Legis Daily

Keep Families Together Act

USA116th CongressS-292| Senate 
| Updated: 1/31/2019
Dianne Feinstein

Dianne Feinstein

Democratic Senator

California

Cosponsors (41)
Jeanne Shaheen (Democratic)Mazie K. Hirono (Democratic)Tammy Duckworth (Democratic)Margaret Wood Hassan (Democratic)Tom Udall (Democratic)Catherine Cortez Masto (Democratic)Patrick J. Leahy (Democratic)Edward J. Markey (Democratic)Jack Reed (Democratic)Kirsten E. Gillibrand (Democratic)Elizabeth Warren (Democratic)Christopher A. Coons (Democratic)Kamala D. Harris (Democratic)Thomas R. Carper (Democratic)Mark R. Warner (Democratic)Angus S. King (Independent)Amy Klobuchar (Democratic)Doug Jones (Democratic)Robert P. Casey (Democratic)Tim Kaine (Democratic)Sheldon Whitehouse (Democratic)Jacky Rosen (Democratic)Chris Van Hollen (Democratic)Christopher Murphy (Democratic)Debbie Stabenow (Democratic)Martin Heinrich (Democratic)Michael F. Bennet (Democratic)Patty Murray (Democratic)Tina Smith (Democratic)Sherrod Brown (Democratic)Bernard Sanders (Independent)Brian Schatz (Democratic)Maria Cantwell (Democratic)Tammy Baldwin (Democratic)Cory A. Booker (Democratic)Benjamin L. Cardin (Democratic)Robert Menendez (Democratic)Jeff Merkley (Democratic)Gary C. Peters (Democratic)Ron Wyden (Democratic)Richard Blumenthal (Democratic)

Judiciary Committee

  • 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. The Departments of Homeland Security (DHS), Justice, and Health and Human Services shall not separate a child from a parent or legal guardian at a port of entry or within 100 miles of a U.S. border unless a state court terminates the parent or 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 parent or legal guardian, or the child is in danger of abuse or neglect. An agency may not separate a child from a parent or 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 parents and legal guardians may locate a separated child. DHS shall provide parents and legal guardians periodic status updates about a separated child. The Government Accountability Office shall report to Congress on the criminal prosecution of asylum seekers.
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Timeline
Jan 31, 2019
Introduced in Senate
Jan 31, 2019
Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S802-803)
Feb 25, 2019

Latest Companion Bill Action

HR 116-541
Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Citizenship.
  • January 31, 2019
    Introduced in Senate


  • January 31, 2019
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S802-803)


  • February 25, 2019

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    HR 116-541
    Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Citizenship.

Immigration

Related Bills

  • HR 116-9040: Protect Asylum Seekers Act
  • S 116-1733: Protecting Families and Improving Immigration Procedures Act
  • HR 116-541: Keep Families Together Act
  • HR 116-3918: Stop Cruelty to Migrant Children Act
  • S 116-2113: Stop Cruelty to Migrant Children 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 CongressS-292| Senate 
| Updated: 1/31/2019
Keep Families Together Act This bill limits the separation of families at or near U.S. borders or ports of entry. The Departments of Homeland Security (DHS), Justice, and Health and Human Services shall not separate a child from a parent or legal guardian at a port of entry or within 100 miles of a U.S. border unless a state court terminates the parent or 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 parent or legal guardian, or the child is in danger of abuse or neglect. An agency may not separate a child from a parent or 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 parents and legal guardians may locate a separated child. DHS shall provide parents and legal guardians periodic status updates about a separated child. The Government Accountability Office shall report to Congress on the criminal prosecution of asylum seekers.
View Full Text

Suggested Questions

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

Timeline
Jan 31, 2019
Introduced in Senate
Jan 31, 2019
Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S802-803)
Feb 25, 2019

Latest Companion Bill Action

HR 116-541
Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Citizenship.
  • January 31, 2019
    Introduced in Senate


  • January 31, 2019
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S802-803)


  • February 25, 2019

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    HR 116-541
    Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Citizenship.
Dianne Feinstein

Dianne Feinstein

Democratic Senator

California

Cosponsors (41)
Jeanne Shaheen (Democratic)Mazie K. Hirono (Democratic)Tammy Duckworth (Democratic)Margaret Wood Hassan (Democratic)Tom Udall (Democratic)Catherine Cortez Masto (Democratic)Patrick J. Leahy (Democratic)Edward J. Markey (Democratic)Jack Reed (Democratic)Kirsten E. Gillibrand (Democratic)Elizabeth Warren (Democratic)Christopher A. Coons (Democratic)Kamala D. Harris (Democratic)Thomas R. Carper (Democratic)Mark R. Warner (Democratic)Angus S. King (Independent)Amy Klobuchar (Democratic)Doug Jones (Democratic)Robert P. Casey (Democratic)Tim Kaine (Democratic)Sheldon Whitehouse (Democratic)Jacky Rosen (Democratic)Chris Van Hollen (Democratic)Christopher Murphy (Democratic)Debbie Stabenow (Democratic)Martin Heinrich (Democratic)Michael F. Bennet (Democratic)Patty Murray (Democratic)Tina Smith (Democratic)Sherrod Brown (Democratic)Bernard Sanders (Independent)Brian Schatz (Democratic)Maria Cantwell (Democratic)Tammy Baldwin (Democratic)Cory A. Booker (Democratic)Benjamin L. Cardin (Democratic)Robert Menendez (Democratic)Jeff Merkley (Democratic)Gary C. Peters (Democratic)Ron Wyden (Democratic)Richard Blumenthal (Democratic)

Judiciary Committee

Immigration

Related Bills

  • HR 116-9040: Protect Asylum Seekers Act
  • S 116-1733: Protecting Families and Improving Immigration Procedures Act
  • HR 116-541: Keep Families Together Act
  • HR 116-3918: Stop Cruelty to Migrant Children Act
  • S 116-2113: Stop Cruelty to Migrant Children 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