Bill Analysis: The Missing Persons and Unidentified Remains Act

The Missing Persons and Unidentified Remains Act (MPURA), or S.2174, is bipartisan legislation that would take steps to prevent migrant deaths on the Southwest border and help border counties and nonprofit organizations locate and identify missing migrants. The bill would create grants for humanitarian and state actors to report and identify missing persons and unidentified remains, including migrant border crossers. The bill also provides resources for rescue beacons, which have been used effectively to rescue migrants who are in danger. The MPURA was introduced by Senator John Cornyn (R-Texas) on July 18, 2019, and it was cosponsored by Senators Harris (D-California), Tillis (R-North Carolina), and Udall (D-New Mexico).

The Missing Persons and Unidentified Remains Act would make an immediate impact, both by  saving lives on the border and by allowing the families of those who have lost loved ones to gain closure. This is a bipartisan, common-sense reform that would allow the country to treat those dying or crossing between ports of entry with dignity and humanity.

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