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S 1399 112th Congress Senate Immigration Border security and unlawful immigration Child safety and welfare Congressional oversight Detention of persons Immigration status and procedures Social work, volunteer service, charitable organizations

HELP Separated Children Act

Introduced: July 21, 2011 See on congress.gov
This bill died when the 112th Congress ended
It never became law before the 112th Congress (2011–2012) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 2 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Jul 21, 2011
Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text of measure as introduced: CR S4804-4805)
Jul 21, 2011
Introduced in Senate
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Humane Enforcement and Legal Protections for Separated Children Act or the HELP Separated Children Act - Sets forth apprehension procedures for immigration enforcement-related activities engaged in by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and cooperating entities, including: (1) providing the governor, local child welfare agencies, and local law enforcement with advance notice of an enforcement activity, if possible; (2) providing child welfare agencies and community organizations access to detained individuals to help DHS identify detainees who have children; (3) permitting detainees with children to make free phone calls to arrange for such children's care; and (4) requiring that the interests of children be considered in decisions regarding detainee release, detention, or transfer.

Directs the Secretary of Homeland Security to: (1) require DHS detention facilities to implement procedures to ensure that child custody and family interests can be considered in any immigration detention action, (2) develop memoranda of understanding with child welfare agencies and community organizations that protect the best interests of children of detained individuals, and (3) provide DHS personnel with appropriate training.

What's happening now July 21, 2011

Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text of measure as introduced: CR S4804-4805)

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). S. 1399: HELP Separated Children Act. 112th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/112-S-1399/
MLA
"S. 1399: HELP Separated Children Act." 112th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/112-S-1399/.
Bluebook (legal)
S. 1399, 112th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/112-S-1399/.
Markdown link
[S. 1399: HELP Separated Children Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/112-S-1399/)
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