H.R. 6389 — Upholding Protections for Unaccompanied Children Act of 2025

This section sets forth nine congressional findings concerning the vulnerabilities of unaccompanied children, the protections established by the William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2008 (TVPRA), and the asserted effects of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (Public Law 119–21) in weakening those protections through barriers to due process, fees for humanitarian relief, funding for removals without legal process, detention risks, intrusive examinations, and enforcement against sponsors.

This section establishes exceptions exempting individuals who are or were previously determined to be unaccompanied alien children (UACs), as defined in 6 U.S.C. 279(g)(2), from multiple fees imposed by P.L. 119-21 (commonly known as the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act”); repeals the special immigrant juvenile fee (§100005); and clarifies that the Secretary of Homeland Security may not impose any fee on aliens, parents, or legal guardians applying for special immigrant juvenile status under INA §101(a)(27)(J) (8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(27)(J)). Specifically, it exempts UACs from fees for— (1) asylum applications (§§100002, 100009); (2) employment authorization documents and renewals (§§100003, 100010–100012); (3) immigration court proceedings (§100013); (4) in absentia removal orders (§100016); and (5) border apprehensions (§100017).

This section repeals two provisions of Public Law 119-21 authorizing body examinations: (1) by the Department of Homeland Security under section 100051(11) and (2) by the Office of Refugee Resettlement under section 87001(b)(3).

This section directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to ensure that sponsor information obtained under Section 87001 of Public Law 119-21 (One Big Beautiful Bill Act) is not shared with the Department of Homeland Security or any other federal agency for immigration law enforcement purposes.

This section directs the Secretary of Homeland Security and the Attorney General, not later than 180 days after enactment, to refund to each individual all fees paid under any provision of law repealed or amended by this Act.