NEGATIVE Immigration 119th Congress

H.R.4371 Kayla Hamilton Act

Kayla Hamilton Act — expands detention and enforcement for unaccompanied minors and immigration violations (119th Congress)

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Legal & Constitutional Grounding

The Flores Settlement requires children be held in the least restrictive setting and released promptly.

5th Amendment, Due Process Clause — prolonged government custody of children without adequate sponsor placement options raises due process concerns

Flores Settlement Agreement (1997) — binding consent decree requiring children be held in least restrictive setting and released within 3-5 days to appropriate adults
UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, Art. 37(b) — detention of children shall be a measure of last resort for the shortest appropriate period

Who Lobbied on This Bill

$110K combined quarterly activity

3 lobbying firms

4 clients represented

2025-fourth_quarter filing period

Policy Areas Covered

Civil Rights/Civil Liberties Immigration

Government Entities Lobbied

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
SENATE

Who Hired the Lobbyists

CENTER FOR LAW AND SOCIAL POLICY (CLASP)
MOVEON.ORG CIVIC ACTION 501(c)(4) organization which focuses on nonpartisan education and advocacy on natl. issues
AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION Protecting civil liberties
COMMUNITY CHANGE ACTION Economic justice, immigration reform, retirement security and affordable housing.

Source: Senate LDA filings · Dollar figures are combined quarterly totals for all lobbying by each firm, not bill-specific spend.

Expands detention and restricts placement options for unaccompanied migrant minors. The bill prohibits placement with sponsors who lack legal status, increasing the risk of prolonged government custody for vulnerable children.