Griffin Supports Bill to Require Notification of Governors on Relocation of Unaccompanied Minors

Press Release

Congressman Tim Griffin (AR-02) released the following statement after signing on to become a cosponsor of the Unaccompanied Alien Child State Notification Act (H.R. 5129):

"By requiring that governors be notified when unaccompanied minors are relocated to their states, state and local officials will be better prepared to handle the relocation and able to inform their constituents of the current situation. I support this bill to improve communication between federal and state governments."

Last week, news reports revealed that from January 1, 2014, to July 7, 2014, 166 undocumented immigrant children have been placed with sponsors in Arkansas. The Obama Administration failed to notify Congressman Griffin or the State of Arkansas of this decision.

H.R. 5129, introduced by Rep. Adrian Smith (NE-03), amends the William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2008, with respect to an unaccompanied alien child in federal custody by reason of the child's immigration status, to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) or the Secretary of Homeland Security (DHS) to notify the governor of a state within 48 hours before the child's placement in the care of a proposed custodian located in that state.

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