Cortez Masto, Goldman, Ramirez Introduce Legislation to Reverse Harmful Provisions in Republican TAX LAW and Protect Unaccompanied Immigrant Children

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Washington, D.C. –Today, U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Representative Dan Goldman (D-N.Y.-10), and Representative Delia C. Ramirez (D-Ill.-03) introduced theUpholding Protections for Unaccompanied Children Act.This legislation would reverse provisions in the Republican tax law (H.R. 1) that harm unaccompanied children who are seeking safety from trafficking, abuse, and exploitation in their home countries. At the announcement, the lawmakers were joined by Wendy Young, President of Kids in Need of Defense, and Scott Bassett, Managing Attorney at the Amica Center for Immigrant Rights’ Children’s Program.
“As members of Congress, it’s our duty to stand up for those who can’t stand up for themselves,”said Senator Cortez Masto.“That includes the unaccompanied children who come to the United States after escaping trafficking and abuse. It’s essential that we reverse the Republican tax law’s cruel provisions and protect these kids.”
Passed in July, H.R. 1 imposed a new $5,000 Border Apprehension Fee on any child who arrives to the United States between ports of entry. This law also requires children to pay a mandatory asylum application fee, as well as new annual asylum maintenance fees for every year their case remains pending in the government’s yearslong backlog. For children fleeing human trafficking and extreme violence, these fees are often impossible to pay.
Additionally, H.R. 1 provides funding for intrusive body examinations of minors who are often the victims of abuse and trafficking. H.R. 1 also provides funding for deporting unaccompanied children who have not been screened for signs of trafficking or allowed a full review of their case before an immigration judge.
To reverse these provisions in the Republican tax law and protect unaccompanied children, theUpholding Protections for Unaccompanied Children Actwould:
Read the billhere.Additional Senate co-sponsors include Senators Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Andy Kim (D-N.J.), Angus King (I-Maine), Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.).
The first and only Latina senator, Senator Cortez Masto has consistently supported immigrant communities in Nevada, calling on both theBidenandTrumpadministrationsto protect DACA recipients, TPS holders andother immigrants, as well as leadingcommonsense legislationto fix our broken immigration system. Earlier this year, the Senator introduced theProtect Vulnerable Immigrant Youth Actto fix the Special Immigrant Juvenile Status program. Cortez Masto has alsodemandedthe Trump Administration take immediate action to ensure Department of Homeland Security stops conducting aggressive, extreme, and dangerous civil enforcement activities within 1,000 feet of school properties.
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