North Charlotte Today

Senator Thom Tillis, along with ten Republican Senate colleagues, has reintroduced the End Child Trafficking Now Act. This legislation aims to address human trafficking at the southern border by implementing measures such as requiring DNA tests to verify relationships between illegal immigrants and accompanying children.

Senator Tillis commented on the situation, stating, “During the Biden Administration, we saw thousands of unaccompanied children cross the Southern border with the help of strangers and members of cartels, putting them at an increased risk of sexual abuse and human trafficking.” He further criticized President Biden's approach to immigration laws as "completely unacceptable," advocating for this legislation as a "commonsense, humane reform" to protect vulnerable children.

The proposed bill includes several key provisions. It would mandate deportation for illegal immigrant adults who refuse a DNA test. Additionally, it sets a maximum 10-year prison sentence for those who fabricate family ties or guardianship over minors. The act also seeks to criminalize "child recycling," where a child is repeatedly used by non-relatives or non-guardians to gain entry into the United States. Furthermore, if family ties or legal guardianship cannot be established through DNA testing, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services would process the child as an unaccompanied minor under existing law.

The full text of the bill is available for public review.