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United States · Bill · S

S. 1129 (108th)

Unaccompanied Alien Child Protection Act of 2004

referredUnited States· United States Congress· EN

Introduced

22 May 2003

Last action

16 November 2004 · Floor

Status

Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Sponsors

Sen. Feinstein, Dianne [D-CA], Sen. Brownback, Sam [R-KS], Sen. Voinovich, George V. [R-OH], Maria Cantwell, Rep. DeWine, Mike [R-OH-7], Sen. Lautenberg, Frank R. [D-NJ], Sen. Feingold, Russell D. [D-WI], Sen. Kennedy, Edward M. [D-MA], Sen. Landrieu, Mary L. [D-LA], Sen. Leahy, Patrick J. [D-VT], Sen. Clinton, Hillary Rodham [D-NY], Sen. Specter, Arlen [R-PA], Sen. Edwards, John [D-NC], Sen. Bingaman, Jeff [D-NM], Sen. Kerry, John F. [D-MA], Patty Murray, Richard Durbin, Susan Collins, Rep. Johnson, Tim [D-SD-At Large], Sen. Kohl, Herb [D-WI], Sen. Sarbanes, Paul S. [D-MD], Charles Schumer, Sen. Chafee, Lincoln [R-RI], Sen. Mikulski, Barbara A. [D-MD], Sen. Graham, Bob [D-FL], Rep. Breaux, John B. [D-LA-7], Sen. Corzine, Jon S. [D-NJ], Rep. Dodd, Christopher J. [D-CT-2], Sen. Levin, Carl [D-MI], Sen. Hagel, Chuck [R-NE], Sen. Inouye, Daniel K. [D-HI], Sen. Stevens, Ted [R-AK], Lisa Murkowski, Sen. McCain, John [R-AZ], Rep. Akaka, Daniel K. [D-HI-2], Rep. Jeffords, James M. [R-VT-At Large]

Subjects

Asylum, Immigration

Source updated

10 August 2026

Asylum · Immigration

Official sourceDownload fileView documentsShare

Summary

Unaccompanied Alien Child Protection Act of 2003 - Establishes procedures for immigration officers who find an unaccompanied alien child at a U.S. land border or point of entry who is a national or habitual resident of a contiguous country. Establishes that other unaccompanied alien children, including trafficking victims, shall be in the care of the Office of Refugee Resettlement, except that such children who threaten U.S. security or who are charged with or have been convicted of a felony shall be in the care of the Directorate of Border and Transportation Security. Sets forth a family reunification preference order. Prohibits, with an exception for violent children, detention in adult or delinquent children facilities. Directs the Office to develop procedures for detention and prohibited detention practices. Expresses the sense of Congress that the United States Government should ensure that it does not repatriate children in its custody into life- and safety-threatening settings. Directs the Secretary of State to include in the annual State Department Country Report on Human Rights an assessment of the degree to which each country protects children from smugglers and traffickers. Directs the Office, with respect to unaccompanied alien children in the custody of the Office or the Department of Homeland Security, to: (1) develop age determination procedures; and (2) provide immigration counsel. Directs the Executive Office for Immigration Review to develop model guidelines for legal representation of children. Authorizes the Office to provide that each unaccompanied child have a guardian ad litem. Requires the Office to implement a pilot program for the appointment of guardians ad litem. Amends special immigrant juvenile provisions of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). Expresses congressional commendation of the Immigration and Naturalization Service' s issuance of its "Guidelines for Children's Asylum Claims." Directs the Secretary of Homeland Security to provide immigration officers with related training. Exempts unaccompanied alien children from certain removal and asylum provisions. Amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to set forth additional responsibilities and authorities of the Office with respect to unaccompanied alien children.

This text is taken from the official record. PoliticalRepo does not editorialize.

Timeline

  1. 22 May 2003

    Introduced

    Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text of measure as introduced: CR S7021-7026)

    Source: IntroReferral

  2. 22 May 2003

    Introduced

    Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S7019-7021)

    Source: IntroReferral

  3. 22 May 2003

    Introduced

    Introduced in Senate

    Source: IntroReferral

  4. 3 June 2004

    Calendars

    Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 541.

    Source: Calendars

  5. 3 June 2004

    Reported

    Committee on the Judiciary. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.

    Source: Committee

  6. 3 June 2004

    Reported

    Committee on the Judiciary. Reported by Senator Hatch with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.

    Source: Committee

  7. 11 October 2004

    Reported

    Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S11251-11260; text of measure as reported in Senate: CR S11251-11260)

    Source: Floor

  8. 11 October 2004

    Passed

    Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.

    Source: Floor

  9. 16 November 2004

    Introduced

    Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

    Source: IntroReferral

  10. 16 November 2004

    Floor

    Message on Senate action sent to the House.

    Source: Floor

  11. 16 November 2004

    Floor

    Received in the House.

    Source: Floor

Votes

No vote records are attached yet.

Versions

Documents

11 official files

Sponsors

Related records

Sources

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