I 
115TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 6326 
To temporarily restrict the removal of alien parents separated from their 
children, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JULY 10, 2018 
Mr. CAPUANO (for himself, Mr. CORREA, Ms. TSONGAS, Mr. KEATING, Ms. 
CLARK of Massachusetts, Mr. MCGOVERN, and Ms. MENG) introduced 
the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary 
A BILL 
To temporarily restrict the removal of alien parents 
separated from their children, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Reunite Separated 
Families Act of 2018’’. 
SEC. 2. RESTRICTION ON DEPORTING SEPARATED ALIEN 
PARENTS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding any other provi-
sion of law or judicial order, no covered alien may be re-
moved from the United States during the period beginning 
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on the date of the enactment of this Act, and ending on 
the date on which a Federal law is enacted preventing the 
separation of aliens entering the United States with a 
child who has not attained 18 years of age from such child. 
(b) COVERED ALIEN.—The term ‘‘covered alien’’ 
means an alien who— 
(1) entered the United States on or after April 
6, 2018 with the alien’s child who had not attained 
18 years of age; 
(2) was separated from such child; and 
(3) was charged only with a misdemeanor of-
fense under section 275(a) of the Immigration and 
Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1325(a)). 
SEC. 3. REUNITING FAMILIES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 30 days after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Home-
land Security, in consultation with the Secretary of Health 
and Human Services and the Attorney General, shall re-
unite each covered alien with the covered alien’s child, if 
both the alien and child are physically present in the 
United States. 
(b) EXPEDITED BACKGROUND CHECKS.—Notwith-
standing any other provision of law, the Secretary of 
Homeland Security, in consultation with the Secretary of 
Health and Human Services, and the Attorney General, 
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shall expedite any background check on a covered alien 
that is otherwise required to reunite the covered alien with 
the covered alien’s child. 
SEC. 4. ADDRESSING THE NEEDS OF CHILDREN AND FAMI-
LIES. 
(a) COMMUNICATION.—The Secretary of Homeland 
Security, in consultation with the Secretary of Health and 
Human Services and the Attorney General, shall ensure 
that covered aliens and their children from whom they 
have been separated, are able to communicate while de-
tained in the United States. 
(b) PSYCHO-SOCIAL NEEDS
OF CHILDREN.—The 
Secretary of Health and Human Services, in consultation 
with the Secretary of Homeland Security, in consultation 
with the American Academy of Pediatrics and other ap-
propriate groups, shall take measures to address the psy-
cho-social needs of children separated from their covered 
alien parent. 
SEC. 5. REPORT TO CONGRESS. 
Not later than 60 days after the date of the enact-
ment of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security, in 
consultation with the Secretary of Health and Human 
Services and the Attorney General, shall submit to Con-
gress a report on— 
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(1) the progress made in carrying out the re-
quirement under section 3, including the actions 
taken to carry out such requirement; 
(2) the conditions of the detention facilities at 
which covered aliens and their children are housed; 
and 
(3) the actions taken to carry out the require-
ments under section 4. 
SEC. 6. DETENTION OF ALIEN FAMILIES. 
A covered alien who is reunited with the alien’s child 
pursuant to section 3, who remains in detention after 
being so reunited, shall be detained with the alien’s child 
for a period not exceeding 20 days. At the conclusion of 
the 20-day period, the covered alien and the alien’s child 
shall be released. Such release may include conditions to 
ensure the appearance of the covered alien at any subse-
quent required immigration reporting and court pro-
ceedings, at which the alien shall be provided access to 
counsel. 
Æ 
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