Unaccompanied Alien Child Protection Act of 2005

H.R. 1172, the Unaccompanied Alien Child Protection Act of 2005, establishes standardized procedures for the care, custody, and legal representation of minors who enter the United States without a parent or legal guardian. The bill shifts the responsibility for these children to the Office of Refugee Resettlement, prioritizes placing them with family members rather than in adult detention centers, and ensures they have access to legal counsel and guardians to navigate immigration proceedings. For the public, this legislation aims to create a more transparent and humane process for managing vulnerable minors at the border while ensuring that those who pose security risks are handled by appropriate law enforcement agencies.