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Upholding Protections for Unaccompanied Children Act of 2025

USA119th CongressS-3322| Senate 
| Updated: 1/7/2026
Catherine Cortez Masto

Catherine Cortez Masto

Democratic Senator

Nevada

Cosponsors (21)
Mazie K. Hirono (Democratic)Tammy Duckworth (Democratic)Ruben Gallego (Democratic)Adam B. Schiff (Democratic)Richard J. Durbin (Democratic)Edward J. Markey (Democratic)Ben Ray Luján (Democratic)Angus S. King (Independent)John W. Hickenlooper (Democratic)Jacky Rosen (Democratic)Martin Heinrich (Democratic)Michael F. Bennet (Democratic)Patty Murray (Democratic)Tina Smith (Democratic)Bernard Sanders (Independent)Andy Kim (Democratic)Peter Welch (Democratic)Jeff Merkley (Democratic)Ron Wyden (Democratic)Richard Blumenthal (Democratic)Mark Kelly (Democratic)

Judiciary Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
This bill seeks to amend or repeal specific provisions of Public Law 119-21 that are deemed to undermine protections and heighten dangers for unaccompanied alien children. Its primary goal is to restore and strengthen safeguards for this vulnerable population within the immigration system. A significant aspect of the bill involves exempting unaccompanied alien children from a wide array of immigration-related fees. These exemptions cover fees for asylum applications , employment authorization documents , and annual asylum fees . Furthermore, it explicitly repeals the Special Immigrant Juvenile fee and clarifies that no fee may be imposed for this status, ensuring financial barriers are removed for children seeking protection. The legislation also addresses other critical protections by limiting certain body examinations conducted by the Office of Refugee Resettlement and the Department of Homeland Security. Crucially, it restricts the sharing of information obtained from sponsors of unaccompanied alien children, prohibiting its use by the Department of Homeland Security or other federal agencies for the purpose of immigration law enforcement . Finally, the bill mandates that the Secretary of Homeland Security or the Attorney General refund any fees previously paid by or on behalf of individuals now exempted under these new provisions within 180 days of enactment.
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Timeline
Dec 3, 2025

Latest Companion Bill Action

HR 119-6389
Introduced in House
Dec 3, 2025
Introduced in Senate
Dec 3, 2025
Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Jan 7, 2026
Star Print ordered on the bill.
  • December 3, 2025

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    HR 119-6389
    Introduced in House


  • December 3, 2025
    Introduced in Senate


  • December 3, 2025
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.


  • January 7, 2026
    Star Print ordered on the bill.

Immigration

Border security and unlawful immigrationDetention of personsImmigrant health and welfareImmigration status and proceduresLegal fees and court costsRefugees, asylum, displaced personsUser charges and fees

Upholding Protections for Unaccompanied Children Act of 2025

USA119th CongressS-3322| Senate 
| Updated: 1/7/2026
This bill seeks to amend or repeal specific provisions of Public Law 119-21 that are deemed to undermine protections and heighten dangers for unaccompanied alien children. Its primary goal is to restore and strengthen safeguards for this vulnerable population within the immigration system. A significant aspect of the bill involves exempting unaccompanied alien children from a wide array of immigration-related fees. These exemptions cover fees for asylum applications , employment authorization documents , and annual asylum fees . Furthermore, it explicitly repeals the Special Immigrant Juvenile fee and clarifies that no fee may be imposed for this status, ensuring financial barriers are removed for children seeking protection. The legislation also addresses other critical protections by limiting certain body examinations conducted by the Office of Refugee Resettlement and the Department of Homeland Security. Crucially, it restricts the sharing of information obtained from sponsors of unaccompanied alien children, prohibiting its use by the Department of Homeland Security or other federal agencies for the purpose of immigration law enforcement . Finally, the bill mandates that the Secretary of Homeland Security or the Attorney General refund any fees previously paid by or on behalf of individuals now exempted under these new provisions within 180 days of enactment.
View Full Text

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline
Dec 3, 2025

Latest Companion Bill Action

HR 119-6389
Introduced in House
Dec 3, 2025
Introduced in Senate
Dec 3, 2025
Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Jan 7, 2026
Star Print ordered on the bill.
  • December 3, 2025

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    HR 119-6389
    Introduced in House


  • December 3, 2025
    Introduced in Senate


  • December 3, 2025
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.


  • January 7, 2026
    Star Print ordered on the bill.
Catherine Cortez Masto

Catherine Cortez Masto

Democratic Senator

Nevada

Cosponsors (21)
Mazie K. Hirono (Democratic)Tammy Duckworth (Democratic)Ruben Gallego (Democratic)Adam B. Schiff (Democratic)Richard J. Durbin (Democratic)Edward J. Markey (Democratic)Ben Ray Luján (Democratic)Angus S. King (Independent)John W. Hickenlooper (Democratic)Jacky Rosen (Democratic)Martin Heinrich (Democratic)Michael F. Bennet (Democratic)Patty Murray (Democratic)Tina Smith (Democratic)Bernard Sanders (Independent)Andy Kim (Democratic)Peter Welch (Democratic)Jeff Merkley (Democratic)Ron Wyden (Democratic)Richard Blumenthal (Democratic)Mark Kelly (Democratic)

Judiciary Committee

Immigration

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Border security and unlawful immigrationDetention of personsImmigrant health and welfareImmigration status and proceduresLegal fees and court costsRefugees, asylum, displaced personsUser charges and fees