Memphis Standard

U.S. Senators, led by Marsha Blackburn from Tennessee, have introduced the End Child Trafficking Now Act. This legislation aims to require DNA testing at the southern border to verify familial relationships between adults and accompanying children among illegal immigrants.

Senator Blackburn emphasized the need for this legislation due to findings that "as many as 30% of children DNA tested were found not to be related to the illegal immigrants posing as family members." She criticized the Biden administration's decision to halt DNA familial testing, claiming it increased child trafficking risks.

Dr. Bill Cassidy pointed out that "the Biden-Harris border crisis fueled human trafficking and cartel activity," adding that the proposed act would safeguard children from exploitation. Senator Ted Cruz highlighted that "cartels are trafficking millions of illegal immigrants across the U.S.-Mexico border" and advocated for DNA testing as a means of protecting children's rights.

Senators Steve Daines, Joni Ernst, Bill Hagerty, John Hoeven, Cindy Hyde-Smith, and Thom Tillis also expressed support for the bill. They cited various concerns regarding current border policies leading to humanitarian crises and exploitation by cartels.

The bill seeks several specific measures: deportation for those refusing DNA tests; prison sentences for fabricated family ties; criminalization of repeated use of a child for entry; and processing unverified minors under existing laws.

Senators Pete Ricketts and Mike Lee are co-sponsors of this initiative. The proposal is a reintroduction by Senator Blackburn, who first presented it in 2019 after witnessing its deterrent effect during on-site testing operations conducted by ICE Homeland Security Investigations.