REUNITE Act

Bill: 116-s-557
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Harris, Kamala D. [D-CA]
Introduced: 2019-02-26
Policy area: Immigration
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures

Appropriations

Arizona

Border security and unlawful immigration

California

Child safety and welfare

Congressional oversight

Crime victims

Crimes against children

Department of Health and Human Services

Department of Homeland Security

Department of Justice

Detention of persons

Diplomacy, foreign officials, Americans abroad

Domestic violence and child abuse

Executive agency funding and structure

Family relationships

Genetics

Human trafficking

Immigration status and procedures

Intergovernmental relations

Latin America

Mexico

New Mexico

Right of privacy

Social work, volunteer service, charitable organizations

State and local government operations

Texas
Latest action: action_date: 2019-02-26
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

Summaries:
action_date: 2019-02-26
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p><b>Reunite Every Unaccompanied Newborn Infant, Toddler and other children Expeditiously Act or the REUNITE Act</b></p> <p>This bill directs the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to reunite children and their parents or legal guardians who were apprehended for illegal entry into the United States. </p> <p>DHS and HHS shall develop procedures and programs, including procedures to (1) identify separated family members, (2) allow apprehended parents or legal guardians to have frequent no-cost contact with their separated children, and (3) coordinate with foreign consulates to locate apprehended individuals.</p> <p>DHS and HHS shall ensure immediate reunification of apprehended children with a parent or legal guardian, but may make exceptions for the child's safety.</p> <p>DHS and HHS may use DNA testing to determine family relationships, but shall first use other methods, such as official documents. DHS and HHS shall develop procedures for instances where the aliens refuse to consent to DNA testing. Collected DNA information may not be used for any purpose other than family reunification, including criminal or immigration enforcement.</p> <p>The bill restores the Family Case Management Program, an alternative to detention program that uses case managers to promote compliance with immigration law obligations. DHS, HHS, and the Department of Justice shall establish the Office for Locating and Reuniting Children with Parents.</p>

tv_txt: II 116th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 557 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES February 26, 2019 Ms. Harris (for herself, Mr. Merkley , Ms. Cortez Masto , Mr. Blumenthal , Mr. Wyden , Mr. Markey , Mr. Bennet , Ms. Duckworth , Mr. Sanders , Ms. Smith , Ms. Warren , Mr. Booker , Ms. Klobuchar , Mrs. Gillibrand , Mr. Kaine , and Mr. Carper ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary A BILL To reunite families separated at or near ports of entry.

1. Short titles This Act may be cited as the Reunite Every Unaccompanied Newborn Infant, Toddler and other children Expeditiously Act or the REUNITE Act . 2. Definitions In this Act: (1) Agencies The term agencies means the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Health and Human Services. (2) Apprehended parent or legal guardian The term apprehended parent or legal guardian means an alien who— (A) is 18 years of age or older; (B) is the parent or legal guardian of an alien child; and (C) was apprehended by the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Justice, or any other entity authorized to enforce section 275 of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1325 ). (3) Border The term border means an international border of the United States. (4) Child The term child means an alien who— (A) has not attained 18 years of age; and (B) has no permanent immigration status in the United States. (5) DHS The term DHS means the Department of Homeland Security. (6) HHS The term HHS means the Department of Health and Human Services. 3. Reunification of separated families (a) Rulemaking (1) Guidance Not later than 10 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security and the Secretary of Health and Human Services, after consultation with humanitarian organizations, child welfare organizations, State child welfare agencies, and States contiguous to the border with Mexico, shall promulgate and publish guidance through a direct final rule that specifically describes the coordinated efforts that the agencies will undertake to aid an apprehended parent or legal guardian in locating and reuniting with any children separated from them at or near the port of entry, or within 100 miles of the border, pursuant to applicable law. (2) Development; services; publication The guidance promulgated pursuant to paragraph (1)— (A) shall be developed to protect the best interests of affected children; (B) shall describe all pro bono or government-funded services, including immigration services, available for apprehended parents and legal guardians or affected children; and (C) shall be made publicly available in writing and on the websites of the agencies. (b) Coverage of joint guidance The guidance published pursuant to subsection (a) shall outline the agencies’ coordinated efforts, including efforts— (1) to develop and conduct family tracing procedures, in cooperation with nongovernmental experts in child welfare best practices; (2) to maintain a functional, accessible, frequent, and no cost means for apprehended parents and legal guardians to contact their children through a telephone hotline or visual conferencing— (A) to obtain daily-updated information about the location of their children and all scheduled immigration proceedings for their children; and (B) to set up opportunities to speak with their child not fewer than 3 times per week, including at least once per week by video; (3) to facilitate substantial daily access of nongovernmental case workers, child advocates, and legal counsel to children separated from their parents and legal guardians to represent these children’s best interests in custody decisions and immigration proceedings; (4) to provide for humanitarian organizations and State and local child welfare agencies in the jurisdictions in which the children are located to conduct unannounced, independent weekly inspections of all DHS and HHS facilities at which children who are separated from their apprehended parents or legal guardians are in custody; (5) to coordinate with the Department of State and embassies and consulates of foreign governments to locate apprehended parents and legal guardians of children who have departed from the United States; (6) to provide clear notice to apprehended parents and legal guardians of their legal rights, including— (A) their parental and guardianship rights with respect to their children who have been designated as unaccompanied alien children; and (B) their right to designate another parent, legal guardian, or other qualified adult custodian to sponsor and care for such children; (7) to facilitate information sharing by parents and legal guardians about any arrangements to depart the United States with their consulate, their children, their children’s case worker, legal counsel, child advocate, and other adult custodians in advance of their departure; (8) to provide parents and legal guardians with an order of deportation or removal access to nongovernmental organizations providing assistance with locating and reunifying their children; (9) to provide cost-free transportation of children separated from their parents or legal guardians to reunite with them or another parent, legal guardian, or other qualified adult custodian to which the children consent; (10) to establish a recordkeeping system that will maintain information to aid the reunification of every child separated from an apprehended parent or legal guardian; (11) to provide free telephone calls between apprehended parents and their children; and (12) to otherwise assist with the reunification of separated families. (c) Written notification Shortly after guidance is published pursuant to subsection (a), the Secretary of Homeland Security, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, and the Attorney General shall provide each apprehended parent or legal guardian who has been separated from his or her child with written notice, in English, Spanish, or another language understandable by the parent or legal guardian, upon request, of any guidance that may assist them in their efforts to locate and reunify with their children. (d) Reunification required The agencies shall ensure immediate reunification of children that remain separated from their apprehended parent or guardian. (e) Other requirements The agencies shall— (1) issue a privacy impact assessment related to the use of DNA testing under the section; and (2) establish a process for redressing violations of the requirements under this section. (f) Exemptions The agencies may not reunite an apprehended parent or legal guardian with a separated child under this section if— (1) the child has been determined to be a victim of trafficking, or is at significant risk of becoming a victim of trafficking, by that apprehended parent or guardian, as determined by a Chief Border Patrol Agent or Customs and Border Protection Area Port Director in their official and undelegated capacity; (2) the child appears to be in danger of abuse or neglect at the hands of the apprehended parent or legal guardian; (3) the child is a danger to himself, herself, or others, as determined by a State court or an official from a State or county child welfare agency in his or her official and undelegated capacity; or (4) there is a strong likelihood that the adult is not the apprehended parent or legal guardian of the child. 4. DNA testing (a) Use of other techniques Before utilizing DNA testing to determine family relationships, agencies shall use other techniques commonly utilized by United States courts for determining family relationships, including— (1) official documents; (2) representations from a witness, parent, relative, or child; and (3) observations of interactions between the adult and the child. (b) DNA testing (1) In general DNA testing may not be required as a condition of reunification if alternative means of demonstrating a familial relationship have been established. If reasonable suspicions remain about a familial relationship after exhausting the techniques referred to in subsection (a), DNA testing may be used. (2) Protocols The agencies shall develop protocols for establishing a familial relationship if an individual does not consent to DNA testing or may not have a biological relationship with the child. (3) Type of test Whenever DNA testing is used, the agencies— (A) shall use the least privacy-invasive type of DNA test available to confirm the claimed relationship; and (B) may not charge the child or apprehended parent or guardian for the costs of conducting such test. (4) Consent The agencies shall— (A) obtain the consent of any individual who is older than 18 years of age before conducting a DNA test; (B) make every effort to obtain the consent of a guardian before conducting a DNA test on anyone who is younger than 18 years of age; and (C) destroy DNA samples as soon as possible, and not later than 7 days after completing the required DNA matching tests, to minimize any potential misuse of genetic information collected under this subsection. (c) Protection of information (1) In general If DNA testing is used for the purposes of reunification, the agencies shall ensure the protection of privacy, genetic data, and personal information of children, parents, all individuals being tested, and their relatives. (2) Other uses prohibited Agencies and private entities may only access, use, or store any personal DNA information collected under this subsection for family reunification purposes and are prohibited from sharing any such data or samples with agencies other than those carrying out the reunification process. Information collected under this section may not be used by any agency or contractor for any other purpose, including criminal or immigration enforcement. (d) DNA match (1) Reunification As soon as a DNA match is identified, the agencies shall reunite family members as expeditiously as possible. (2) No match; no consent A refusal to consent to a DNA test or the failure to identify a match between a child and an apprehended parent may not be used as a basis for concluding that there is no familial relationship between a such child and such parent if— (A) the familial relationship is not biological; or (B) the familial relationship may be established through alternate means. 5. Enhanced protections for separate families (a) In general The Secretary of Homeland Security shall establish secure alternatives programs that incorporate case management services in each field office of the Department of Homeland Security to ensure appearances at immigration proceedings and public safety. (b) Alternatives to detention (1) Contract authority The Secretary of Homeland Security shall contract with nongovernmental, community-based organizations to conduct screening of detainees, provide appearance assistance services, and operate community-based supervision programs. Secure alternatives shall offer a continuum of supervision mechanisms and options, including community support, depending on an assessment of each individual’s circumstances. The Secretary may contract with nongovernmental organizations to implement secure alternatives that maintain custody over the alien. (2) Eligibility determination (A) Release The Secretary of Homeland Security shall release each apprehended parent or legal guardian on recognizance, parole, or bond, or permit such parent or legal guardian to participate in an alternative to detention program, such as the Family Case Management Program authorized under subsection (c), unless the Secretary demonstrates that such participation would create a substantial risk that the apprehended parent or legal guardian is likely to cause harm to himself, herself, or others. (B) Burden of proof In order to demonstrate that continued detention is necessary, the Secretary shall produce clear and convincing evidence of risk factors, including credible and individualized information. (C) Appeal Not later than 72 hours after the Secretary determines that an apprehended parent or legal guardian is ineligible for an alternative to detention program under this subsection, the parent or legal guardian shall be provided with an opportunity to appeal such determination in a hearing before an immigration judge. (c) Restoration of the Family Case Management Program (1) In general Not later than 7 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall restore the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Family Case Management Program, which shall provide community supervision and community support services, including case management services, appearance services, and screening of aliens who have been detained be run through a contract with a not-for-profit entity. (2) Contract Any contract for programming or services described in paragraph (1) shall be awarded to a not-for-profit organization with demonstrated expertise in meeting the areas specified in paragraph (1). (d) Unaccompanied alien child designation The Secretary of Homeland Security shall treat a child, who has been separated from an apprehended parent or legal guardian and has been designated an unaccompanied alien child, as an unaccompanied alien child for the duration of his or her immigration proceedings. (e) Automatic stay of removal of parents and legal guardians during child’s immigration proceedings Until the earlier of the date on which the child’s immigration proceedings are concluded or the date on which the child attains 18 years of age, the Secretary of Homeland Security may not remove an apprehended parent or legal guardian of such child from the United States unless the apprehended parent or legal guardian, after being afforded the opportunity for legal consultation, agrees to removal. 6. Confidentiality (a) In general Except as provided in subsection (b), the Secretary of Homeland Security may not use information obtained or recorded pursuant to this Act to assist in immigration enforcement actions taken against any sponsor, potential sponsor, custodian, potential custodian, or household member of a child or apprehended parent or legal guardian. (b) Exception Subsection (a) does not apply to the use of information described in that subsection about a particular sponsor, potential sponsor, custodian, potential custodian, or household member for purposes of a law enforcement investigation related to— (1) forced labor or human trafficking under section 1589, 1590, or 1591 of title 18, United States Code; or (2) child exploitation under section 2251, 2251A, 2252, or 2252A of title 18, United States Code. 7. Establishment of Office for Locating and Reuniting Children with Parents (a) In general The Secretary of Homeland Security, the Attorney General, and the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall jointly establish an interagency office, which— (1) shall be known as the Office for Locating and Reuniting Children with Parents (referred to in this section as the Office ); and (2) shall be responsible for expediting and facilitating the reunification of alien children and parents separated after entering the United States. (b) Duties The Office shall— (1) expeditiously implement guidance designated for its jurisdiction under section 3; (2) establish 24-hour priority data and information communication networks between HHS, DHS, and the Department of Justice; and (3) identify and immediately inform Congress if the Office determines that insufficient appropriations, or any other statutory or regulatory condition hinders the safe and timely reunion of separated alien children with their parents, pursuant to the final rule promulgated under section 3. (c) Report The Office shall submit a weekly report to Congress that includes— (1) the number and location of children in the physical custody of DHS or HHS who have been separated from an apprehend parent or legal guardian; (2) the number of such children who have been physically reunified with their parent or legal guardian; (3) the physical location of parents who have yet to be reunited with their children, including the parents who have been deported without their children; (4) the number of such children who have not yet been physically reunited with their parent or legal guardian; and (5) an outline of the progress made in implementing the guidance published pursuant to section 3(a). 8. Savings provisions (a) Federal law Nothing in this Act may be construed to supersede or modify— (1) the William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2008 ( 8 U.S.C. 1232 et seq.); (2) the Stipulated Settlement Agreement filed in the United States District Court for the Central District of California on January 17, 1997 (CV 85–4544–RJK) (commonly known as the Flores Settlement Agreement ); (3) the Homeland Security Act of 2002 ( Public Law 107–296 ); or (4) any applicable Federal child welfare law, including the Adoption and Safe Families Act of 1997 ( Public Law 105–89 ). (b) State law Nothing in this Act may be construed to supersede or modify any applicable State child welfare law. 9. Reallocation of Department of Homeland Security appropriations (a) In general Of the amount allocated to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement for fiscal year 2019 for enforcement, detention, and removal operations, $50,000,000 shall be reallocated to carry out sections 3 and 5(a). (b) Reunification Not less than $15,000,000 of the amount reallocated under subsection (a) shall be made available to carry out section 3.