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United States · Bill · HR

H.R. 3918 (116th)

Stop Cruelty to Migrant Children Act

referredUnited States· United States Congress· EN

Introduced

23 July 2019

Last action

6 August 2019 · Referred

Status

Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Citizenship.

Sponsors

Rep. Meng, Grace [D-NY-6], Rep. Moore, Gwen [D-WI-4], Rep. Velázquez, Nydia M. [D-NY-7], Rep. Carson, André [D-IN-7], Rep. McGovern, James P. [D-MA-2], Rep. Haaland, Debra A. [D-NM-1], Rep. Espaillat, Adriano [D-NY-13], Sen. Welch, Peter [D-VT], Rep. Kirkpatrick, Ann [D-AZ-2], Rep. Costa, Jim [D-CA-21], Rep. Suozzi, Thomas R. [D-NY-3], Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large], Rep. Jackson Lee, Sheila [D-TX-18], Rep. Meeks, Gregory W. [D-NY-5], Rep. Rush, Bobby L. [D-IL-1], Rep. Ruppersberger, C. A. Dutch [D-MD-2], Rep. Wilson, Frederica S. [D-FL-24], Rep. Napolitano, Grace F. [D-CA-32], Rep. Lee, Barbara [D-CA-12], Rep. DeFazio, Peter A. [D-OR-4], Rep. Blumenauer, Earl [D-OR-3], Rep. Garamendi, John [D-CA-8], Rep. Kennedy, Joseph P., III [D-MA-4], Rep. DeSaulnier, Mark [D-CA-10], Rep. Bonamici, Suzanne [D-OR-1], Rep. Chu, Judy [D-CA-28], Rep. Engel, Eliot L. [D-NY-16], Rep. Tonko, Paul [D-NY-20], Rep. Sherman, Brad [D-CA-32], Rep. Visclosky, Peter J. [D-IN-1], Rep. McCollum, Betty [D-MN-4], Rep. Kelly, Robin L. [D-IL-2], Rep. Maloney, Carolyn B. [D-NY-12], Rep. Keating, William R. [D-MA-9]

Subjects

Immigration

Source updated

27 January 2026

Immigration

Official sourceDownload fileView documentsShare

Summary

Stop Cruelty to Migrant Children Act This bill establishes limitations on separating alien children from parents and on detaining families, and also addresses other immigration-related matters. A child may be separated from a parent or legal guardian at or near a port of entry or U.S. border only if (1) a state court has made a relevant ruling, such as terminating the parent's rights; (2) a qualified child welfare agency official has ruled that separation is in the child's best interest; or (3) a specified official makes certain determinations, such as concluding that a child is a trafficking victim. A child may not be separated from a parent or guardian solely to deter migration or promote compliance with immigration laws. This bill establishes presumptions (1) in favor of family unity and keeping siblings together, and (2) against detention. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) shall (1) document all child separations, (2) develop training for officers handling separations, (3) publish guidance on how to locate a separated child, (4) periodically provide a parent or guardian information about a separated child, and (5) pay for counsel to represent unaccompanied alien children in removal proceedings. The Flores settlement (an agreement imposing conditions on the treatment of detained alien minors) and a related court holding shall apply to the detention of families. The bill also contains provisions relating to the detention of aliens, including (1) requiring medical assessments of detained children, (2) imposing health-related standards for detention facilities, and (3) requiring DHS to provide sufficient funds for alternatives to detention programs.

This text is taken from the official record. PoliticalRepo does not editorialize.

Timeline

  1. 23 July 2019

    Introduced

    Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Homeland Security, and Financial Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

    Source: IntroReferral

  2. 23 July 2019

    Introduced

    Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (E965-966)

    Source: IntroReferral

  3. 23 July 2019

    Introduced

    Introduced in House

    Source: IntroReferral

  4. 23 July 2019

    Introduced

    Introduced in House

    Source: IntroReferral

  5. 2 August 2019

    Referred

    Referred to the Subcommittee on Border Security, Facilitation, and Operations.

    Source: Committee

  6. 6 August 2019

    Referred

    Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Citizenship.

    Source: Committee

Votes

No vote records are attached yet.

Versions

Documents

3 official files

Introduced in House (text)

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  • Introduced in House (text)

    Introduced in House · EN · 23 July 2019

    ViewDownloadOpen at official source

  • Introduced in House (PDF)

    Introduced in House · EN · 23 July 2019

    ViewDownloadOpen at official source

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  • Introduced in House

    summary · EN · 23 July 2019

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Sponsors

Related records

Sources

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