Legislation Search

H.R. 9270: Dignity and Due Process for Children Act of 2026

This bill would change how the federal government handles unaccompanied immigrant children in immigration enforcement cases.

What it would do

Limits arrest and detention: If an immigration officer encounters a person under 18 in the United States, away from the border or a port of entry, and the child is not with a parent or legal guardian, the child generally could not be arrested or detained while the government decides whether to remove them from the country. The main exception is if an immigration judge issues a warrant for the arrest.
Bars military transport for immigration enforcement: It would prohibit members of the Armed Forces, Department of Defense contractors, and Department of Defense vehicles, aircraft, or vessels from being used to transport unaccompanied children for immigration enforcement purposes, including deportation, expulsion, or removal.
Creates a disaster-related exception: The military transport ban would not apply in areas covered by a presidential disaster declaration under the Stafford Act when the deployment is connected to a natural disaster or similar weather-related event.
Requires access to legal help before waiving rights: Federal agencies could not pressure or require an unaccompanied child to sign documents that would waive a hearing, give up immigration relief options, accept removal or voluntary return, admit criminal liability, or concede removability, unless the child has had a meaningful chance to consult confidentially with a lawyer.
Provides a quick legal referral if the child has no lawyer: If the child does not already have legal counsel, the government would have to provide a referral and a chance to speak confidentially with a legal services provider as soon as practical, and no later than 5 business days after presenting the document.
Does not override existing trafficking protections: The bill says it should not be read to replace or weaken protections under the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act.

Key definitions

“Immigration laws” would have the meaning already used in the Immigration and Nationality Act.
“Unaccompanied alien child” would use the existing legal definition from the Homeland Security Act.

Relevant Companies

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This is an AI-generated summary of the bill text. There may be mistakes.

Actions

2 actions

Date	Action
Jun. 11, 2026	Introduced in House
Jun. 11, 2026	Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Armed Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

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