Merkley, Kamlager-Dove Introduce Legislation To Protect Children In Government Custody

Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley and U.S. Congresswoman Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-CA-37) today led colleagues in the introduction of the Children’s Safe Welcome Act of 2024. The bicameral Children’s Safe Welcome Act embeds child welfare best practices into every stage of our immigration system involving both unaccompanied and accompanied children who seek asylum in the U.S.

The Children’s Safe Welcome Act is supported by leading experts, advocates, and organizations representing noncitizen children in all stages of our immigration system, including The National Center for Youth Law, Young Center for Immigrant Children’s Rights, Save the Children, Prevention Institute, Columbia Law School Immigrants’ Rights Clinic, National Center for Youth Law, ZERO TO THREE, Women’s Refugee Commission, Center for the Human Rights of Children – Loyola University Chicago School of Law, Disability Rights Florida, Kids in Need of Defense, Center for Human Rights & Constitutional Law, National Immigrant Justice Center, National Association of Counsel for Children, First Focus Campaign for Children, Church World Service, Center for Law and Social Policy, Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law, Children’s Defense Fund, and Mental Health Advocacy Services.