Senator Mike Lee introduces bill to tighten rules on child-related immigration loopholes

Senator Mike Lee introduced the Stopping Border Surges Act, targeting what he describes as loopholes that allow adults to exploit children to gain entry into the United States. The proposal would narrow the Flores Settlement Agreement, requiring minors to remain with a parent or legal guardian throughout the adjudication process rather than being released after a set period. Lee contends that the current system encourages smugglers to present children as unaccompanied to secure their own release.

The bill also calls for the same rapid removal procedures for unaccompanied children from all nations, mandates a 14-day trafficking-victim hearing, and requires the Department of Health and Human Services to share adult custodial information with Homeland Security. Additional provisions tighten asylum eligibility, limit claims to ports of entry, and impose a six-month filing deadline. Six other Republican senators support the effort, though it is unlikely to be considered until after the Senate’s mid-September recess, with a crowded agenda ahead of the midterm elections.