WASHINGTON - On Wednesday, Congressman Lance Gooden (R-TX), joined by Reps. Ronny Jackson (R-TX), Byron Donalds (R-FL), Randy Weber (R-TX), Jake Ellzey (R-TX), Mary E. Miller (R-IL), Tom Tiffany (R-OH), Brian Babin (R-TX), and Ken Buck (R-CO), introduced legislation to improve border security, protect children from human trafficking, and deter asylum and immigration fraud by requiring the collection of biometric information from non-citizens.
“Criminal cartels are exploiting children to help migrants illegally cross our southern border, terrorists and known criminals have entered the United States, and the Biden Administration is doing nothing to stop it,” Gooden said. “Congress must act now to give law enforcement the tools they need to protect our national security and migrant children from human trafficking.”
Greg Sindelar, CEO of the Texas Public Policy Foundation, said, “The B-VERIFY Act would be a large step forward to securing our southern border. By collecting this biometric data, DHS will be able to better expose erroneous asylum claims, prevent immigration fraud and protect children from human trafficking. With our southern border exposed, steps must be taken to protect American sovereignty, B-VERIFY should be one of those steps.”
Rosemary Jenks, Director of Government Relations at NumbersUSA said, “NumbersUSA applauds Congressman Gooden for introducing common-sense legislation to ensure that we know who is entering our country and to deter the abuse of children by smugglers and sponsors. By requiring biometric data collection from foreign citizens who enter the United States legally or illegally, the B-VERIFY Act gives immigration and law enforcement officers the tools they need to identify accurately those who violate our immigration or criminal laws. The bill also makes long-overdue changes to the way we process—and protect—unaccompanied alien children (UACs). By requiring DNA tests to ensure that children are actually related to those claiming to be parents and by requiring HHS to investigate potential sponsors of UACs, the B-VERIFY Act will ensure that children are not being ‘recycled’ by smugglers or placed with sponsors who will use them in the sex trade or for forced labor."
“The Biden Administration’s abandonment of immigration enforcement has led to chaos and tragedy at our Southwest border. Congressman Gooden’s B-VERIFY Act proposes bringing some measure of order to our border agents by empowering them to collect the biometric data of illegal aliens for the purposes of immigration enforcement – giving our immigration officials the tools they need to combat illegal immigration and human trafficking.” – Dan Stein, President of the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR)
Specifically, the bill would require the Department of Homeland Security to collect biometric information from an alien who is seeking entry into the United States, apprehended by Customs and Border Protection, or when administering an immigration benefit. Additionally, the bill protects migrant children by requiring DNA testing to confirm familial relationships at the border. These additional biometric standards would bring U.S. requirements for non-citizens in line with those of other developed nations, including Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, Japan, and Israel.
You can read the full text of the legislation here.
“Criminal cartels are exploiting children to help migrants illegally cross our southern border, terrorists and known criminals have entered the United States, and the Biden Administration is doing nothing to stop it,” Gooden said. “Congress must act now to give law enforcement the tools they need to protect our national security and migrant children from human trafficking.”
Greg Sindelar, CEO of the Texas Public Policy Foundation, said, “The B-VERIFY Act would be a large step forward to securing our southern border. By collecting this biometric data, DHS will be able to better expose erroneous asylum claims, prevent immigration fraud and protect children from human trafficking. With our southern border exposed, steps must be taken to protect American sovereignty, B-VERIFY should be one of those steps.”
Rosemary Jenks, Director of Government Relations at NumbersUSA said, “NumbersUSA applauds Congressman Gooden for introducing common-sense legislation to ensure that we know who is entering our country and to deter the abuse of children by smugglers and sponsors. By requiring biometric data collection from foreign citizens who enter the United States legally or illegally, the B-VERIFY Act gives immigration and law enforcement officers the tools they need to identify accurately those who violate our immigration or criminal laws. The bill also makes long-overdue changes to the way we process—and protect—unaccompanied alien children (UACs). By requiring DNA tests to ensure that children are actually related to those claiming to be parents and by requiring HHS to investigate potential sponsors of UACs, the B-VERIFY Act will ensure that children are not being ‘recycled’ by smugglers or placed with sponsors who will use them in the sex trade or for forced labor."
“The Biden Administration’s abandonment of immigration enforcement has led to chaos and tragedy at our Southwest border. Congressman Gooden’s B-VERIFY Act proposes bringing some measure of order to our border agents by empowering them to collect the biometric data of illegal aliens for the purposes of immigration enforcement – giving our immigration officials the tools they need to combat illegal immigration and human trafficking.” – Dan Stein, President of the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR)
Specifically, the bill would require the Department of Homeland Security to collect biometric information from an alien who is seeking entry into the United States, apprehended by Customs and Border Protection, or when administering an immigration benefit. Additionally, the bill protects migrant children by requiring DNA testing to confirm familial relationships at the border. These additional biometric standards would bring U.S. requirements for non-citizens in line with those of other developed nations, including Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, Japan, and Israel.
You can read the full text of the legislation here.