Skip to content
PoliticalRepoPoliticalRepo

United States · Bill · S

S. 557 (116th)

REUNITE Act

referredUnited States· United States Congress· EN

Introduced

26 February 2019

Last action

26 February 2019 · Introduced

Status

Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

Sponsors

Sen. Harris, Kamala D. [D-CA], Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR], Sen. Cortez Masto, Catherine [D-NV], Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT], Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR], Sen. Markey, Edward J. [D-MA], Sen. Bennet, Michael F. [D-CO], Sen. Duckworth, Tammy [D-IL], Sen. Sanders, Bernard [I-VT], Sen. Smith, Tina [D-MN], Sen. Warren, Elizabeth [D-MA], Sen. Booker, Cory A. [D-NJ], Sen. Klobuchar, Amy [D-MN], Sen. Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [D-NY], Sen. Kaine, Tim [D-VA], Sen. Carper, Thomas R. [D-DE]

Subjects

Immigration

Source updated

10 August 2026

Immigration

Summary

Reunite Every Unaccompanied Newborn Infant, Toddler and other children Expeditiously Act or the REUNITE Act This bill directs the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to reunite children and their parents or legal guardians who were apprehended for illegal entry into the United States. DHS and HHS shall develop procedures and programs, including procedures to (1) identify separated family members, (2) allow apprehended parents or legal guardians to have frequent no-cost contact with their separated children, and (3) coordinate with foreign consulates to locate apprehended individuals. DHS and HHS shall ensure immediate reunification of apprehended children with a parent or legal guardian, but may make exceptions for the child's safety. DHS and HHS may use DNA testing to determine family relationships, but shall first use other methods, such as official documents. DHS and HHS shall develop procedures for instances where the aliens refuse to consent to DNA testing. Collected DNA information may not be used for any purpose other than family reunification, including criminal or immigration enforcement. The bill restores the Family Case Management Program, an alternative to detention program that uses case managers to promote compliance with immigration law obligations. DHS, HHS, and the Department of Justice shall establish the Office for Locating and Reuniting Children with Parents.

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

Timeline

  1. 26 February 2019

    Introduced

    Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

    Source: IntroReferral

  2. 26 February 2019

    Introduced

    Introduced in Senate

    Source: IntroReferral

Votes

No vote records are attached yet.

Versions

Documents

3 official files

Introduced in Senate (text)

View fileDownload file

This file cannot be previewed here. Use View or Download.

Leesvertaling

Vertaal dit document naar jouw taal. PoliticalRepo bewaart geen aparte kopie per EU-taal.

Documentvertaling op verzoek met downloadbare PDF (logo + link naar de officiële bron). Het bronbestand blijft leidend.

  • Introduced in Senate (text)

    Introduced in Senate · EN · 26 February 2019

    ViewDownloadOpen at official source

  • Introduced in Senate (PDF)

    Introduced in Senate · EN · 26 February 2019

    ViewDownloadOpen at official source

    Leesvertaling

    Vertaal dit document naar jouw taal. PoliticalRepo bewaart geen aparte kopie per EU-taal.

    Documentvertaling op verzoek met downloadbare PDF (logo + link naar de officiële bron). Het bronbestand blijft leidend.

  • Introduced in Senate

    summary · EN · 26 February 2019

    Open at official source

    Leesvertaling

    Vertaal dit document naar jouw taal. PoliticalRepo bewaart geen aparte kopie per EU-taal.

    Documentvertaling op verzoek met downloadbare PDF (logo + link naar de officiële bron). Het bronbestand blijft leidend.

Sponsors

Related records

Sources

PoliticalRepo is an index and interpretation layer, not the authoritative legal source.