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Sarbanes, House Democrats Introduce Bill to Stop the Trump Administration from Separating Families

June 19, 2018

The Keep Families Together Act Would Prohibit DHS from Separating Children from Their Parents After Being Detained at the Border, Limit Criminal Prosecutions of Asylum Seekers and Help Families Reunify

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman John Sarbanes (D-Md.) today joined more than 100 House Democrats in introducing the Keep Families Together Act, a bill to end the Trump Administration's family separation policy. The bill is the House companion to Senate legislation introduced by Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.).

"The unconscionable practice of detaining children at the border and separating them from their families has no place in our country," said Congressman Sarbanes. "House Democrats are fighting to end this disgraceful and atrocious Trump Administration policy."

Specifically, the Keep Families Together Act will:

  • Keep Families Together: The bill promotes family unity by prohibiting Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officials from separating children from their parents, except in extraordinary circumstances. It requires an independent child welfare official to review any such separation and return the child if no harm to the child is present. It also imposes financial penalties on officials who violate the prohibition on family separation.
  • Limit Criminal Prosecutions for Asylum Seekers: The bill will prevent the Trump Administration from criminally prosecuting parents who seek asylum and protection from persecution in their home countries.
  • Increase Child Welfare Training: The bill requires all Customs and Border Protection officers and agents to complete child welfare training on an annual basis.
  • Establish Preference for Family Reunification: The bill establishes a preference for family unity, discourages the separation of siblings and creates a presumption that detention is not in the best interests of families and children.
  • Create Procedures for Separated Families to Locate Each Other: The bill requires DHS to develop policies and procedures allowing parents and children to locate each other and reunite if they have been separated. In cases of separation, the bill also requires DHS to provide parents with a weekly report about their child, in addition to weekly phone communication.
  • Regular Reports to Congress: The bill requires DHS to provide a report to Congress every six months on the separation of families.

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