PRINTS Act

Summary#

This bill, called the PRINTS Act, requires U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to take fingerprints from noncitizen children under 14 when an officer suspects the child is a victim of human trafficking. The bill adds a new federal crime that makes it illegal for a person 18 or older to use a minor who is not a close relative to gain entry into the United States. A person who violates that rule can be fined, imprisoned up to 10 years, or both. The bill defines "relative" as someone related by blood within the second degree under common law. It also requires DHS to share those fingerprints with Health and Human Services for transferred unaccompanied children on request. Finally, the bill requires DHS to report each year how many minors were fingerprinted under this rule and to publish monthly counts of apprehensions of child traffickers who falsely claimed a child was a close relative.

What it means for you#

• Noncitizen children under 14 who are suspected victims of trafficking may be fingerprinted by CBP.
• Adults who use unrelated minors to enter the United States could face federal criminal charges and prison time.
• DHS must provide annual counts of fingerprinted minors and must publish monthly numbers of apprehensions tied to false relative claims.
• Fingerprints can be shared with HHS when an unaccompanied child moves from DHS custody to HHS custody.

Expenses#

No publicly available information.

Proponents' View#

The bill’s text states it is intended to reduce the number of children who are trafficked into the United States and to increase reporting and accountability by collecting fingerprints and publishing counts.

Opponents' View#

No publicly available information.