Tennessee State Rep. Tim Rudd, R-Murfreesboro, is sponsoring legislation to address President Joe Biden’s disastrous immigration policies that brought unaccompanied migrant children to Tennessee last year.

House Bill 1919 would require individuals and child care agencies to notify the Tennessee Department of Children’s Services (DCS) about each unaccompanied migrant child residing in the state. DCS would then be required to inspect the facilities and residences housing them in order to safeguard the welfare of the foreign minor.

The legislation comes less than a year after it was discovered that the Biden administration was secretly transporting unaccompanied migrant children into Tennessee and housing them without the knowledge or approval of the state. Following a report of child abuse at the Chattanooga facility being operated by a federal government contractor, DCS launched an investigation in May 2021.

“It’s concerning that we do not know when the federal government transports children into Tennessee, where they are housing them and the conditions under which they are living,” Rudd said. “The federal government changed its tactics after the Chattanooga child abuse scandal, the the Biden administration continues to relocate children in our state throughout Tennessee.”

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According to a report by the Office of Refugee Resettlement which is part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, more than 6,000 unaccompanied minors have been released to sponsors in Tennessee since 2021. 

“I’m very concerned about the thousands of migrant children in Tennessee who are residing here without any official oversight,” Rudd said.

According to Rudd’s bill, individuals and agencies would be committing a Class E felony if they do not notify DCS immediately upon assuming care for the children. DCS would record the names and addresses of those housing and caring for the children as well as the names of the children. That information would be stored in a confidential database by the department. DCS currently investigates reports of child abuse and reports such crimes to local legal authorities. The legislation would extend current DCS policies to cover unaccompanied migrant children as well. DCS is the only agency equipped to handle this situation.

“This bill would make it illegal for individuals, contractors and child placement agencies to house or care for unaccompanied minors without first notifying the State of Tennessee Department of Children’s services. It simply just makes sure they are safe and properly taken care of,” Rudd said. “We might not be able to hold the federal government and the Biden administration accountable for their irresponsible policies, but we can hold individuals and agencies accountable within the borders of Tennessee.”

House Bill 1919 only deals with unaccompanied migrant children. It does not apply to any parent, step-parent, grandparent or foster child. The legislation advanced out of the House Children & Family Affairs Subcommittee on Wednesday, March 9 and is scheduled to be heard by the House Civil Justice Committee on March 16.

More information about House Bill 1919 can be found here.

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