Bill changes rules for holding migrant children.

What it does

The bill tells health officials to check with other groups before placing migrant children. It requires screening children age 12 and older for gang ties and criminal records. Children seen as dangers can be placed in locked buildings. The bill bans placing children with non-citizens or people with criminal histories. It covers sex offenses, trafficking, domestic violence, child abuse, and felonies. The bill lets groups skip the normal public review to act fast.

Who it affects

Migrant children without parents face stricter placement rules and possible detention. The public loses the chance to review and comment on new rules. Courts lose the chance to review some choices.

One thing to notice

The bill lets groups make and enforce these rules without normal public notice and comment.

From the analysis of the bill text, linked under Primary records below.

Where it stands

2 cosponsors: 2 Republicans.

• Jul 14, 2025 — Introduced · Congress.gov: “Introduced in House”
• Jul 14, 2025 — Referred to House Committee on the Judiciary · Congress.gov: “Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary”
• Sep 10, 2025 — Markup held in committee · Congress.gov: “Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held”
• Sep 10, 2025 — Reported out of committee · Congress.gov: “Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 16 - 13”
• Dec 16, 2025 — Passed the House · Congress.gov: “On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 225 - 201 (Roll no. 340).”

Dates and quoted wording are Congress.gov's action record; the timeline shows status changes, not every procedural step.

Money around this bill

5 groups reported lobbying about this bill. They filed 6 reports from Dec 2025 to Mar 2026.

Those reports show $2,176,515 in lobbying spending. Each report lists about 18 bills. So that money was not all for this bill.

More groups named this bill than 78% of bills with any report.

Russell Fry, who sponsored the bill, received $835,499 from PACs for the 2026 election.

• Friends Committee on National Legislation — $2,000,000 in 2 reports
• Kids in Need of Defense — $120,000 in 1 report
• Federation for American Immigration Reform — $36,515 in 1 report
• Moveon.org Civic Action — $20,000 in 1 report
• Center for Law and Social Policy (clasp) — $0 in 1 report

Lobbying is legal. These reports show who lobbied about this bill, not what changed.

Words to know

• migrant children — Children who cross the border without a parent or legal guardian.
• locked buildings — Secure places where children are held and cannot leave freely.
• criminal histories — A record of crimes a person has been convicted of in the past.
• public review — A process where the public can read and comment on new government rules.
• lobbying — Trying to influence lawmakers about a bill. Companies and groups pay people to do this.
• PACs — Groups that collect money and give it to candidates for office.