A Dallas congressman proposed legislation on Monday to require a DNA test to determine whether a minor has a family tie to border crossers if there is no documented proof of a relationship.
U.S. Rep. Lance Gooden, a Republican representing Texas’ Fifth District, said the test would combat human trafficking at the border.
Gooden’s “End Child Trafficking Now Act” would require the Department of Homeland Security or the Department of Health and Human Services to administer a DNA test in cases without the proper paperwork.
“Every child deserves protection, particularly those most vulnerable,” Gooden told The Dallas Express in a statement. “The exploitation of underage aliens by human traffickers is one of the most sickening results of the border crisis. This legislation will ensure that young children are no longer viewed as ‘skip the line’ tickets by cartel members.”
U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) introduced a similar bill in the Senate in 2021. She will introduce a companion bill to Gooden’s legislation.
A New York Times investigation in April revealed that migrant children have been found working in substandard conditions nationwide.
Gooden said under his proposed legislation, the Secretary of Homeland Security and the Secretary of Health and Human Services will administer a DNA test “to verify the familial relationship between an adult alien and a minor.”
“Should the DNA test fail to prove a familial relationship, the minor will be treated as an unaccompanied alien child,” Gooden added in a news release.
This bill introduces a new felony offense titled “Recycling of Minors.” It would mandate a maximum 10-year penalty for any individuals who fabricate family ties or guardianship over a minor.
“With this bill, we send a clear message that we are committed to the safety and welfare of children, standing firm against any forms of exploitation,” Gooden said.
