Rep. Johnson Supports Legislation to Combat Child Trafficking at the Southern Border

Rep. Johnson Supports Legislation to Combat Child Trafficking at the Southern Border 

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Representative Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) cosponsored the End Child Trafficking Now Act, which would require adults claiming familial relation to migrant children to prove their relationship. Children should never be trafficked, yet from October 2018 to May 2019 the Department of Homeland Security identified nearly 4,800 migrants presenting as family units to be fraudulent. According to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, there are ongoing investigations into the recycling of children at the border.

“During my trip to the Southern Border, one of the most striking things I learned about was the out of control trafficking of children at the border,” said Johnson. “The End Child Trafficking Now Act will combat this serious problem and protect children from exploitation. Children should never be used as a bartering tool to gain access to our country.”

In May, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement conducted a pilot program for three days and determined out of 84 family units who voluntarily submitted to DNA testing, 16 family units were identified as fraudulent.

The End Child Trafficking Now Act would implement DNA testing of individuals claiming a family connection when seeking asylum in the U.S. If a fraudulent family connection was determined, individuals may face a maximum prison sentence of ten years.

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