California AttorneyGeneral Rob Bonta, leading a coalition of 19 attorneys general, submittedcomments opposing the U.S. Department of Health and HumanServices’ (HHS) interim final rule that makessignificant changes to the 2024 Unaccompanied Children ProgramFoundational Rule (Foundational Rule). In their letter, the attorneysgeneral express their strong concern with the interim final rule’s removalof provisions prohibiting the Office of Refugee Resettlement from:(1) disqualifying potential sponsors for unaccompanied childrenbased solely on their immigration status, (2)collecting information on the immigration status of potential sponsors forlaw enforcement or immigration enforcement related purposes, and (3)sharing immigration status information about sponsors with law enforcement andimmigration enforcement related entities. The coalition argues that thesechanges will deter prospective sponsors, many of whomare parents or close relatives, from coming forward to sponsorunaccompanied children, prolonging the time these children spend infederal custody. “As Attorney General, I’m committed to ensuring all children — includingimmigrant children — have a safe, caring environment to call home.The changes HHS seeks to implement would do nothing for unaccompanied childrenbut prolong their stay in federal custody and reduce the availability of safe,protected homes. Many of the sponsors that would be disqualified by thesechanges are parents or close relatives of these children. I urge HHS to keepthese families together and reconsider this damaging, and potentially unlawful,rule.”