(a) Appropriation.—In addition to amounts otherwise available, there is appropriated to the Office of Refugee Resettlement for fiscal year 2025, out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, $300,000,000, to remain available until September 30, 2028, for the purposes described in subsection (b).
(b) Use of funds.—The funds made available under subsection (a) may only be used for the Office of Refugee Resettlement to support costs associated with—
(1) background checks on potential sponsors, which shall include—
(A) the name of the potential sponsor and of all adult residents of the potential sponsor’s household;
(B) the social security number or tax payer identification number of the potential sponsor and of all adult residents of the potential sponsor’s household;
(C) the date of birth of the potential sponsor and of all adult residents of the potential sponsor’s household;
(D) the validated location of the residence at which the unaccompanied alien child will be placed;
(E) an in-person or virtual interview with, and suitability study concerning, the potential sponsor and all adult residents of the potential sponsor’s household;
(F) contact information for the potential sponsor and for all adult residents of the potential sponsor’s household; and
(G) the results of all background and criminal records checks for the potential sponsor and for all adult residents of the potential sponsor’s household, which shall include, at a minimum, an investigation of the public records sex offender registry, a public records background check, and a national criminal history check based on fingerprints;
(2) home studies of potential sponsors of unaccompanied alien children;
(3) determining whether an unaccompanied alien child poses a danger to self or others by conducting an examination of the unaccompanied alien child for gang-related tattoos and other gang-related markings and covering such tattoos or markings while the child is in the care of the Office of Refugee Resettlement;
(4) data systems improvement and sharing that supports the health, safety, and well being of unaccompanied alien children by determining the appropriateness of potential sponsors of unaccompanied alien children and of adults residing in the household of the potential sponsor and by assisting with the identification and investigation of child labor exploitation and child trafficking; and
(5) coordinating and communicating with State child welfare agencies regarding the placement of unaccompanied alien children in such States by the Office of Refugee Resettlement.
(c) Definitions.—In this section:
(1) POTENTIAL SPONSOR.—The term “potential sponsor” means an individual or entity who applies for the custody of an unaccompanied alien child.
(2) UNACCOMPANIED ALIEN CHILD.—The term “unaccompanied alien child” has the meaning given such term in section 462(g) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 279(g)).