Family Reunification Act

Bill: 115-hr-6183
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Huizenga, Bill [R-MI-2]
Introduced: 2018-06-21
Policy area: Immigration
Subjects: Border security and unlawful immigration

Child safety and welfare

Crime victims

Detention of persons

Domestic violence and child abuse

Human trafficking

Immigration status and procedures

State and local courts
Latest action: action_date: 2018-08-02
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Border Security.

Summaries:
action_date: 2018-06-21
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><b>Family Reunification Act</b></p> <p>This bill directs the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to ensure that each unaccompanied alien child removed by a federal official or employee from the custody of a parent or legal guardian at or near a port of entry or within 100 miles of the border be reunited with the parent or legal guardian at the earliest possible date unless: </p> <ul> <li>a state court terminates the rights of a parent or legal guardian, determines that it is in the child's best interests to be removed from the parent or legal guardian, or makes any similar determination that is authorized under state law; </li> <li>a state or county child welfare official determines that it is in the child's best interests to be removed from his or her parent or legal guardian because the child is in danger of abuse or neglect from the parent or legal guardian; or </li> <li>DHS requires continued separation because the child is a trafficking victim or is at significant risk of becoming a trafficking victim, there is a strong likelihood that the adult is not the child's parent or legal guardian, or the child is in danger of abuse or neglect from the parent or legal guardian. </li> </ul>

tv_txt: I 115th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 6183 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES June 21, 2018 Mr. Huizenga introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary A BILL To require the Secretary of Homeland Security to reunite unaccompanied alien children with the parents or legal guardians with whom they entered the United States, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Family Reunification Act . 2. Immigrant family reunification The Secretary of Homeland Security, in conjunction with the Attorney General and the Secretary of Health and Human Services, shall use all necessary means to ensure that each unaccompanied alien child (as defined in section 462(g)(2) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 ( 6 U.S.C. 279(g)(2) )) who was removed from the care and custody of a parent or legal guardian by a Federal official or employee at or near a port of entry, or within 100 miles of a border of the United States, is reunited with the parent or legal guardian at the earliest possible date, unless one of the following has occurred: (1) A State court, authorized under State law, terminates the rights of a parent or legal guardian, determines that it is in the best interests of the child to be removed from his or her parent or legal guardian, in accordance with the Adoption and Safe Families Act of 1997 ( Public Law 105–89 ), or makes any similar determination that is legally authorized under State law. (2) An official from a State or county child welfare agency with expertise in child trauma and development makes a best interests determination that it is in the best interests of the child to be removed from his or her parent or legal guardian because the child is in danger of abuse or neglect at the hands of the parent or legal guardian, or is a danger to herself or others. (3) The Secretary of Homeland Security requires continued separation based on a finding that— (A) the child is a victim of trafficking or is at significant risk of becoming a victim of trafficking; (B) there is a strong likelihood that the adult is not the parent or legal guardian of the child; or (C) the child is in danger of abuse or neglect at the hands of the parent or legal guardian, or is a danger to themselves or others.