Dignity and Due Process for Children Act of 2026

Bill Number

H.R. 9270

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 2

Policy Area

Immigration

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2026-06-11: 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.

Last Updated

2026-06-30T21:44:37Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose The Dignity and Due Process for Children Act of 2026 aims to modify how immigration laws are enforced against unaccompanied minors by requiring judicial oversight for certain actions and protecting access to legal counsel.

Key Provisions

• Amends Section 287 of the Immigration and Nationality Act to prohibit immigration officers from arresting or detaining an unaccompanied alien child (under 18, encountered inside the United States without a parent or legal guardian) without a warrant issued by an immigration judge.
• Bans deployment of Armed Forces members, Department of Defense contractors, or DoD vessels, aircraft, or vehicles to transport unaccompanied alien children for immigration enforcement purposes, with an exception only during presidential disaster declarations under the Stafford Act.
• Prohibits government agencies from requiring or coercing an unaccompanied alien child to sign legal documents affecting custody, placement, or immigration status that waive rights to hearings, relief applications, or concede removability, without first providing a confidential consultation with a lawyer. If the child lacks counsel, agencies must refer the child to a legal services provider within five business days.
• Includes a rule of construction stating that the Act does not override the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act.
• Defines key terms by reference to existing statutes.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Introduces a new warrant requirement for interior detention of unaccompanied minors, altering current practices under the Immigration and Nationality Act that allow warrantless arrests in many cases.
• Establishes explicit limits on military involvement in immigration enforcement transport, which previously had no such statutory restriction.
• Creates new procedural safeguards against coerced waivers of rights, expanding protections beyond those in current regulations.

Potential Impacts

• Government agencies (primarily the Department of Homeland Security, Department of Justice, and Department of Health and Human Services) would face new procedural requirements, potentially slowing enforcement actions and increasing administrative burdens.
• The Department of Defense would be restricted from assisting in certain immigration operations.
• Unaccompanied minors would gain additional due process protections, which could affect the speed of removals or placements.
• No direct effects on international relations are specified in the legislation.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• Unaccompanied alien children and their legal representatives.
• Immigration enforcement officers and agencies (DHS, DOJ).
• The Department of Defense and military personnel.
• Legal services providers and nonprofit organizations assisting minors.
• The Department of Health and Human Services, which handles unaccompanied child placement.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Strengthens due process requirements for non-citizen minors in immigration proceedings, potentially raising questions about the balance between executive enforcement authority and judicial oversight.
• May limit executive branch flexibility in interior immigration enforcement and military support roles.
• Reinforces existing child protection frameworks without altering core definitions of unaccompanied alien children.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. Dexter, Maxine [D-OR-3]

Cosponsors (28)

Rep. Pelosi, Nancy [D-CA-11], Rep. Casar, Greg [D-TX-35], Rep. Castro, Joaquin [D-TX-20], Rep. McGovern, James P. [D-MA-2], Rep. Goldman, Daniel S. [D-NY-10], Rep. Lieu, Ted [D-CA-36], Rep. Ramirez, Delia C. [D-IL-3], Rep. Frost, Maxwell [D-FL-10], Rep. Hoyle, Val T. [D-OR-4], Rep. Salinas, Andrea [D-OR-6], Rep. Tlaib, Rashida [D-MI-12], Rep. Escobar, Veronica [D-TX-16], Rep. Ansari, Yassamin [D-AZ-3], Rep. Crockett, Jasmine [D-TX-30], Rep. Garcia, Sylvia R. [D-TX-29], Rep. Jacobs, Sara [D-CA-51], Rep. Simon, Lateefah [D-CA-12], Rep. Thanedar, Shri [D-MI-13], Rep. McClellan, Jennifer L. [D-VA-4], Rep. Randall, Emily [D-WA-6], Rep. García, Jesús G. "Chuy" [D-IL-4], Rep. Mejia, Analilia [D-NJ-11], Rep. Foushee, Valerie P. [D-NC-4], Rep. Fletcher, Lizzie [D-TX-7], Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large], Rep. Bonamici, Suzanne [D-OR-1], Rep. Pressley, Ayanna [D-MA-7], Rep. Liccardo, Sam T. [D-CA-16]

Recent Actions

• 2026-06-11: 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.
• 2026-06-11: 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.
• 2026-06-11: Introduced in House
• 2026-06-11: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

• Dignity and Due Process for Children Act of 2026 — issued 2026-06-11 — PDF (4 pages)