Tennessee U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn re-introduced a bill requiring a DNA test to determine the relationship between illegal immigrants and any accompanying children crossing the U.S.-Mexico border.
Blackburn’s End Child Trafficking Now Act comes as the Biden administration reportedly ended all DNA familial testing at the border last week on May 31, according to a memo obtained by Just the News.
The memo states, “The U.S. Customs and Border Protection familial DNA contract with BODE Technologies will end on May 31, 2023 and all familial DNA testing will conclude on that date.”
Blackburn said she believes that without familial DNA testing at the border, there will be an uptick in migrants using minors to present themselves as family units and seek asylum falsely.
The Biden administration wants to end familial DNA testing at the southern border.
This action will only embolden cartels to participate in child recycling and trafficking, which is why I introduced the End Child Trafficking Now Act to mandate this crucial practice. pic.twitter.com/C4lJnXsynw
— Sen. Marsha Blackburn (@MarshaBlackburn) June 7, 2023
“As many as 30% of children DNA tested were found not to be related to the illegal immigrants posing as family members. Meanwhile, drug cartels and gangs use minors to falsely present themselves as family units and seek asylum at our southern border,” Blackburn said in a statement. “The Biden administration’s decision to halt all DNA familial testing is a grave misstep that not only puts the safety of Americans at risk but also increases the number of migrant children being trafficked.”
“My legislation would stop criminals in their tracks and help protect children from exploitation – an idea we should all be able to support,” Blackburn added.
If enacted, Blackburn’s legislation would specifically:
- Require the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to deport illegal immigrant adults if they refuse a DNA test;
- Mandate a maximum 10-year prison sentence for all illegal immigrant adults who fabricate family ties or guardianship over a minor;
- Criminalize “child recycling,” which happens when the same child is used repeatedly to gain entry by illegal immigrant adults who are neither relatives nor legal guardians; and
- Require the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to process the child as an unaccompanied minor under current law if family ties or legal guardianship cannot be proven with the accompanying adult.
U.S. Senators Bill Hagerty (R-TN), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Mike Lee (R-UT), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), Ted Cruz (R-TX), Joni Ernst (R-IA), J.D. Vance (R-OH), Steve Daines (R-MT), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), and John Hoeven (R-ND) signed onto Blackburn’s bill as original cosponsors.
In addition to this week’s filing, Blackburn introduced her End Child Trafficking Now Act in both the 116th Congress and 117th Congress.
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Kaitlin Housler is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network.
Photo “Marsha Blackburn” by Marsha Blackburn.
