Ensuring United Families at the Border Act

2/1/2025, 7:53 AM
Congress
119
Number
HR - 61
Introduced on
2025-01-03
# Amendments
0
Sponsors
+5
Cosponsors
+5

Variations and Revisions

1/3/2025
Text
PDF
XML

Status of Legislation

Bill Introduced
Introduced to House
House to Vote
Introduced to Senate
Senate to Vote

Purpose and Summary

Ensuring United Families at the Border Act

This bill addresses the treatment of children who are non-U.S. nationals (aliens under federal law), including by statutorily establishing that there is no presumption that such a child (other than an unaccompanied child) should not be detained for immigration purposes.

Specifically, the bill states that the detention of such minors shall be governed by specified sections of the Immigration and Nationality Act and not any other provision of law, judicial ruling, or settlement agreement.

(A 1997 settlement agreement, commonly known as the Flores agreement, imposes requirements relating to the treatment of detained alien minors, including requiring such minors to be released or placed in a nonsecure facility after a certain amount of time in detention.)

If an adult enters the United States unlawfully with their child, the Department of Homeland Security must detain the adult and child together if the only criminal charge against the adult is a misdemeanor for unlawful entry.

This bill also prohibits states from imposing licensing requirements on immigration detention facilities used to detain minors or families with minors.

Bill 119 hr 61, also known as the Family Detention Standards Clarification Act, aims to amend the William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2008 in order to provide clarity on the standards for family detention. The bill seeks to address the issue of family detention by establishing clear guidelines and regulations for the treatment of families who are detained for immigration-related reasons.

The main purpose of the bill is to ensure that families who are detained are treated fairly and humanely while their immigration cases are being processed. This includes setting standards for the conditions of detention facilities, the provision of medical care, and the protection of vulnerable populations such as children and pregnant women.

The bill also aims to improve transparency and accountability in the detention system by requiring regular reporting on the conditions of family detention facilities and the treatment of detainees. Additionally, the bill includes provisions to ensure that families are provided with legal representation and access to due process rights during their detention. Overall, the Family Detention Standards Clarification Act seeks to address the challenges and concerns surrounding family detention in the United States by establishing clear guidelines and regulations to protect the rights and well-being of detained families.
Alternative Names
Official Title as IntroducedTo amend the William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2008 to clarify the standards for family detention, and for other purposes.

Comments

Recent Activity

Latest Summary2/10/2025

Ensuring United Families at the Border Act

This bill addresses the treatment of children who are non-U.S. nationals (aliens under federal law), including by statutorily establishing that there is no presumption that...

Latest Action1/3/2025
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.