Bill

Bill > HR2217


US HR2217

US HR2217
Families, Not Facilities Act of 2019


summary

Introduced
04/10/2019
In Committee
05/20/2019
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
12/31/2020

Introduced Session

116th Congress

Bill Summary

To reduce the ability of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to engage in inappropriate civil immigration enforcement actions that harm unaccompanied alien children and to ensure the safety and welfare of unaccompanied alien children. This bill amends provisions related to the safety of minor aliens who enter the United States unaccompanied by a guardian. When placing an unaccompanied alien child with a proposed custodian, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) shall not consider the custodian's immigration status. DHS shall not use certain information obtained for placing a child with a custodian to apprehend, detain, or deport certain individuals, including the child, proposed sponsor, or a person living with the sponsor. The Office of Refugee Settlement shall provide services for unaccompanied alien children after they have been released to help them transition into their communities and to connect them with legal representation. Money appropriated to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for FY2019 shall be redirected to fund such services. Other money appropriated for ICE shall be redirected to various programs to inspect detention facilities and bolster efforts to prevent child trafficking. This bill also establishes the Office of Refugee Resettlement Advisory Committee on Shelters for Unaccompanied Alien Children. The advisory committee may conduct unannounced inspections of Office of Refugee Settlement shelters that hold unaccompanied alien children and shall issue reports on its investigations and recommendations regarding the shelters.

AI Summary

This bill, the Families, Not Facilities Act of 2019, aims to reduce the ability of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to engage in civil immigration enforcement actions that harm unaccompanied alien children and ensure their safety and welfare. It amends the William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2008 to prohibit the Department of Homeland Security from considering the immigration status of a proposed custodian when placing an unaccompanied alien child, and from using information obtained to place a child with a custodian for the purpose of apprehending, detaining, or removing the child, the proposed sponsor, or anyone living with the sponsor. The bill also redirects ICE funding to the Office of Refugee Resettlement to provide post-release case management and legal services for unaccompanied children, and establishes an advisory committee to conduct inspections and make recommendations regarding Office of Refugee Resettlement shelters for these children.

Committee Categories

Justice

Sponsors (34)

Last Action

Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Citizenship. (on 05/20/2019)

bill text


bill summary

Loading...

bill summary

Loading...
Loading...