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Proposal:Families, Not Facilities Act of 2019

This proposal is archived and closed to further debate. It was introduced in the 116th Congress, which has concluded, and the bill was not enacted into law.
Geographic Scope
National

Description

Families, Not Facilities Act of 2019

This bill amends provisions related to the safety of minor aliens that 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 investigate and 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.

Bill Title

Families, Not Facilities Act of 2019

Linked Goals

Steps

  • 2019-02-07: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
  • 2019-02-07: Introduced in Senate

Projected Outcome

A more informed proposal or public response aligned with the Promote General Welfare goal.