Legis Daily

Keep Families Together Act

USA116th CongressHR-541| House 
| Updated: 2/25/2019
Jerrold Nadler

Jerrold Nadler

Democratic Representative

New York

Cosponsors (202)
Brenda L. Lawrence (Democratic)Dwight Evans (Democratic)Al Lawson (Democratic)Kim Schrier (Democratic)Stacey E. Plaskett (Democratic)Donald Norcross (Democratic)David Loebsack (Democratic)Tim Ryan (Democratic)Val Butler Demings (Democratic)Marcy Kaptur (Democratic)Tom O'Halleran (Democratic)John Garamendi (Democratic)Gilbert Ray Cisneros (Democratic)Sylvia R. Garcia (Democratic)Ruben Gallego (Democratic)Jared Huffman (Democratic)Marc A. Veasey (Democratic)Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (Democratic)Adam B. Schiff (Democratic)Barbara Lee (Democratic)Nita M. Lowey (Democratic)Robin L. Kelly (Democratic)Joseph P. Kennedy (Democratic)Raúl M. Grijalva (Democratic)Tom Malinowski (Democratic)Stephanie N. Murphy (Democratic)Mark Pocan (Democratic)Abigail Davis Spanberger (Democratic)Karen Bass (Democratic)James R. Langevin (Democratic)Joyce Beatty (Democratic)Ben McAdams (Democratic)Lisa Blunt Rochester (Democratic)David N. Cicilline (Democratic)David J. Trone (Democratic)Ed Case (Democratic)Emanuel Cleaver (Democratic)Brian Higgins (Democratic)Jackie Speier (Democratic)Kathleen M. Rice (Democratic)Darren Soto (Democratic)Raul Ruiz (Democratic)Sheila Jackson Lee (Democratic)Derek Kilmer (Democratic)John A. Yarmuth (Democratic)Ben Ray Luján (Democratic)Carolyn B. Maloney (Democratic)Bill Foster (Democratic)Debra A. Haaland (Democratic)Joe Courtney (Democratic)Sanford D. Bishop (Democratic)C. A. Dutch Ruppersberger (Democratic)Ilhan Omar (Democratic)Pete Aguilar (Democratic)Eliot L. Engel (Democratic)David Scott (Democratic)Frederica S. Wilson (Democratic)Juan Vargas (Democratic)Terri A. Sewell (Democratic)Bobby L. Rush (Democratic)Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan (Democratic)Steven Horsford (Democratic)Andy Levin (Democratic)Jimmy Panetta (Democratic)J. Luis Correa (Democratic)Eric Swalwell (Democratic)Dina Titus (Democratic)Michael F. Doyle (Democratic)Debbie Dingell (Democratic)Madeleine Dean (Democratic)Katherine M. Clark (Democratic)Steve Cohen (Democratic)Tony Cárdenas (Democratic)Susan A. Davis (Democratic)Suzan K. DelBene (Democratic)Jennifer Wexton (Democratic)Scott H. Peters (Democratic)Paul Tonko (Democratic)Donald M. Payne (Democratic)Thomas R. Suozzi (Democratic)John P. Sarbanes (Democratic)Wm. Lacy Clay (Democratic)Rosa L. DeLauro (Democratic)Anthony G. Brown (Democratic)Adriano Espaillat (Democratic)Ann Kirkpatrick (Democratic)Danny K. Davis (Democratic)Lucille Roybal-Allard (Democratic)Peter A. DeFazio (Democratic)Daniel T. Kildee (Democratic)Vicente Gonzalez (Democratic)Ted Lieu (Democratic)Ro Khanna (Democratic)A. Donald McEachin (Democratic)Greg Stanton (Democratic)Alan S. Lowenthal (Democratic)Ann M. Kuster (Democratic)Sean Patrick Maloney (Democratic)Kurt Schrader (Democratic)Henry C. "Hank" Johnson (Democratic)André Carson (Democratic)Brendan F. Boyle (Democratic)Katie Hill (Democratic)Matt Cartwright (Democratic)John B. Larson (Democratic)Joaquin Castro (Democratic)Stephen F. Lynch (Democratic)Mark DeSaulnier (Democratic)Harley Rouda (Democratic)Jim Cooper (Democratic)Joseph D. Morelle (Democratic)Elaine G. Luria (Democratic)Doris O. Matsui (Democratic)Gregory W. Meeks (Democratic)Jahana Hayes (Democratic)David E. Price (Democratic)Hakeem S. Jeffries (Democratic)Raja Krishnamoorthi (Democratic)Filemon Vela (Democratic)Marcia L. Fudge (Democratic)James A. Himes (Democratic)Theodore E. Deutch (Democratic)John Lewis (Democratic)Anna G. Eshoo (Democratic)Ami Bera (Democratic)Josh Harder (Democratic)Mark Takano (Democratic)Pramila Jayapal (Democratic)Kathy Castor (Democratic)Betty McCollum (Democratic)Peter J. Visclosky (Democratic)Eleanor Holmes Norton (Democratic)Brad Sherman (Democratic)Bonnie Watson Coleman (Democratic)Mary Gay Scanlon (Democratic)Denny Heck (Democratic)Daniel Lipinski (Democratic)Richard E. Neal (Democratic)Norma J. Torres (Democratic)Conor Lamb (Democratic)Tulsi Gabbard (Democratic)Salud O. Carbajal (Democratic)Jamie Raskin (Democratic)Elijah E. Cummings (Democratic)Jim Costa (Democratic)Joe Neguse (Democratic)Mike Quigley (Democratic)Lois Frankel (Democratic)Donald S. Beyer (Democratic)Debbie Mucarsel-Powell (Democratic)Diana DeGette (Democratic)Janice D. Schakowsky (Democratic)James P. McGovern (Democratic)Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (Democratic)Maxine Waters (Democratic)Adam Smith (Democratic)Ron Kind (Democratic)Nydia M. Velázquez (Democratic)Julia Brownley (Democratic)William R. Keating (Democratic)Jerry McNerney (Democratic)Eddie Bernice Johnson (Democratic)Yvette D. Clarke (Democratic)Rick Larsen (Democratic)Jose E. Serrano (Democratic)Peter Welch (Democratic)Albio Sires (Democratic)Cedric L. Richmond (Democratic)Bennie G. Thompson (Democratic)Earl Blumenauer (Democratic)Lori Trahan (Democratic)TJ Cox (Democratic)Charlie Crist (Democratic)Seth Moulton (Democratic)Mike Thompson (Democratic)Suzanne Bonamici (Democratic)Linda T. Sánchez (Democratic)Ed Perlmutter (Democratic)Zoe Lofgren (Democratic)Nanette Diaz Barragán (Democratic)Jesús G. "Chuy" García (Democratic)Donna E. Shalala (Democratic)Jason Crow (Democratic)Frank Pallone (Democratic)Gwen Moore (Democratic)Jimmy Gomez (Democratic)Grace Meng (Democratic)Cheri Bustos (Democratic)Rashida Tlaib (Democratic)Bradley Scott Schneider (Democratic)Ayanna Pressley (Democratic)Alcee L. Hastings (Democratic)Veronica Escobar (Democratic)Debbie Wasserman Schultz (Democratic)Gerald E. Connolly (Democratic)Chellie Pingree (Democratic)Bill Pascrell (Democratic)Grace F. Napolitano (Democratic)Katie Porter (Democratic)Susan Wild (Democratic)Mike Levin (Democratic)Judy Chu (Democratic)

Homeland Security Committee, Border Security and Enforcement Subcommittee, Judiciary Committee, Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement Subcommittee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
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.
View Full Text

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline
Jan 14, 2019
Introduced in House
Jan 14, 2019
Referred 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.
Jan 31, 2019

Latest Companion Bill Action

S 116-292
Introduced in Senate
Feb 4, 2019
Referred to the Subcommittee on Border Security, Facilitation, and Operations.
Feb 25, 2019
Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Citizenship.
  • January 14, 2019
    Introduced in House


  • January 14, 2019
    Referred 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.


  • January 31, 2019

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    S 116-292
    Introduced in Senate


  • February 4, 2019
    Referred to the Subcommittee on Border Security, Facilitation, and Operations.


  • February 25, 2019
    Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Citizenship.

Immigration

Related Bills

  • S 116-292: Keep Families Together Act
  • S 116-1733: Protecting Families and Improving Immigration Procedures Act
Border security and unlawful immigrationChild care and developmentChild healthChild safety and welfareCongressional oversightCrime victimsCriminal investigation, prosecution, interrogationCriminal justice information and recordsDepartment of Homeland SecurityDetention of personsDomestic violence and child abuseFamily relationshipsForeign language and bilingual programsGovernment information and archivesGovernment studies and investigationsHuman traffickingImmigration status and proceduresLaw enforcement officersPublic contracts and procurementRefugees, asylum, displaced personsSeparation, divorce, custody, support

Keep Families Together Act

USA116th CongressHR-541| House 
| Updated: 2/25/2019
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.
View Full Text

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline
Jan 14, 2019
Introduced in House
Jan 14, 2019
Referred 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.
Jan 31, 2019

Latest Companion Bill Action

S 116-292
Introduced in Senate
Feb 4, 2019
Referred to the Subcommittee on Border Security, Facilitation, and Operations.
Feb 25, 2019
Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Citizenship.
  • January 14, 2019
    Introduced in House


  • January 14, 2019
    Referred 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.


  • January 31, 2019

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    S 116-292
    Introduced in Senate


  • February 4, 2019
    Referred to the Subcommittee on Border Security, Facilitation, and Operations.


  • February 25, 2019
    Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Citizenship.
Jerrold Nadler

Jerrold Nadler

Democratic Representative

New York

Cosponsors (202)
Brenda L. Lawrence (Democratic)Dwight Evans (Democratic)Al Lawson (Democratic)Kim Schrier (Democratic)Stacey E. Plaskett (Democratic)Donald Norcross (Democratic)David Loebsack (Democratic)Tim Ryan (Democratic)Val Butler Demings (Democratic)Marcy Kaptur (Democratic)Tom O'Halleran (Democratic)John Garamendi (Democratic)Gilbert Ray Cisneros (Democratic)Sylvia R. Garcia (Democratic)Ruben Gallego (Democratic)Jared Huffman (Democratic)Marc A. Veasey (Democratic)Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (Democratic)Adam B. Schiff (Democratic)Barbara Lee (Democratic)Nita M. Lowey (Democratic)Robin L. Kelly (Democratic)Joseph P. Kennedy (Democratic)Raúl M. Grijalva (Democratic)Tom Malinowski (Democratic)Stephanie N. Murphy (Democratic)Mark Pocan (Democratic)Abigail Davis Spanberger (Democratic)Karen Bass (Democratic)James R. Langevin (Democratic)Joyce Beatty (Democratic)Ben McAdams (Democratic)Lisa Blunt Rochester (Democratic)David N. Cicilline (Democratic)David J. Trone (Democratic)Ed Case (Democratic)Emanuel Cleaver (Democratic)Brian Higgins (Democratic)Jackie Speier (Democratic)Kathleen M. Rice (Democratic)Darren Soto (Democratic)Raul Ruiz (Democratic)Sheila Jackson Lee (Democratic)Derek Kilmer (Democratic)John A. Yarmuth (Democratic)Ben Ray Luján (Democratic)Carolyn B. Maloney (Democratic)Bill Foster (Democratic)Debra A. Haaland (Democratic)Joe Courtney (Democratic)Sanford D. Bishop (Democratic)C. A. Dutch Ruppersberger (Democratic)Ilhan Omar (Democratic)Pete Aguilar (Democratic)Eliot L. Engel (Democratic)David Scott (Democratic)Frederica S. Wilson (Democratic)Juan Vargas (Democratic)Terri A. Sewell (Democratic)Bobby L. Rush (Democratic)Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan (Democratic)Steven Horsford (Democratic)Andy Levin (Democratic)Jimmy Panetta (Democratic)J. Luis Correa (Democratic)Eric Swalwell (Democratic)Dina Titus (Democratic)Michael F. Doyle (Democratic)Debbie Dingell (Democratic)Madeleine Dean (Democratic)Katherine M. Clark (Democratic)Steve Cohen (Democratic)Tony Cárdenas (Democratic)Susan A. Davis (Democratic)Suzan K. DelBene (Democratic)Jennifer Wexton (Democratic)Scott H. Peters (Democratic)Paul Tonko (Democratic)Donald M. Payne (Democratic)Thomas R. Suozzi (Democratic)John P. Sarbanes (Democratic)Wm. Lacy Clay (Democratic)Rosa L. DeLauro (Democratic)Anthony G. Brown (Democratic)Adriano Espaillat (Democratic)Ann Kirkpatrick (Democratic)Danny K. Davis (Democratic)Lucille Roybal-Allard (Democratic)Peter A. DeFazio (Democratic)Daniel T. Kildee (Democratic)Vicente Gonzalez (Democratic)Ted Lieu (Democratic)Ro Khanna (Democratic)A. Donald McEachin (Democratic)Greg Stanton (Democratic)Alan S. Lowenthal (Democratic)Ann M. Kuster (Democratic)Sean Patrick Maloney (Democratic)Kurt Schrader (Democratic)Henry C. "Hank" Johnson (Democratic)André Carson (Democratic)Brendan F. Boyle (Democratic)Katie Hill (Democratic)Matt Cartwright (Democratic)John B. Larson (Democratic)Joaquin Castro (Democratic)Stephen F. Lynch (Democratic)Mark DeSaulnier (Democratic)Harley Rouda (Democratic)Jim Cooper (Democratic)Joseph D. Morelle (Democratic)Elaine G. Luria (Democratic)Doris O. Matsui (Democratic)Gregory W. Meeks (Democratic)Jahana Hayes (Democratic)David E. Price (Democratic)Hakeem S. Jeffries (Democratic)Raja Krishnamoorthi (Democratic)Filemon Vela (Democratic)Marcia L. Fudge (Democratic)James A. Himes (Democratic)Theodore E. Deutch (Democratic)John Lewis (Democratic)Anna G. Eshoo (Democratic)Ami Bera (Democratic)Josh Harder (Democratic)Mark Takano (Democratic)Pramila Jayapal (Democratic)Kathy Castor (Democratic)Betty McCollum (Democratic)Peter J. Visclosky (Democratic)Eleanor Holmes Norton (Democratic)Brad Sherman (Democratic)Bonnie Watson Coleman (Democratic)Mary Gay Scanlon (Democratic)Denny Heck (Democratic)Daniel Lipinski (Democratic)Richard E. Neal (Democratic)Norma J. Torres (Democratic)Conor Lamb (Democratic)Tulsi Gabbard (Democratic)Salud O. Carbajal (Democratic)Jamie Raskin (Democratic)Elijah E. Cummings (Democratic)Jim Costa (Democratic)Joe Neguse (Democratic)Mike Quigley (Democratic)Lois Frankel (Democratic)Donald S. Beyer (Democratic)Debbie Mucarsel-Powell (Democratic)Diana DeGette (Democratic)Janice D. Schakowsky (Democratic)James P. McGovern (Democratic)Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (Democratic)Maxine Waters (Democratic)Adam Smith (Democratic)Ron Kind (Democratic)Nydia M. Velázquez (Democratic)Julia Brownley (Democratic)William R. Keating (Democratic)Jerry McNerney (Democratic)Eddie Bernice Johnson (Democratic)Yvette D. Clarke (Democratic)Rick Larsen (Democratic)Jose E. Serrano (Democratic)Peter Welch (Democratic)Albio Sires (Democratic)Cedric L. Richmond (Democratic)Bennie G. Thompson (Democratic)Earl Blumenauer (Democratic)Lori Trahan (Democratic)TJ Cox (Democratic)Charlie Crist (Democratic)Seth Moulton (Democratic)Mike Thompson (Democratic)Suzanne Bonamici (Democratic)Linda T. Sánchez (Democratic)Ed Perlmutter (Democratic)Zoe Lofgren (Democratic)Nanette Diaz Barragán (Democratic)Jesús G. "Chuy" García (Democratic)Donna E. Shalala (Democratic)Jason Crow (Democratic)Frank Pallone (Democratic)Gwen Moore (Democratic)Jimmy Gomez (Democratic)Grace Meng (Democratic)Cheri Bustos (Democratic)Rashida Tlaib (Democratic)Bradley Scott Schneider (Democratic)Ayanna Pressley (Democratic)Alcee L. Hastings (Democratic)Veronica Escobar (Democratic)Debbie Wasserman Schultz (Democratic)Gerald E. Connolly (Democratic)Chellie Pingree (Democratic)Bill Pascrell (Democratic)Grace F. Napolitano (Democratic)Katie Porter (Democratic)Susan Wild (Democratic)Mike Levin (Democratic)Judy Chu (Democratic)

Homeland Security Committee, Border Security and Enforcement Subcommittee, Judiciary Committee, Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement Subcommittee

Immigration

Related Bills

  • S 116-292: Keep Families Together Act
  • S 116-1733: Protecting Families and Improving Immigration Procedures Act
  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Border security and unlawful immigrationChild care and developmentChild healthChild safety and welfareCongressional oversightCrime victimsCriminal investigation, prosecution, interrogationCriminal justice information and recordsDepartment of Homeland SecurityDetention of personsDomestic violence and child abuseFamily relationshipsForeign language and bilingual programsGovernment information and archivesGovernment studies and investigationsHuman traffickingImmigration status and proceduresLaw enforcement officersPublic contracts and procurementRefugees, asylum, displaced personsSeparation, divorce, custody, support