S. 53 · Where this bill is now
In committee
Introduced in the Senate, Jan 9, 2025
What this bill does
In plain words · AI-written from the official summaryStrengthens protections against child trafficking at borders
This bill creates a federal crime for using a minor to enter the United States if that minor isn't a close relative or the person isn't their guardian. It requires U.S. Customs and Border Protection to fingerprint migrant children under 14 when officers suspect human trafficking. The Department of Homeland Security would share those fingerprints with the Department of Health and Human Services and report to Congress regularly on how many children are fingerprinted and how many people are arrested for falsely claiming family relationships with children.
How it affects you
If you're a parent or guardian traveling with a child to the U.S., you may now be fingerprinted or face criminal charges if officers suspect you're not actually related to the child or responsible for them. Young migrant children suspected of trafficking will be fingerprinted as a protective measure. Most other people won't directly feel the effects of this bill.
Read the official summary (Introduced in Senate, Jan 9, 2025)
Preventing the Recycling of Immigrants is Necessary for Trafficking Suspension Act or the PRINTS Act
This bill addresses migrant minor children entering the United States. Specifically, the bill makes it a crime for a person to knowingly use a minor to gain entry to the United States if the minor is not a close relative or if the person is not the minor’s guardian. In addition, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) must fingerprint all non-U.S. nationals ( aliens under federal law) entering the United States who are younger than 14 years of age if a CBP officer suspects that the child is victim of human trafficking.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) must share with the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) any fingerprints collected under this bill from an unaccompanied child if that child is transferred to HHS custody.
DHS must report to Congress on the number of children fingerprinted annually under this bill. DHS must also publish on a monthly basis the number of individuals apprehended for falsely claiming a child accompanying them into the United States was a close relative.
Written by AI (Claude) using only the official summary by the Congressional Research Service, the Library of Congress’s nonpartisan research staff. It can miss nuance, so check the official summary and the bill text for details.
1st SessionS. 53
A BILL
PRINTS Act
Sponsor: Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) · Introduced Jan 9, 2025 · Immigration · 1 version of the text
Sources: Congress.gov actions and votes · bill text from GovInfo · latest official action Jan 9, 2025: “Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.”