Expedited Family Reunification Act of 2016
Summary
Expedited Family Reunification Act of 2016
This bill amends the William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2008 to provide that any unaccompanied alien child (UAC) who has not been a victim of a severe form of trafficking in persons or does not have a credible fear of persecution on returning to his or her country of nationality or of last habitual residence shall be:
- placed in removal proceedings,
- eligible for voluntary departure at no cost to the child, and
- provided with access to counsel.
(Currently such expedited removal requirements apply to unaccompanied children from countries that are contiguous to the United States.)
The Department of State shall negotiate agreements, in addition to countries contiguous to the United States, between the United States and Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, and any other appropriate country regarding the repatriation of children.
The requirements of this Act are applied to any UAC apprehended on or after June 15, 2012.
