Congressional Access to Children's Detention Facilities Act

Bill: 115-s-3084
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR]
Introduced: 2018-06-18
Policy area: Immigration
Subjects: Border security and unlawful immigration

Child safety and welfare

Congressional oversight

Detention of persons

Family relationships

Government buildings, facilities, and property

Immigration status and procedures

Members of Congress

News media and reporting
Latest action: action_date: 2018-06-18
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

Summaries:
action_date: 2018-06-18
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p><b>Congressional Access to Children's Detention Facilities Act</b></p> <p>This bill requires the Department of Justice, the Department of Homeland Security, or the Department of Health and Human Services to allow Members of Congress to tour any facility in which one or more unaccompanied alien children are housed. The Departments must allow members of the press to accompany a visiting Member of Congress and may place limits on such tours based on the number of such children housed.</p>

tv_txt: II 115th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 3084 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES June 18, 2018 Mr. Merkley (for himself, Mr. Wyden , and Mr. Van Hollen ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary A BILL To require the Secretary of Homeland Security and the Secretary of Health and Human Services to allow Members of Congress to tour detention facilities that house unaccompanied alien children.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Congressional Access to Children’s Detention Facilities Act . 2. Definitions In this Act: (1) Secretary concerned The term Secretary concerned means, as applicable— (A) the Attorney General; (B) the Secretary of Homeland Security; or (C) the Secretary of Health and Human Services. (2) Unaccompanied alien child The term unaccompanied alien child has the meaning given the term in section 462(g) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 ( 6 U.S.C. 279(g) ). 3. Mandatory access to detention facilities housing unaccompanied alien children (a) In general Subject to subsection (c), the Secretary concerned shall allow a Member of Congress to tour any facility in which 1 or more unaccompanied alien children are housed at a time between 8:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. on a date requested by the Member of Congress if, not later than 24 hours before midnight on the date requested, the Secretary receives written notice from the Member of Congress that includes— (1) the name of the facility; and (2) the date on which the Member of Congress intends to tour the facility. (b) Accompanying members of the press (1) In general The Secretary concerned shall allow 1 or more members of the press to accompany any Member of Congress on a tour of a facility under this section. (2) Limitation The Secretary concerned shall not be required to allow a member of the press accompanying a Member of Congress under paragraph (1) to enter such facility with a still or video camera. (c) Limitation The Secretary concerned may limit a tour under subsection (a) to— (1) in the case of a facility that houses fewer than 50 unaccompanied alien children— (A) not more than 5 Members of Congress; and (B) accompanying members of the press under subsection (b); and (2) in the case of a facility that houses not fewer than 50 unaccompanied alien children— (A) not more than 10 Members of Congress; and (B) accompanying members of the press under subsection (b). 4. Rule of construction Nothing in this Act shall be construed to supersede or modify applicable— (1) Federal child welfare laws, including the Adoption and Safe Families Act of 1997 ( Public Law 105–89 ); or (2) child welfare laws of any State.