Blackburn Leads GOP Colleagues in Introducing Legislation Requiring Familial DNA Testing at Southern Border

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), and Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) introduced the End Child Trafficking Now Act, which would require a DNA test to determine the relationship between illegal immigrants coming across the border and any accompanying children:

"As many as 30% of children DNA tested were found not to be related to the illegal immigrants posing as family members. Meanwhile, drug cartels and gangs use minors to falsely present themselves as family units and seek asylum at our southern border," said Senator Blackburn. "The Biden administration's decision to halt all DNA familial testing not only put the safety of Americans at risk but also increased the number of migrant children being trafficked. My legislation would stop criminals in their tracks and help protect children from exploitation - an idea we should all be able to support."

"The Biden-Harris border crisis fueled human trafficking and cartel activity," said Dr. Cassidy. "The End Child Trafficking Now Act safeguards DNA testing to make sure children are not exploited by illegal migrants crossing our southern border."

"Cartels are trafficking millions of illegal immigrants across the U.S.-Mexico border, and they are exploiting every loophole in our laws to do so," said Senator Cruz. "By performing DNA testing, we can verify whether a child is truly traveling with a relative, or is instead being sold into slavery. I'm proud to work with Sen. Marsha Blackburn and my colleagues to fight for the human rights of those being trafficked and against the billion-dollar cartel human trafficking network."

"Joe Biden's border crisis is a humanitarian crisis, where innocent children are exploited by violent gangs and cartels," said Senator Daines. "We must put an end to this sickening practice and stop criminals from exploiting vulnerable children."

"The lawless chaos created by Democrats' open-borders agenda has created a humanitarian crisis," said Senator Ernst. "We need DNA testing for every minor at the border to protect innocent youth and ensure the security of our nation. America cannot allow kids to be exploited by cartels and human traffickers."

"The deterioration of our southern border empowers cartels, human traffickers, and smugglers to exploit innocent children," said Senator Hagerty. "Human smugglers pair children with single adults so they can enter as a family units. The End Child Trafficking Now Act includes common sense safeguards to prevent children from being trafficked by cartels, which perpetuates the endless cycle of human smuggling."

"The Biden administration's border policies caused the immigration and humanitarian crisis at the border, including children being trafficked by individuals claiming to have family ties," said Senator Hoeven. "Our legislation enables ICE and CBP officials to use Rapid DNA testing to help stop traffickers and deter illegal crossings. Mandating DNA testing will better ensure that bad actors are punished for trafficking these children."

"The End Child Trafficking Now Act would undo Biden administration negligence in allowing children to be smuggled across the border by sex traffickers, drug cartels, gang members and worse. We want to restore DNA familial testing to protect vulnerable children by substantiating claims of familial relations by asylum seekers," said Senator Hyde-Smith, who serves on the Senate Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee.

"During the Biden Administration, we saw thousands of unaccompanied children cross the Southern border with the help of strangers and members of cartels, putting them at an increased risk of sexual abuse and human trafficking," said Senator Tillis. "President Biden's refusal to enforce our immigration laws was completely unacceptable, and this legislation is a commonsense, humane reform that will help prevent innocent children from being abused."

Senators Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.) and Mike Lee (R-Utah) also co-sponsored this legislation.

BACKGROUND:

• Senator Blackburn originally introduced this legislation in 2019.
• In 2019, the ICE Homeland Security Investigations (HIS) Executive Associate Director said, "It is clear on-site DNA testing has a strong deterrent effect, as HSI agents witnessed multiple instances of individuals confessing to faux families prior to being tested as well."

END CHILD TRAFFICKING NOW ACT:

Specifically, the End Child Trafficking Now Act would:

• Require DHS to deport illegal immigrant adults if they refuse a DNA test;

• Mandate a maximum 10-year prison sentence for all illegal immigrant adults who fabricate family ties or guardianship over a minor;

• Criminalize "child recycling," which happens when the same child is used repeatedly to gain entry by illegal immigrant adults who are neither relatives nor legal guardians; and

• Require the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to process the child as an unaccompanied minor under current law if family ties or legal guardianship cannot be proven with the accompanying adult.

Click here for bill text.

https://www.blackburn.senate.gov/2025/1/issues/human-trafficking/blackburn-leads-gop-colleagues-in-introducing-legislation-requiring-familial-dna-testing-at-southern-border