Keep Families Together Act
- Last Action
- 2/25/2019
Actions
- 2019-02-25Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Citizenship.
- 2019-02-04Referred to the Subcommittee on Border Security, Facilitation, and Operations.
- 2019-01-14Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Homeland Security, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2019-01-14Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Homeland Security, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2019-01-14Introduced in House
- 2019-01-14Introduced in House
CRS Summary
As of 2019-01-14 (00)
Keep Families Together Act
This bill limits the separation of families at or near U.S borders or ports of entry and imposes limits on the prosecution of asylum seekers.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Department of Justice (DOJ), and Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) shall not separate a child from a legal guardian at a port of entry or within 100 miles of a U.S. border unless
- a state court terminates the legal guardian's rights;
- a state child welfare agency or court determines it is in the child's best interests to be removed; or
- the child is determined to be a trafficking victim or at risk of becoming one, the accompanying adult is most likely not the legal guardian, or the child is in danger of abuse or neglect.
Such separation shall end unless a licensed independent child welfare expert authorizes the separation within 48 hours.
DHS, DOJ, or HHS may not separate a child from a legal guardian solely to deter migration into the United States or to promote compliance with immigration laws.
DHS shall develop (1) training related to the bill's family separation requirements, and (2) guidance for how legal guardians may locate a separated child. HHS shall provide legal guardians weekly status updates about a separated child.
An asylum seeker who has expressed a credible or reasonable fear of persecution may not be prosecuted for certain immigration law violations until the asylum application has been finally adjudicated.
Cosponsors (20)
- ZOE LOFGREN (D-CA)
- Pramila Jayapal (D-WA)
- Ted Lieu (D-CA)
- Jimmy Panetta (D-CA)
- Pete Aguilar (D-CA)
- Nanette Barragan (D-CA)
- Karen Bass (D-CA)
- Joyce Beatty (D-OH)
- Ami Bera (D-CA)
- Donald Beyer (D-VA)
- SANFORD BISHOP (D-GA)
- EARL BLUMENAUER (D-OR)
- Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE)
- Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR)
- Brendan Boyle (D-PA)
- Anthony Brown (D-MD)
- Julia Brownley (D-CA)
- Cheri Bustos (D-IL)
- Salud Carbajal (D-CA)
- Tony Cárdenas (D-CA)
Subjects
- Border security and unlawful immigration
- Child care and development
- Child health
- Child safety and welfare
- Congressional oversight
- Crime victims
- Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation
- Criminal justice information and records
- Department of Homeland Security
- Detention of persons
- Domestic violence and child abuse
- Family relationships
- Foreign language and bilingual programs
- Government information and archives
- Government studies and investigations
- Human trafficking
- Immigration status and procedures
- Law enforcement officers
- Public contracts and procurement
Sourced from Congress.gov (public domain).
This is legal information, not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction and change frequently. Always verify current law with official sources and consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction for advice on your specific situation.