U.S.

HHS Will Fingerprint Parents Seeking Custody Of Migrant Children

A similar proposal made by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement during the Obama administration never got off the ground.

HHS Will Fingerprint Parents Seeking Custody Of Migrant Children
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SMS

The Trump administration will reportedly begin fingerprinting parents coming to pick up migrant children held by the Department of Health and Human Services.

The new fingerprinting program will reportedly be a joint venture between the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Homeland Security. HHS is responsible for finding homes for migrant children, and DHS will fingerprint anyone claiming custody.

There's some worry that the policy could discourage parents from coming forward to claim their kids.

But Steven Wagner, acting assistant secretary of HHS' Administration for Children and Families, told reporters a parent who's more worried about their own immigration status than about their child might not be an "adequate sponsor." 

similar proposal by U.S.Immigration and Customs Enforcement during the Obama administration failed to get off the ground after HHS worried it would delay family reunification.