PlainBillCongress, translated.Legislation. Context. Public interest.Committee on the Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration. Hearings held.
Congressional Research Service
Version 00 · Introduced in Senate · Jan 22, 2001
Unaccompanied Alien Child Protection Act of 2001 - Establishes within the Department of Justice (DOJ) the Office of Children's Services which shall be responsible for coordinating and implementing law and policy for unaccompanied alien children.Establishes an Interagency Task Force on Unaccompanied Alien Children.States that an unaccompanied alien child found in the United States shall be promptly paroled into the United States and placed under the jurisdiction of the Office.Sets forth a family reunification preference order.Prohibits, with an exception for violent children, detention in adult or delinquent children facilities. Directs the Office to develop procedures for prohibited detention practices.Prohibits an unaccompanied alien child from being repatriated to a country unless an appropriate voluntary agency has conducted an assessment of the country conditions and the Office has conducted an assessment of the suitability of the placement of the child. Directs the Office to provide that each unaccompanied child have counsel and guardian ad litem.Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to establish a special immigrant juvenile visa (J Visa).Expresses congressional commendation of the Immigration and Naturalization Service' s issuance of its "Guidelines for Children's Asylum Claims." Directs the Attorney General to provide immigration officers with related training.Amends the Act to exempt unaccompanied alien children from certain removal and asylum filing provisions.Directs the Comptroller General to report respecting the Office's effectiveness.
People & committees
Sen. Feinstein, Dianne [D-CA] · D–CA
Legislative record
A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.
Committee on the Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration. Hearings held.
Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S396-398)
Introduced in Senate
Primary sources
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Source last updated: Aug 10, 2026. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.
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