Central Louisiana News

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), and 16 Senate Republican colleagues have introduced the Preventing the Recycling of Immigrants is Necessary for Trafficking Suspension (PRINTS) Act, which aims to combat trafficking and child recycling at the U.S. border. The legislation would grant the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) the authority to fingerprint non-citizens under the age of 14.

The senators argue that the Biden administration's border policies have enabled human traffickers and cartels to exploit children without consequence. Senator Cassidy emphasized the importance of equipping Border Patrol with the necessary tools to combat human trafficking and protect young lives. He stated, "We need to give Border Patrol every tool we can to help them stop human traffickers and save young lives."

Senator Blackburn echoed Cassidy's concerns, highlighting the devastating humanitarian crisis at the border, where children are the primary victims. She described the act of child recycling, in which a child is abused and used repeatedly, as one of the most heinous acts imaginable. Blackburn emphasized the urgency of empowering border patrol agents to fingerprint non-citizens under the age of 14 to identify victims of child recycling and put an end to this abuse. She also criticized the Biden administration for losing track of 85,000 migrant children, emphasizing the critical nature of passing this legislation.

The PRINTS Act has garnered support from several senators, including Tom Cotton (R-AR), Bill Hagerty (R-TN), Roger Wicker (R-MS), Steve Daines (R-MT), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Ted Cruz (R-TX), John Hoeven (R-ND), Mike Rounds (R-SD), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Mike Lee (R-UT), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), John Cornyn (R-TX), Katie Britt (R-AL), Marco Rubio (R-FL), J.D. Vance (R-OH), and Kevin Cramer (R-ND).

The introduction of the PRINTS Act comes as a response to the ongoing border crisis and the increasing number of cases involving child trafficking and exploitation. The senators aim to provide CBP with the necessary tools and authority to effectively combat these criminal activities and protect vulnerable minors.

The legislation seeks to address the concerns raised by Cassidy, Blackburn, and their colleagues regarding the Biden administration's handling of the border situation. By granting CBP the power to fingerprint non-citizens under the age of 14, the senators believe that the identification of victims of child recycling can be improved, leading to the prevention and prosecution of those involved in these heinous acts.

The PRINTS Act represents a bipartisan effort to address the humanitarian crisis at the border and provide law enforcement agencies with the necessary resources to combat human trafficking. As the legislation makes its way through the Senate, its supporters hope for swift action to protect the lives of vulnerable migrant minors and bring an end to the exploitation they face.

To find out more, go to this link: https://www.cassidy.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cassidy-blackburn-push-to-allow-fingerprinting-of-migrant-minors-to-combat-child-recycling/