · Sponsor
• James McGovern · D · Sponsor
• LUCILLE ROYBAL-ALLARD · D · Sponsor
• Albio Sires · D · Sponsor
• Rep. Wasserman Schultz, Debbie [D-FL-25] · D · Sponsor
• David Cicilline · D · Cosponsor
• Rep. Pocan, Mark [D-WI-2] · D · Cosponsor
• · hsed00 · Standing
• · hlig00 · Select
• · hsas00 · Standing
• · hsba00 · Standing
• · hsju00 · Standing
• · hsfa00 · Standing

Related records

• related to → Fair Day in Court for Kids Act of 2016
• related to → Fair Day in Court for Kids Act of 2016
• related to → Secure the Northern Triangle Act