Stop Cruelty to Migrant Children Act

Bill: 116-hr-3918
Sponsor: Rep. Meng, Grace [D-NY-6]
Introduced: 2019-07-23 in the House
Policy area: Immigration
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Aging
Appropriations
Border security and unlawful immigration
Child care and development
Child safety and welfare
Congressional oversight
Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation
Criminal justice information and records
Department of Health and Human Services
Department of Homeland Security
Detention of persons
Disability and paralysis
Domestic violence and child abuse
Employment and training programs
Family relationships
Government buildings, facilities, and property
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Government studies and investigations
Health technology, devices, supplies
Immigrant health and welfare
Immigration status and procedures
Judges
Judicial procedure and administration
Law enforcement officers
Lawyers and legal services
Medical tests and diagnostic methods
Members of Congress
Mental health
News media and reporting
Nutrition and diet
Performance measurement
Prescription drugs
Public contracts and procurement
Refugees, asylum, displaced persons
Specialized courts
Women's health

Summary:
action_date: 2019-07-23
text: 

 Stop Cruelty to Migrant Children Act 

 
This bill establishes limitations on separating alien children from parents and on detaining families, and also addresses other immigration-related matters.
 
A child may be separated from a parent or legal guardian at or near a port of entry or U.S. border only if (1) a state court has made a relevant ruling, such as terminating the parent's rights; (2) a qualified child welfare agency official has ruled that separation is in the child's best interest; or (3) a specified official makes certain determinations, such as concluding that a child is a trafficking victim.
 
A child may not be separated from a parent or guardian solely to deter migration or promote compliance with immigration laws.
 
This bill establishes presumptions (1) in favor of family unity and keeping siblings together, and (2) against detention.
 
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) shall (1) document all child separations, (2) develop training for officers handling separations, (3) publish guidance on how to locate a separated child, (4) periodically provide a parent or guardian information about a separated child, and (5) pay for counsel to represent unaccompanied alien children in removal proceedings.
 
The 
Flores
 settlement (an agreement imposing conditions on the treatment of detained alien minors) and a related court holding shall apply to the detention of families.
 
The bill also contains provisions relating to the detention of aliens, including (1) requiring medical assessments of detained children, (2) imposing health-related standards for detention facilities, and (3) requiring DHS to provide sufficient funds for alternatives to detention programs. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-08-06
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Citizenship.
action_date: 2019-08-02
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Border Security, Facilitation, and Operations.
action_date: 2019-07-23
text: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Homeland Security, and Financial Services, 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.
action_date: 2019-07-23
text: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Homeland Security, and Financial Services, 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.
action_date: 2019-07-23
text: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Homeland Security, and Financial Services, 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.
action_date: 2019-07-23
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (E965-966)
action_date: 2019-07-23
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2019-07-23
text: Introduced in House