Freedom for Families Act

Bill: 117-s-1517
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR]
Introduced: 2021-04-29
Policy area: Immigration
Subjects: Border security and unlawful immigration

Child safety and welfare

Community life and organization

Detention of persons

Family relationships

Government buildings, facilities, and property

Government studies and investigations

Immigrant health and welfare

Immigration status and procedures

Lawyers and legal services

Public contracts and procurement

Refugees, asylum, displaced persons
Latest action: action_date: 2021-04-29
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

Summaries:
action_date: 2021-04-29
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p><strong>Freedom for Families Act</strong></p> <p>This bill prohibits using federal funds for facilities used to detain noncitizen families and addresses related issues.</p> <p>Specifically, no funds made available may be used to operate or construct a family detention center, whether operated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement or a contractor. This prohibition shall also apply to funds made available before this bill's enactment.</p> <p>Funds obligated to operate such centers must instead be used for implementing and developing nondetention programs that are community-based and consistent with international best practices.</p> <p>The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) may place an apprehended noncitizen family into such a nondetention program if DHS makes an individualized determination that doing so will facilitate the family's compliance with immigration laws. The programs must provide to participants a legal orientation and meaningful access to counsel. </p>

tv_txt: II 117th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 1517 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES April 29, 2021 Mr. Merkley (for himself, Mr. Booker , Mr. Markey , and Mr. Wyden ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary A BILL To prohibit the use of funds for the operation or construction of family detention centers, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Freedom for Families Act . 2. Findings Congress makes the following findings: (1) The Federal Government has intentionally separated and detained families seeking asylum in the United States purportedly to deter other foreign nationals from coming to the United States in the future. Such method of deterrence is ineffective, contrary to human rights norms, and likely violates United States and international law. (2) On September 7, 2018, the Secretary of Homeland Security issued a proposed rule entitled Apprehension, Processing, Care, and Custody of Alien Minors and Unaccompanied Alien Children (83 Fed. Reg. 45486 (September 7, 2018)) that attempted to circumvent a 1997 court agreement commonly known as the Flores Settlement Agreement to undermine current legal protections for children and families and increase family detention. (3) Detaining families in family residential centers can have long-term consequences on children, such as— (A) difficulty regulating emotions, achieving developmental milestones, and forming healthy relationships; (B) increased rates of anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder; and (C) heightened risks of suicide and self-harm. (4) When family units are placed in family detention facilities— (A) family members experience feelings of isolation and increased stress; (B) the ability of the parents to care for their children is compromised by the constraints of detention; and (C) the detention setting creates barriers to— (i) accessing counsel and legal services; and (ii) successfully obtaining relief from removal. (5) Nondetention-based practices, such as family case management and community-based programs, are effective and humane alternatives to family detention. 3. Definitions In this Act: (1) Appropriate committees of Congress The term appropriate committees of Congress means— (A) the Committee on the Judiciary and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate; and (B) the Committee on the Judiciary and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives. (2) Detain With respect to an individual, the term detain means to compel an individual to stay in a location from which the individual cannot leave on his or her own free will. (3) Family residential center The term family residential center means a facility that detains 1 or more noncitizen families and that is directly operated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement or by a governmental or nongovernmental contractor for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. (4) Noncitizen The term noncitizen means an individual who is not a citizen or national of the United States. (5) Secretary The term Secretary means the Secretary of Homeland Security. 4. Prohibition on use of funds for family detention centers (a) In general Notwithstanding any other provision of law, none of the amounts made available after the date of the enactment of this Act for any fiscal year may be obligated or expended to operate or construct a family residential center, whether directly operated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement or by another governmental or nongovernmental contractor. (b) Previously authorized expenditures (1) In general Beginning on the date that is 30 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, none of the amounts made available before such date of enactment for the purpose of operating or constructing a family residential center may be used for such purpose. (2) Prohibition on transfer None of the amounts made available before the date of the enactment of this Act may be reprogrammed or transferred for the purpose of operating or constructing a family residential center. (c) Alternatives to detention (1) Transfer of funds Amounts obligated to operate a family residential center as of the date of the enactment of this Act shall be transferred for the implementation and development of appropriate community-based nondetention programs consistent with international best practices for noncitizen families. (2) Nonprofit entity contracting partner (A) In general The Secretary shall contract with 1 or more community-based qualified nonprofit service providers that have the trust of their communities for the operation of appropriate community-based nondetention programs. (B) Limitation on individuals who may serve as designees The Secretary may only designate the responsibility under subparagraph (A) to an individual employed by the Office of the Secretary. (3) Participation A noncitizen family entering the United States that is apprehended by the Secretary may be placed in a nondetention program under this subsection if the Secretary makes an individualized determination that participation in the program will facilitate the family's compliance with the immigration laws (as defined in section 101(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1101(a) )). (4) Legal orientation To facilitate participant compliance with legal requirements, a nondetention program under this subsection shall include— (A) a legal orientation for each participant in the program; and (B) meaningful access to counsel. (5) Case management training (A) In general The Secretary shall provide case management training for all personnel of a nondetention program under this subsection, including personnel of— (i) the Department of Homeland Security; and (ii) the nonprofit entity contracted under paragraph (2). (B) Best practices The training under subparagraph (A) shall— (i) be based on international and social welfare best practices relating to immigration and refugee case management; and (ii) include consultation with civil society experts with expertise in case management. (d) Rule of construction Nothing in this Act may be construed to endorse the separation of noncitizen families who enter the United States at or between ports of entry. 5. Feasibility review of transferring Alternatives to Detention program The Secretary shall review the feasibility of transferring case management programs out of the purview of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Department of Homeland Security.