H.R. 4562: Migrant Child Trafficking Prevention and Accountability Act of 2021

117th Congress · introduced 2021-07-20 · Immigration · Latest: Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Citizenship.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

Where it came from: introduced 2021-07-20 · official record
Who proposed it: Rep. Gooden, Lance [R-TX-5] · what a sponsor is
What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
Where it stands now: Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Citizenship. Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
If it becomes law and spends money: follow the money to money laws, then agencies and contracts and grants.

What does this mean?

Official title

Migrant Child Trafficking Prevention and Accountability Act of 2021

Plain summary

Migrant Child Trafficking Prevention and Accountability Act of 2021 This bill imposes sanctions on an alien parent (or guardian) of an unaccompanied alien child who arrives at any U.S. border or port of entry. Under current law, an alien may arrive in the United States (whether or not at a port of entry) and request asylum, subject to certain restrictions. If the parent is not a lawful permanent resident, that parent shall be permanently barred from adjusting immigration status and deemed inadmissible into the United States. In addition, such a parent shall be deemed to have violated certain crimes related to assisting or abetting an alien's attempt to enter into the United States in violation of immigration laws, even if the parent's actions would fall under an exception for a first offense in assisting or abetting certain family members. If the parent is a lawful permanent resident, that parent shall be ineligible for any federal public benefit.

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

What a vote does

A “Yea” vote

If it passes both chambers and is signed, it becomes law.

A “Nay” vote

If it is not passed, current law stays as it is.

PSI Sci description of the legislative step (not an opinion).

What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

Migrant Child Trafficking Prevention and Accountability Act of 2021

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House)

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The strongest published arguments

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How did my representative vote? · This bill's floor votes

Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. Gooden, Lance [R-TX-5] · 6 cosponsors

Cost estimate: No cost estimate published yet.

Cosponsors on this site

W. Gregory Steube (R-FL), Jefferson Van Drew (R-NJ), Pat Fallon (R-TX)

Sponsor's campaign money: Rep. Gooden, Lance [R-TX-5] reported raising $1.5 million (2025–2026). Details. Shown for context only; it does not mean any donor supported this bill.

No linked floor roll calls in our collected records yet. This does not mean the bill has never had a vote. Check the official bill history.

Words on this page, explained (1)

Bill: A proposed law. It becomes law only if it passes the legislature and is signed by the president or governor (or a veto is overridden).

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House)
Congress.gov
Data: GovInfo BILLSTATUS bulk data (Library of Congress), BILLSTATUS-117hr4562.xml <https://www.govinfo.gov/bulkdata/BILLSTATUS/117/hr>

Record fed-us-cong117-hr4562 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong117 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong117