House Passes Congressman Russell Fry’s Kayla Hamilton Act to Prevent Violent Crimes by Unaccompanied Alien Children

House Passes Congressman Russell Fry's Kayla Hamilton Act to Prevent Violent Crimes by Unaccompanied Alien Children

Washington, D.C. - Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Kayla Hamilton Act, critical legislation introduced by Congressman Russell Fry (SC-07) aimed at closing dangerous gaps in the federal government's handling of unaccompanied alien children (UACs) and preventing tragedies like the murder of Kayla Hamilton, a 20-year-old autistic woman from Maryland. Original cosponsors of the legislation include Congressmen Troy Nehls (TX-22) and Barry Moore (AL-01).

Kayla Hamilton was brutally murdered by Walter Javier Martinez, a UAC who had been released to a sponsor by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) before background checks were completed. Martinez, who had a criminal history and gang affiliation with MS-13, later admitted to multiple murders, rapes, and other violent crimes.

The Kayla Hamilton Act implements a series of reforms to strengthen oversight of UACs, including:

• Requiring HHS to consider whether a UAC poses a danger to themselves or the community when determining placement.

• Mandating HHS contact the consulate or embassy of a UAC's home country for criminal history or gang affiliation for minors aged 12 and older.

• Screening for gang tattoos during standard medical assessments and requiring UACs with such indicators to be housed in secure HHS facilities.

• Prohibiting placement of UACs with sponsors who are in the United States illegally.

• Requiring HHS to collect and share background information on all potential sponsors and adult household members, including immigration status and FBI fingerprint check results, with the Department of Homeland Security.

• Removing discretionary authority that allowed HHS to ignore risk factors, such as gang activity or criminal history, during placement decisions.

"Kayla's story is heartbreaking, and it exposed a catastrophic failure in our federal system," said Congressman Fry. "This bill is not about politics-it is about learning from a preventable tragedy and making sure the federal government never again releases a known gang-affiliated individual into an American community without basic safeguards. Kayla Hamilton should still be alive, and no child should ever be placed in harm's way or subjected to exploitation because the government failed to do its job. Kayla was a vibrant young woman with a future, and her life mattered. By passing the Kayla Hamilton Act in the House, we are taking a decisive step to protect families, ensure children are placed with safe sponsors, and prevent tragedies like this from ever happening again."

"The tragedy that took the life of Kayla Hamilton was a senseless and predictable consequence of President Biden's wide open border and dangerous, morally indefensible policies," said Speaker Mike Johnson. "The Kayla Hamilton Act puts an end to this madness so no future administration can make such reckless decisions. House Republicans worked to honor Kayla's memory today with the passage of this bill and our efforts will continue to ensure a tragedy like this never happens again."

"The murder of Kayla Hamilton was a tragedy and entirely preventable," said Chairman Jim Jordan. "The Biden-Harris Administration's radical open-borders policies failed to protect American communities and allowed dangerous MS-13 gang members to roam our streets. The Kayla Hamilton Act puts public safety first, restores accountability, and protects American citizens."

"Kayla Hamilton should still be alive today," said Congressman Nehls. "Tragically, due to the Biden-Harris Administration's negligence, Kayla's murderer was let into our country with no background check completed. I'm extremely pleased to see the Kayla Hamilton Act pass the United States House of Representatives, which would ensure that no administration can do the same. I'm proud to support this America first legislation that prioritizes the safety of not only American citizens but also prevents the exploitation of UACs."

"Congressman Fry's bill puts the safety of children first, plain and simple," said Congressman Moore. "Kayla Hamilton's tragic story is a stark reminder of what happens when the government fails to do its most basic job - protect innocent children. The Kayla Hamilton Act closes dangerous loopholes that have allowed traffickers, gang members, and illegal aliens to exploit vulnerable children, and it requires background checks, gang screenings, and accountability before a child is placed with a sponsor. Protecting Americans is non-negotiable, and this bill ensures that stricter requirements are in place for both the unaccompanied minors and the sponsors they are placed with."

Endorsing groups include NumbersUSA, Eagle Forum, and the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR), Immigration Accountability Project (IAP), and the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC).

"The Kayla Hamilton Act will go a long way to protecting unaccompanied alien children who are sent across the border or found in the United States, preventing their placement with sponsors who are criminals, traffickers, sex offenders and child abusers," said NumbersUSA. "More than 500,000 children were encountered at our borders under the Biden administration and put in harm's way, many released to be exploited and many others lost because of poor management. This bill will drive down illegal border crossings of children and strengthen vetting of sponsors while at the same time ensuring that children, while they await their court proceedings, are placed in secure and safe settings. It also makes sure illegal aliens are properly screened for any criminal history, strengthening the safeguards that should have prevented the horrific crime committed against Kayla Hamilton."

"The Kayla Hamilton Act will put more stringent vetting and placement processes in place for minors who cross our borders illegally and their sponsors, and will require HHS to conduct thorough background and criminal record checks on UACs and potential sponsors prior to their placement and detain those with dangerous backgrounds until proceedings end," said Eagle Forum President Kris Ullman. "We are proud to endorse this legislation, which ensures children are placed in safe, responsible homes, protects families and communities from preventable harm, and holds the federal government accountable for keeping our citizens safe."

"The Kayla Hamilton Act is a crucial measure to protect Americans and restore integrity to our immigration system by strengthening vetting for unaccompanied alien children and their sponsors," said FAIR Director of Government Relations Joe Chatham. "Under the Biden administration, over half a million unaccompanied alien children poured across our borders as safeguards were dismantled, allowing traffickers and violent criminals like the MS-13 gang member who tragically murdered Kayla Hamilton to exploit our laws. FAIR is proud to support this critical bill to ensure those failed policies are never repeated and applauds Congressman Fry's fight to keep American communities safe."

Full text of the Kayla Hamilton Act can be found here.


Congressman Fry serves on both the House Energy and Commerce Committee and the House Judiciary Committee. To stay up to date with Congressman Fry and his work for the Seventh District, follow his official Facebook, Instagram, and X pages and visit his website at fry.house.gov.