Cornyn Blasts Democrat Senator for Blocking Kayla Hamilton Act, Named for Child Killed by MS-13 Gang Member

Cornyn Blasts Democrat Senator for Blocking Kayla Hamilton Act, Named for Child Killed by MS-13 Gang Member News Cornyn Blasts Democrat Senator for Blocking Kayla Hamilton Act, Named for Child Killed by MS-13 Gang Member April 30, 2026 Kayla's murder highlights how irresponsible the Biden administration was in handling unaccompanied minors. It's only common sense that we should not place our children in the custody of criminals, and we should also vet the unaccompanied minors themselves, including for ties to gangs and existing criminal histories. Our children should not have to continue to pay the price for adults who break the law, and releasing minors into the custody of criminals is certainly not the answer. WASHINGTON – Today on the floor, U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) moved to pass his Kayla Hamilton Act, which he introduced to require the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to conduct thorough background and criminal record checks on unaccompanied alien children (UACs) and potential sponsors prior to their placement, via unanimous consent and later blasted Democrat Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT) for blocking its passage. This legislation is named in honor of Kayla Hamilton, a young woman who was sexually assaulted and brutally murdered by a 17-year-old MS-13 gang member and UAC who illegally entered the country through the southern border and was released by the Biden administration to a sponsor. Excerpts of Sen. Cornyn’s remarks are below, and video can be found here . “This bill is named in honor of Kayla Hamilton, a young woman who was viciously murdered by an MS-13 gang member. This criminal entered the United States as an unaccompanied minor and was released into the custody of an unvetted sponsor.” “Kayla’s murder highlights how irresponsible the Biden administration was in handling unaccompanied minors entering the United States during President Biden’s four years in office.” “It’s only common sense that we should not place our children in the custody of criminals, and we should also vet the unaccompanied minors themselves, including for ties to gangs and existing criminal histories.” “By not fitting the sponsors who received these unaccompanied children, the Biden administration encouraged and incentivized the irresponsible treatment of these kids. We don’t know if they went to school, we don’t know if they got the healthcare that they need in order to stay healthy – we don’t know – and the Biden administration took the outrageous position that it’s not their responsibility.” “Our children should not have to continue to pay the price for adults who break the law, and releasing minors into the custody of criminals is certainly not the answer.” Background: The Kayla Hamilton Act would require thorough background and criminal record checks on UACs prior to their release to a sponsor and prohibit the release of any UAC into the custody of criminals or illegal aliens. The bar to placement applies not only to individuals seeking to sponsor a UAC, but also any adult living in the household of the potential sponsor who has a criminal history. The bill also requires the federal government to: Ensure UACs show up for their immigration and judicial proceedings; Place UACs in a secure facility if they are a danger to themselves or others, a flight risk, committed gang-related crimes, are aggravated felons, or have committed and/or been convicted of other serious crimes; Obtain the UAC’s criminal records from their country of nationality or last habitual residence; Requires HHS to collect information from the potential sponsor and individuals residing in the household of that sponsor including immigration status, background and security checks, full names, social security numbers, dates of birth, telephone numbers and email addresses; And examine all UACs over the age of 12 for gang-related markings and tattoos.