HR 4349119th CongressIn Committee

Stop GAPS Act of 2025

Introduced: Jul 10, 2025

Sponsor: Rep. Steube, W. Gregory [R-FL-17] (R-Florida)

HealthcareSocial Services

Standard Summary

Comprehensive overview in 1-2 paragraphs

The Stop GAPS Act of 2025 proposes changes to how the federal government handles unaccompanied alien children (UACs). First, it directs the Secretary of Homeland Security to strike a specific provision in existing regulations that concerns “Sponsors for unaccompanied minors,” effectively removing that sponsor-related requirement from current rules. Second, it tasks the Director of the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) with two duties: (1) to track every UAC released from DHS custody who is in the United States and has ongoing immigration proceedings, and (2) to work with states to find placements for those children. The bill’s short title labels it the Stop Government Abandonment and Placement Scandals Act of 2025 (Stop GAPS Act).

Key Points

1Short title: The bill can be cited as the Stop GAPS Act of 2025 (also called Stop Government Abandonment and Placement Scandals Act of 2025).
2Section 2 – Sponsorship provision removed: The Secretary of Homeland Security must amend CFR 45 410.1201(a) to strike paragraph (6), effectively removing the sponsor requirement currently described in that regulatory section.
3Section 3 – ORR duties expanded/clarified:
4- ORR Director must track each UAC released from DHS custody who is in the United States and involved in ongoing immigration proceedings (as defined by U.S. law).
5- ORR Director must collaborate with states to find placements for these children.
6Definition reference: The tracking obligation uses the statutory definition of an unaccompanied alien child from the Homeland Security Act of 2002, ensuring alignment with existing definitions of UACs.
7Scope: Focuses on UACs who are released from DHS custody, are in the U.S., and have active immigration proceedings.

Impact Areas

Primary group/area affected:- Unaccompanied alien children in the U.S. who have ongoing immigration proceedings, and the agencies that serve them (ORR, DHS, state child-welfare and placement systems).Secondary group/area affected:- Sponsoring arrangements for UACs (likely affecting families or individuals who might sponsor or support UACs), and the regulatory framework governing sponsorship.Additional impacts:- Increased tracking and placement coordination could improve accountability and placement stability for UACs, but may require additional funding, data-sharing protocols, and interagency collaboration.- Removing the sponsor regulatory paragraph may alter the process by which UACs are linked to sponsors, potentially shifting emphasis to placement and state involvement rather than sponsor-based placement.- Privacy, data accuracy, and administrative burden considerations as ORR expands its tracking and placement responsibilities.

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