Congress·In Progress·S. 3322

Senate Bill Would Waive Immigration Fees, Expand Protections for Unaccompanied Migrant Children

Upholding Protections for Unaccompanied Children Act of 2025

2 months ago·View on Congress.gov

Part of: Senators Propose Independent Watchdog for ICE and CBP Oversight

Legislative Progress

Senate

House

President

Law

Key Points

It would stop the government from charging certain immigration fees to kids who came to the U.S. without a parent or guardian.
It would remove a fee linked to a pathway some abused or neglected kids use to seek safety, and it says the government can’t add a new fee for it.
It would roll back parts of an earlier law that changed how these kids are screened and handled in the system, aiming for a fairer legal process.
It would limit invasive body searches of these children by federal agencies.
It would block sharing sponsor information with immigration enforcement, so family members who take a child in are less likely to be targeted.

ImmigrationCivil RightsCriminal JusticeConsumer Protection

Impact Analysis

Personal Impact

How this policy affects specific groups of people

Mixed Impacts(1)

Federal Employee

Neutral

Positive Impacts(1)

Immigrant

Helps

Political Response

Milestones

2 milestones3 actions

Jan 7, 2026Senate

Star Print ordered on the bill.

Dec 3, 2025Senate

Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

Dec 3, 2025

Introduced in Senate

What Happens Next

Projected impacts based on AI analysis

Immediately after enactment

Fee exemptions for unaccompanied children start once the law takes effect

Eligible children should no longer be charged the covered asylum, work permit, court, and border-related fees when they file or renew paperwork.

Immediately after enactment

Special immigrant juvenile (SIJ) fee is removed and DHS is barred from charging any SIJ-related fee

Children seeking SIJ status (and their parents/guardians) should not face a federal filing fee for SIJ status, lowering the cost to pursue that pathway.

Immediately after enactment

Limits on certain body examinations are restored by removing the targeted paragraphs in Public Law 119-21

Children in custody may face fewer or narrower body examination practices compared with what Public Law 119-21 allowed.

Related News

1 article

Maui Now·about 1 month ago

Hirono joins colleagues in demanding ICE halt actions against children

Sen. Mazie Hirono and colleagues demanded answers from ICE regarding the treatment of minors, noting her cosponsorship of the Upholding Protections for Unaccompanied Children Act to reverse provisions that harm children seeking safety from trafficking and abuse.

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