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Several Republican senators have renewed their push for mandatory DNA testing at the southern border to verify relationships between undocumented migrants and children traveling with them.
The initiative, spearheaded by Sen. Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee, aims to combat child trafficking operations by Mexican cartels who are taking advantage of the current border situation. Initially presented during the 118th Congress in June when Democrats held Senate control, the legislation has now been reintroduced.
Republican senators have reintroduced legislation requiring DNA testing at the southern border to determine the relationship between illegal migrants and any accompanying children. https://t.co/aBbP3PPgbL
— NEWSMAX (@NEWSMAX) January 13, 2025
Under the proposed End Child Trafficking Now Act, the Department of Homeland Security would be required to expel unauthorized migrants who decline DNA testing. The legislation also includes provisions for severe penalties, including up to 10 years imprisonment for individuals who misrepresent familial relationships or guardianship of minors. Additionally, it seeks to criminalize “child recycling,” a practice where children are repeatedly used by unrelated adults to gain entry into the United States.
“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 not only put the safety of Americans at risk but also increased 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.”
The legislation has attracted support from several Republican senators, including Bill Cassidy, Ted Cruz, Steve Daines, Joni Ernst, Bill Hagerty, John Hoeven, Cindy Hyde-Smith, and Thom Tillis. However, some opponents argue that such DNA testing could result in additional family separations, according to Newsweek.
Biden stopped DNA testing at the border so we can't tell if kids belong to who they illegally cross with.
Many of these kids are abused.
Many of these kids are trafficked.
Many of these kids are forced into gangs.Democrats refuse to act.
Under Trump we will SECURE THE BORDER. pic.twitter.com/mUkF3oay6l
— Byron Donalds (@ByronDonalds) November 26, 2024
Recently, Representative Claudia Tenney announced that in a potential Trump administration, former border czar Tom Homan would prioritize locating approximately 300,000 migrant children who were reportedly lost track of during Biden’s presidency.
“I think we need to emphasize we’re going to look at people in a way based on criminals first, and then he’s going to focus on saving those 300,000 children who we believe have been trafficked and let loose somehow in this community and are being abused. And that is so important,” Tenney remarked regarding Trump’s deportation strategy.
“I can’t emphasize how compassionate and how important it is that Tom Homan wants to focus on those children. All of us care about these children that were trafficked all over our communities.”