Seven of Maryland’s eight U.S. representatives — all Democrats — voted against a Congressional bill named for a 20-year-old Aberdeen murder victim. At least one representative said his negative vote was because the proposal included provisions that could be harmful to children.

The Republican-backed Kayla Hamilton Act passed the House after a largely party-line 225-201 vote last week. The bill will next be considered by the U.S. Senate, and, if passed and signed by President Donald Trump, would require extensive background checks for “unaccompanied alien children” entering the country.

U.S. Rep. Johnny Olszewski, a Democrat, voted against the bill. He said he supports proposals that “responsibly vet all applicants for immigration to help keep our communities safe,” adding he would have supported a “clean” bill requiring the review of criminal records of applicants from their home country.

“The bill that passed contains deeply concerning provisions — including mandated strip searches of unaccompanied children and language that could result in children remaining in federal custody indefinitely — over the possibility of returning individuals to their home countries,” he said in an emailed statement.

The Kayla Hamilton Act outlines a background check for unaccompanied children crossing the U.S. border to determine whether they are a flight risk; are a danger to themselves or the community; have been arrested, charged or convicted of any criminal offense in the U.S. or in their home county; or are participating in any gang-related activities.

It also emphasizes placement of unaccompanied children with U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents who do not have criminal histories. It states children will not be placed on “his or her own recognizance.”

U.S. Rep. Andy Harris, Maryland’s lone Republican representative on the state’s only to in favor of the act, said the bill is a step toward enhancing public safety.

“The Kayla Hamilton Act is a commonsense step to prioritize public safety, strengthen enforcement and prevent these preventable tragedies from happening again,” Harris said in a statement.

Harris, whose district includes Aberdeen, added the crime against Hamilton “never should have happened,” saying she was a young woman full of life.

Hamilton, who had high-functioning autism, was killed in July 2022 by then-16-year-old Walter Javier Martinez of El Salvador. Martinez illegally entered the U.S. in March 2022 and was part of the violent street gang, MS-13, according to his defense attorneys and the Harford County State’s Attorney’s Office.

Martinez pleaded guilty to first-degree murder in August 2024 and was sentenced to life in prison, with all but 70 years suspended.

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