REUNITE Act

Bill: 117-hr-530
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Espaillat, Adriano [D-NY-13]
Introduced: 2021-01-28
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

Criminal procedure and sentencing

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

Lawyers and legal services

Legal fees and court costs

Mexico

New Mexico

Right of privacy

Social work, volunteer service, charitable organizations

State and local government operations

Texas
Latest action: action_date: 2021-03-05
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Citizenship.

Summaries:
action_date: 2021-01-28
action_desc: Introduced in House
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 (DOJ) shall establish the Office for Locating and Reuniting Children with Parents.</p> <p>Aliens shall have access to counsel inside immigration detention facilities, and DOJ may provide counsel for immigration proceedings. DOJ shall provide counsel if necessary for children and vulnerable individuals, and children's cases shall be heard individually.</p>

tv_txt: I 117th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 530 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES January 28, 2021 Mr. Espaillat (for himself, Mr. Beyer , Ms. Bonamici , Mr. García of Illinois , and Ms. Jayapal ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary A BILL To reunite families separated at or near ports of entry, and for other purposes.

1. Short title 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) 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 DHS, the Department of Justice, or any other entity authorized to enforce section 275 of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1325 ). (2) Border The term border means an international border of the United States. (3) Child The term child means an alien who— (A) has not reached 18 years of age; and (B) has no permanent immigration status in the United States. (4) DHS The term DHS means the Department of Homeland Security. (5) HHS The term HHS means the Department of Health and Human Services. 3. Reunification of separated families (a) Rulemaking (1) Rule 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 immediate consultation with humanitarian organizations, child welfare organizations, State child welfare agencies, and States contiguous with the border with Mexico, shall promulgate and publish a rule through a direct final rule that specifically describes the coordinated efforts that DHS and HHS 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 rule promulgated pursuant to paragraph (1) shall— (A) be developed to protect the best interests of affected children; (B) describe all pro bono or government-funded services, including immigration services, available for apprehended parents and legal guardians or affected children; and (C) be made publicly available in writing and on the websites of DHS and HHS. (b) Coverage of joint rule The rule published pursuant to subsection (a) shall outline the coordinated efforts of DHS and HHS, 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 child through a telephone hotline or visual conferencing— (A) to obtain daily-updated information about the location of their child and all scheduled immigration proceedings for their child; and (B) to set up opportunities to speak with their child not fewer than 3 times per week, including at least once by video; (3) to facilitate substantial daily access of nongovernmental case workers, child advocates, and legal counsel to children separated from their apprehended 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 child who has been designated as an unaccompanied alien child; and (B) their right to designate another parent, legal guardian, or other qualified adult custodian to sponsor and care for such child; (7) to facilitate information sharing by apprehended parents and legal guardians about any arrangements to depart the United States with their consulate, their child, their child’s case worker, legal counsel, child advocate, and other adult custodians in advance of their departure; (8) to provide apprehended parents and legal guardians with order of deportation or removal access to nongovernmental organizations providing assistance with locating and reunifying with their child; (9) to provide cost-free transportation of children separated from their apprehended 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 or legal guardians and their child; (12) to provide legal counsel to children separated from their apprehended parents or legal guardians and to ensure that every such child is represented by a licensed attorney; and (13) to otherwise assist with the reunification of separated families. (c) Written notification Shortly after the rule 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 written notice, in English, Spanish, or another language understandable by the parent or legal guardian, upon request, of any rules or guidance that may assist them in their efforts to locate and reunify with their child. (d) Reunification required DHS and HHS shall ensure immediate reunification of children that remain separated from their apprehended parent or legal guardian. (e) Other requirements DHS and HHS shall— (1) issue a privacy impact assessment related to the use of DNA testing under section 4; and (2) establish a process for redressing violations of the requirements under this section. (f) Exemptions DHS and HHS may not reunite an apprehended parent or legal guardian with their 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 legal 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, DHS and HHS shall use other techniques commonly utilized by United States courts for determining family relationships, including official documents, representations from a witness, parent, relative, or child, and 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 DHS and HHS shall develop protocols for establishing a familial relationship if an individual does not want to consent to DNA testing or may not have a biological relationship with a child. (3) Type of test Whenever DNA testing is used, DHS and HHS shall use the least privacy-invasive type of DNA test available to confirm the claimed relationship and may not charge the child or apprehended parent or legal guardian for the costs of conducting such testing. (4) Consent DHS and HHS shall— (A) obtain the consent of any individual older than 18 years of age before conducting a DNA test; (B) make every effort to obtain the consent of a legal guardian before conducting a DNA test on anyone 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, DHS and HHS 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 DHS, HHS, 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 information with Federal agencies other than those carrying out the reunification process. Information collected under this section may not be used by the Federal Government for any other purpose, including criminal or immigration enforcement. (d) DNA match (1) Reunification As soon as a DNA match is identified, DHS and HHS 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 such child and such parent if— (A) the familial relationship is not biological; or (B) the familial relationship may be established through alternative means. 5. Enhanced protections for separate families (a) In general The Secretary of Homeland Security shall establish secure alternative programs that incorporate case management services in each field office of DHS 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 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, to 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 as an unaccompanied alien child for the duration of his or her immigration proceedings. (e) Automatic stay of removal of apprehended 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 reaches 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 apprehended parents or legal guardians (a) In general The Secretary of Homeland Security, the Attorney General, and the Secretary of Health and Human Services (referred to collectively in this section as the Secretaries ) shall jointly establish an interagency office, which shall be known as the Office for Locating and Reuniting Children with Parents (referred to in this section as the Office ) and shall be responsible for expediting and facilitating the reunification of children and apprehended parents or legal guardians after entering the United States. (b) Duties The Office shall— (1) expeditiously implement guidance designated for its jurisdiction; (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 children with their apprehended parents or legal guardians. (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 apprehended parent or legal guardian; (2) the number of such children who have been physically reunified with their apprehended parent or legal guardian; (3) the physical location of apprehended parents and legal guardians who have yet to be reunited with their child, including the apprehended parents and legal guardians who have been deported without their child; (4) the number of such children who have not yet been physically reunited with their apprehended parent or legal guardian; and (5) an outline of the progress made in implementing the rule 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 laws. 9. Reallocation of DHS appropriations (a) In general Of the amount allocated to Immigration and Customs Enforcement for fiscal year 2021 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. 10. Counsel for children and vulnerable aliens (a) Clarification regarding the authority of the Attorney General To appoint counsel to aliens in immigration proceedings Section 292 of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1362 ) is amended— (1) by striking In any removal proceedings before an immigration judge and in any appeal proceedings before the Attorney General from any such removal proceedings, and inserting the following: (a) In general In a proceeding conducted under any section of this Act, ; (2) in subsection (a), as amended by paragraph (1)— (A) by striking (at no expense to the Government) ; and (B) by striking he shall and inserting the person shall ; and (3) by adding at the end the following: (b) Access to counsel The Attorney General may appoint or provide counsel to aliens in any proceeding conducted under any section of this Act. The Secretary of Homeland Security shall ensure that— (1) aliens have access to counsel inside all immigration detention and border facilities; (2) children do not appear before an immigration judge without counsel; and (3) children have their cases heard individually. . (b) Appointment of counsel for children and vulnerable aliens (1) In general Section 292 of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1362 ), as amended by subsection (a), is further amended by adding at the end the following: (c) Children and vulnerable aliens Notwithstanding subsection (b), the Attorney General shall appoint counsel, at the expense of the Government if necessary, at the beginning of the proceedings or as expeditiously as possible, to represent in such proceedings any alien who has been determined by the Secretary of Homeland Security or the Attorney General to be— (1) a child (as defined in section 101(b)(1)); (2) a particularly vulnerable individual, such as— (A) a person with a disability; or (B) a victim of abuse, torture, or violence; or (3) an individual whose circumstances are such that the appointment of counsel is necessary to help ensure fair resolution and efficient adjudication of the proceedings. (d) Extension to consolidated cases If the Attorney General has consolidated the case of any alien for whom counsel was appointed under subsection (c) with that of any other alien, and that other alien does not have counsel, then the counsel appointed under subsection (c) shall be appointed to represent such other alien. (e) Authorization of appropriations There is authorized to be appropriated to the Executive Office of Immigration Review of the Department of Justice such sums as may be necessary to carry out this section. . (2) Rulemaking The Attorney General shall promulgate regulations to implement section 292(c) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, as added by paragraph (1), in accordance with the requirements set forth in section 3006A of title 18, United States Code. 11. Establishment of limit on bond Section 236(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1226(a) ) is amended— (1) in paragraph (2)(A), by striking bond of at least $1,500 and inserting subject to paragraph (4), bond in an amount that is not more than $1,500 ; and (2) by adding at the end the following: (4) The limit on the amount of bond in paragraph (2)(A) shall not apply with respect to an alien who has committed an aggravated felony. .