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HR 3451 116th Congress House Immigration Border security and unlawful immigration Child care and development Child safety and welfare Department of Homeland Security Detention of persons Family relationships Government buildings, facilities, and property Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management Immigration status and procedures Judicial procedure and administration Separation, divorce, custody, support Visas and passports

HELP Separated Children Act of 2019

Introduced: June 24, 2019 See on congress.gov
This bill died when the 116th Congress ended
It never became law before the 116th Congress (2019–2020) 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 3 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Jul 30, 2019
Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Citizenship.
Jun 24, 2019
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Jun 24, 2019
Introduced in House
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Humane Enforcement and Legal Protections for Separated Children Act of 2019 or the HELP Separated Children Act of 2019

This bill provides protections for children whose parent or caregiver has been detained for immigration enforcement purposes.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and entities cooperating with DHS on immigration enforcement shall determine as soon as possible whether a detained individual is a parent or caregiver of a child in the United States. Detained parents and caregivers shall (1) have the chance to make at least two phone calls to arrange for child care; and (2) receive contact information for child welfare agencies, family courts, consulates, attorneys, and other relevant entities.

DHS shall not transfer the detained individual to another geographical area until child care arrangements have been made, absent extraordinary circumstances. DHS shall (1) permit detained individuals regular contact with their children, and (2) give detained individuals the opportunity to participate in all proceedings impacting custody of their children.

What's happening now July 30, 2019

Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Citizenship.

 Related & companion bills 1
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
 Cosponsors 46
Perlmutter, Ed
· Dec 19, 2019
D
Wasserman Schultz, Debbie
Florida · Oct 30, 2019
Wexton, Jennifer
· Oct 30, 2019
D
Pocan, Mark
Wisconsin · Oct 18, 2019
D
Torres, Norma J.
California · Oct 18, 2019
D
Dean, Madeleine
Pennsylvania · Oct 11, 2019
D
Lofgren, Zoe
California · Oct 11, 2019
Schrader, Kurt
· Oct 11, 2019
Crist, Charlie
· Oct 4, 2019
D
Himes, James A.
Connecticut · Oct 4, 2019
D
Sherman, Brad
California · Oct 4, 2019
Vela, Filemon
· Sep 27, 2019
D
Pappas, Chris
New Hampshire · Sep 26, 2019
D
Foster, Bill
Illinois · Sep 25, 2019
D
Smith, Adam
Washington · Sep 19, 2019
D
Veasey, Marc A.
Texas · Sep 11, 2019
D
Carson, André
Indiana · Aug 2, 2019
D
DelBene, Suzan K.
Washington · Jul 22, 2019
D
Khanna, Ro
California · Jul 22, 2019
D
Moulton, Seth
Massachusetts · Jul 22, 2019
D
Peters, Scott H.
California · Jul 22, 2019
D
Chu, Judy
California · Jul 18, 2019
D
Norton, Eleanor Holmes
District of Columbia · Jul 18, 2019
D
Evans, Dwight
Pennsylvania · Jul 15, 2019
Kennedy, Joseph
· Jul 15, 2019
D
Schakowsky, Janice D.
Illinois · Jul 15, 2019
DAVIS, SUSAN
· Jul 11, 2019
D
Hayes, Jahana
Connecticut · Jul 11, 2019
D
Larsen, Rick
Washington · Jul 11, 2019
LOWEY, NITA
· Jul 11, 2019
D
McGovern, James P.
Massachusetts · Jul 11, 2019
D
Raskin, Jamie
Maryland · Jul 11, 2019
D
Soto, Darren
Florida · Jul 11, 2019
D
DeLauro, Rosa L.
Connecticut · Jul 9, 2019
D
Gallego, Ruben
Arizona · Jul 9, 2019
D
Gomez, Jimmy
California · Jul 9, 2019
D
Johnson, Henry C. "Hank"
Georgia · Jul 9, 2019
D
García, Jesús G. "Chuy"
Illinois · Jun 27, 2019
D
Welch, Peter
Vermont · Jun 27, 2019
D
Moore, Gwen
Wisconsin · Jun 25, 2019
D
Suozzi, Thomas R.
New York · Jun 25, 2019
D
Watson Coleman, Bonnie
New Jersey · Jun 25, 2019
D
Espaillat, Adriano
New York · Jun 24, 2019
PRICE, DAVID
· Jun 24, 2019
D
Titus, Dina
Nevada · Jun 24, 2019
D
Velázquez, Nydia M.
New York · Jun 24, 2019
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 3451: HELP Separated Children Act of 2019. 116th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/116-HR-3451/
MLA
"H.R. 3451: HELP Separated Children Act of 2019." 116th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/116-HR-3451/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 3451, 116th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/116-HR-3451/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 3451: HELP Separated Children Act of 2019](https://openamerica.io/bill/116-HR-3451/)
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