Families Belong Together Act

To grant lawful permanent resident status to certain eligible persons who were separated from immediate family members by the Department of Homeland Security. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Families Belong Together Act 2. Definitions In this Act: (1) Eligible child The term eligible child (A) entered the United States, before attaining 18 years of age, at a port of entry or between ports of entry; (B) was separated from his or her parent or legal guardian by the Department of Homeland Security, and the Department failed to demonstrate in a hearing that the parent or legal guardian was unfit or presented a danger to the child; (C) (i) was in the custody of the Department of Homeland Security or the Office of Refugee Resettlement on the date of the enactment of this Act; (ii) has been released to a sponsor, including a family-member sponsor; or (iii) has been repatriated to his or her country of origin; and (D) is not inadmissible under paragraph (2)(C), (2)(E), (2)(G), (2)(H), (2)(I), (3), (6)(E), (6)(G), (8), (10)(C), or (10)(D) of section 212(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1182(a) (2) Eligible parent (A) In general Subject to subparagraph (B), the term eligible parent (i) is— (I) a parent of an eligible child; or (II) a legal guardian of an eligible child; (ii) entered the United States at a port of entry, or between ports of entry, with an eligible child to whom he or she is a parent or legal guardian; and (iii) was separated from his or her eligible child by the Department of Homeland Security, which failed to demonstrate in a hearing that the parent or legal guardian was unfit or presented a danger to the child. (B) Exclusion An individual is not an eligible parent 8 U.S.C. 1182(a) 3. Humanitarian parole The Director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services shall grant humanitarian parole into the United States to all eligible parents and eligible children who expressly request such parole. The Director shall not impose a fee for any such request. 4. Adjustment of status (a) Eligible parents Eligible parents in the United States shall be eligible to apply to the Director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to have their status adjusted to that of an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence. Not later than 30 days after receiving such an application from an eligible parent, the Director shall adjust the status of such parent to that of an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence. (b) Eligible children Eligible children in the United States shall be eligible to apply to the Director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to have their status adjusted to that of an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence. Not later than 30 days after receiving such an application from an eligible child, the Director shall adjust the status of such child to that of an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence. (c) Application fees prohibited The Director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services shall not impose a fee for any application submitted under this section. 5. Exception to ground of inadmissibility For purposes of this Act, assistance provided by a person to a member of his or her nuclear family unit shall not render the person inadmissible under section 212(a)(6)(E) of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1182(a)(6)(E) 6. Authorization of appropriations In addition to any other amounts otherwise authorized to be appropriated for such purpose, there is authorized to be appropriated to the Executive Office for Immigration Review $5,000,000 for fiscal year 2019 to carry out the Legal Orientation Program, including educating eligible parents and eligible children of their rights under this Act.

Summary: Families Belong Together Act This bill grants lawful permanent resident status to certain aliens who were separated from immediate family members by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Children and their legal guardians or parents shall be eligible if  DHS separated them and failed to demonstrate in a hearing that the legal guardian or parent was unfit or presented a danger to the child. Such a child shall be eligible whether he or she remained in the custody of  DHS or the Office of Refugee Settlement, was released to a sponsor, or repatriated to his or her country of origin. Individuals who are inadmissible for various grounds, including those related to criminal activity or security concerns, shall not be eligible. The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services shall grant all applications from eligible individuals for humanitarian parole or for lawful permanent resident status, and no application fees may be charged.