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Rep.Jayapal introduces legislation to protect immigrant children in government custody
The bill seeks to establish oversight mechanisms to ensure the welfare and rights of minors within the immigration system.
U.S. Representative Pramila Jayapal / Image- jayapal.house.gov
Indian-American U.S. Representative Pramila Jayapal has introduced legislation aimed at enhancing protections for immigrant children under government custody.
The bill, titled the Protection of Kids in Detention (PROKID) Act, seeks to establish oversight mechanisms to ensure the welfare and rights of minors within the immigration system.
"The U.S. government has both a legal and moral obligation to protect children in its custody. Recent incidents of family separation and child deaths in custody underscore the urgency of this issue,” Jayapal said in a statement.
The PROKID Act proposes the creation of the Office of the Ombudsperson within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). This office would serve as an advocate for immigrant children, tasked with monitoring their care and ensuring compliance with relevant standards.
Key provisions of the legislation include measures to ensure children are held in the least restrictive settings, advocate for their timely release, and establish an expert advisory committee.
Jayapal's legislative initiative builds upon her previous efforts to address issues within the immigration detention system such as the Dignity for Detained Immigrants Act to address the inhumane conditions in detention centers.
The PROKID Act has garnered bipartisan support and endorsements from various organizations dedicated to child welfare.
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