H.R. 2417: Protection of Children Act of 2023

118th Congress · introduced 2023-03-30 · Immigration · Latest: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

Where it came from: introduced 2023-03-30 · official record
Who proposed it: Rep. Carter, John R. [R-TX-31] · what a sponsor is
What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
Where it stands now: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary. 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

Protection of Children Act of 2023

Plain summary

Protection of Children Act of 2023 This bill modifies the treatment of unaccompanied alien children and tightens eligibility requirements for Special Immigrant Juvenile visas (immigrant visas for non-U.S. nationals under 21 years of age in the United States who have been abused or abandoned by a parent). Current law authorizes the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to remove an unaccompanied alien child to their country of nationality or last habitual residence if that country is next to the United States. This section (1) eliminates the requirement that the country is next to the United States; and (2) requires the child's removal, whereas currently removal is authorized. This section also establishes and modifies deadlines for the handling of unaccompanied alien children. For example, if the child is a victim of severe human trafficking, the child must have a hearing before an immigration judge within 14 days of screening as part of removal proceedings. Furthermore, before DHS places an unaccompanied alien child with an individual, the Department of Health and Human Services must provide DHS with certain information about the individual, including social security number and immigration status. DHS must initiate removal proceedings if the individual is unlawfully present. This bill establishes that an individual does not qualify for a Special Immigrant Juvenile visa if reunification is possible with any parent or legal guardian. Currently, an individual may qualify if the individual cannot reunite with one or both parents due to abuse, neglect, or abandonment (i.e., an individual may qualify even if reunification with one parent is possible).

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

Protection of Children Act of 2023

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House)

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The strongest published arguments

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Alternatives

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

Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. Carter, John R. [R-TX-31] · 3 cosponsors

Cost estimate: No cost estimate published yet.

Cosponsors on this site

Andy Biggs (R-AZ), Troy E. Nehls (R-TX), Brian Babin (R-TX)

Sponsor's campaign money: Rep. Carter, John R. [R-TX-31] 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 (3)

Authorization: A law that creates or continues a government program and says what it may do, often with a suggested spending ceiling. An authorization alone does not provide money; a separate appropriation does.
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).
Securities: Financial investments that can be bought and sold, such as stocks and bonds.

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-118hr2417.xml <https://www.govinfo.gov/bulkdata/BILLSTATUS/118/hr>

Record fed-us-cong118-hr2417 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong118 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong118