House Passes the Kayla Hamilton Act to Tighten Rules for Migrant Child Placements
The Kayla Hamilton Act passed the House of Representatives and is now in the Senate for consideration. No action has been taken on this bill since December 2025, and it is currently stalled. The Senate must act for the bill to move forward, but it is common for House bills to not receive a vote in the Senate.
225–201
No action since December 2025
Scores run from -100 (strongly harmful) to +100 (strongly beneficial) for each group, combining impact, certainty, scope, and duration ratings of 1-5. How impact scoring works
Unaccompanied migrant children face dramatically stricter placement rules. Children 12 and older can be held in secure detention facilities for the entire length of their immigration case if they are considered a flight risk or danger, or have any gang-related markings or criminal history. Children can no longer be released on their own recognizance. These changes will likely increase the time many children spend in government custody and reduce the number who are placed with family members or other sponsors.
“the unaccompanied alien child shall be placed in a secure facility for the duration of any immigration proceedings (and, if ordered removed, until such unaccompanied alien child is removed)”
Received in the Senate.
The Senate has received the House-passed bill and will decide whether to take it up.
The title of the measure was amended. Agreed to without objection.
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 225 - 201 (Roll no. 340). (text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR H5921-5922)
Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 225 - 201 (Roll no. 340). (text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR H5921-5922)
The House of Representatives voted to approve this bill. It now goes to the Senate.
On Motion to Recommit

The House passed the Kayla Hamilton Act in a 225-201 vote. The bill requires HHS to screen unaccompanied minors for gang tattoos and place those with markings in secure federal facilities. It also mandates that sponsors be U.S. citizens or legal residents with no serious criminal history.

Harford County Sheriff Jeff Gahler criticized Rep. Jasmine Crockett for her remarks during a debate on the Kayla Hamilton Act. The bill seeks to mandate safety assessments and gang screenings for migrant children to prevent violent crimes by unvetted individuals released into communities.
Document Type
Congressional Bill
Official Title
Kayla Hamilton Act
Analysis generated by AI. Always verify with official sources.