Protect Asylum Seekers Act
This bill limits the separation of alien families and provides protections for asylum seekers.
Certain civil and criminal penalties related to improper entry into the United States shall not apply if, after entering the United States, an alien without delay communicates to an immigration or asylum officer a non-fraudulent (1) desire to seek asylum, or (2) fear of persecution.
The Departments of Homeland Security (DHS), Justice, and Health and Human Services shall not separate a child from a parent or legal guardian unless
An agency may not separate a child from a parent or legal guardian solely to deter migration into the United States or to promote compliance with immigration laws.
DHS shall develop (1) training related to the bill's family separation requirements, and (2) guidance for how parents and legal guardians may locate a separated child. DHS shall provide parents and legal guardians periodic status updates about a separated child.
The Government Accountability Office shall report to Congress on the criminal prosecution of asylum seekers.
[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 9040 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
116th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 9040
To protect aliens seeking asylum in the United States, and for other
purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
December 21, 2020
Mr. Amash introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on
Homeland Security, 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
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To protect aliens seeking asylum in the United States, and for other
purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Protect Asylum Seekers Act''.
SEC. 2. LIMITATION ON PROSECUTION OF ASYLUM SEEKERS.
Section 275 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1325)
is amended--
(1) in subsection (a), by striking ``Any alien'' and
inserting ``Except as provided in subsection (e), any alien'';
(2) in subsection (b), by striking ``Any alien'' and
inserting ``Except as provided in subsection (e), any alien'';
and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
``(e)(1) Subsections (a)(1) and (b) shall not apply in the case of
an alien who presents himself to an immigration officer or an asylum
officer without unnecessary delay after entering the United States, and
indicates an intention to apply for asylum under section 208 or a fear
of persecution (as defined in section 235(b)(1)(B)(v)).
``(2) The exception under this subsection applies regardless of
whether the alien is found to have a credible fear of persecution, or
is granted asylum, except in the case that an asylum officer determines
that the alien's claim for asylum or fear of persecution was
fraudulent. In the case that an asylum officer determines that a claim
for asylum is fraudulent under this paragraph, the officer shall
document such determination, and the reason for such determination, in
writing.
``(3) A claim for asylum or a fear of persecution may not be
determined to be fraudulent under paragraph (2) on the basis that--
``(A) the alien entered or attempted to enter the United
States at any time or place other than as designated by
immigration officers;
``(B) the alien's claim is based on fearing gang violence
or domestic violence; or
``(C) the alien entered or attempted to enter the United
States with the alien's child who had not attained the age of
18.''.
SEC. 3. TRANSFER OF ASYLUM SEEKERS TO ASYLUM INTERVIEW LOCATIONS.
An alien who presents himself to an immigration officer or an
asylum officer as described in section 275(e)(1) of the Immigration and
Nationality Act shall be transferred to a port of entry or place
designated for asylum interviews under section 235(b)(1)(B)(i) of that
Act to undergo an interview by an asylum officer under such section
235, unless the alien presents himself at such a location.
SEC. 4. LIMITATION ON THE SEPARATION OF FAMILIES.
(a) In General.--An agent or officer of a designated agency may not
remove a child from his or her parent or legal guardian if the parent
or legal guardian has not been referred for prosecution, unless one of
the following has occurred:
(1) A State court, authorized under State law, terminates
the rights of a parent or legal guardian, determines that it is
in the best interests of the child to be removed from his or
her parent or legal guardian, in accordance with the Adoption
and Safe Families Act of 1997 (Public Law 105-89), or makes any
similar determination that is legally authorized under State
law.
(2) An official from the State or county child welfare
agency with expertise in child trauma and development makes a
determination that it is in the best interests of the child to
be removed from his or her parent or legal guardian because the
child is in danger of abuse or neglect at the hands of the
parent or legal guardian, or is a danger to himself or others.
(3) The Chief Patrol Agent or the Area Port Director, in
their official and undelegated capacity, authorizes separation
upon the recommendation by an agent or officer of a designated
agency, based on a finding that--
(A) the child is a victim of trafficking or is at
significant risk of becoming a victim of trafficking;
(B) there is a strong likelihood that the adult is
not the parent or legal guardian of the child; or
(C) the child is in danger of abuse or neglect at
the hands of the parent or legal guardian, or is a
danger to himself or others.
(b) Prohibition on Separation.--A designated agency may not remove
a child from a parent or legal guardian solely for the policy goal of
deterring individuals from migrating to the United States or for the
policy goal of promoting compliance with civil immigration laws.
(c) Documentation Required.--The Secretary shall ensure that a
separation under subsection (a)(3) is documented in writing and
includes, at a minimum, the reason for such separation, together with
the stated evidence for such separation.
SEC. 5. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR SEPARATION BY AGENTS OR OFFICERS.
(a) In General.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Secretary, in consultation with the
Secretary of Health and Human Services, shall develop training and
guidance, with an emphasis on the best interests of the child,
childhood trauma, attachment, and child development, for use by agents
and officers of designated agencies, in order to standardize the
implementation of section 4(a)(3).
(b) Annual Review.--Not less frequently than annually, the
Secretary of Health and Human Services shall review the guidance
developed under subsection (a) and make recommendations to the
Secretary to ensure such guidance is in accordance with current
evidence and best practices in child welfare, child development, and
childhood trauma.
(c) Requirement.--The guidance under subsection (a) shall
incorporate the presumptions described in subsection (e).
(d) Additional Requirements.--
(1) Evidence-based.--The guidance and training developed
under this section shall incorporate evidence-based practices.
(2) Training required.--
(A) All agents and officers of designated agencies,
upon hire, and annually thereafter, shall complete
training on adherence to the guidance under this
section.
(B) All Chief Patrol Agents and Area Port
Directors, upon hire, and annually thereafter, shall
complete--
(i) training on adherence to the guidance
under this section; and
(ii) 90 minutes of child welfare practice
training that is evidence-based and trauma-
informed.
(e) Presumptions.--The presumptions described in this subsection
are the following:
(1) Family unity.--There shall be a strong presumption in
favor of family unity.
(2) Siblings.--To the maximum extent practicable, the
Secretary shall ensure that sibling groups remain intact.
(3) Detention.--In general, there is a presumption that
detention is not in the best interests of families and
children.
SEC. 6. REQUIRED POLICY FOR LOCATING SEPARATED CHILDREN.
(a) In General.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall publish final public
guidance that describes, with specificity, the manner in which a parent
or legal guardian may locate a child who was separated from the parent
or legal guardian under section 3(a). In developing the public
guidance, the Secretary shall consult with the Secretary of Health and
Human Services, immigrant advocacy organizations, child welfare
organizations, and State child welfare agencies.
(b) Written Notification.--The Secretary shall provide each parent
or legal guardian of a child who was separated from the child with
written notice of the public guidance to locate the child.
(c) Language Access.--All guidance shall be available in English
and Spanish, and at the request of the parent or legal guardian, in the
language or manner that is understandable by the parent or legal
guardian.
SEC. 7. REQUIRED INFORMATION FOR SEPARATED FAMILIES.
Not less frequently than once every month, the Secretary shall
provide the parent or legal guardian of a child who was separated from
the child the following information, at a minimum:
(1) A status report on the monthly activities of the child.
(2) Information about the education and health of the
child, including any medical treatment provided to the child or
medical treatment recommended for the child.
(3) Information about changes to the child's immigration
status.
(4) Other information about the child, designed to promote
and maintain family reunification, as the Secretary determines
in his or her discretion.
SEC. 8. ANNUAL REPORT ON FAMILY SEPARATION.
Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act,
and annually thereafter, the Secretary shall submit a report to the
committees of jurisdiction that describes each instance in which a
child was separated from a parent or legal guardian and includes, for
each such instance, the following:
(1) The relationship of the adult and the child.
(2) The age and gender of the adult and child.
(3) The length of separation.
(4) Whether the adult was charged with a crime, and if the
adult was charged with a crime, the type of crime.
(5) Whether the adult made a claim for asylum, expressed a
fear to return, or applied for other immigration relief.
(6) Whether the adult was prosecuted if charged with a
crime and the associated outcome of such charges.
(7) The stated reason for, and evidence in support of, the
separation.
(8) If the child was part of a sibling group at the time of
separation, whether the sibling group has had physical contact
and visitation.
(9) Whether the child was rendered an unaccompanied alien
child.
(10) Other information in the Secretary's discretion.
The Secretary shall ensure that any information collected, published,
or otherwise made available under this section does not reveal
personally identifiable information.
SEC. 9. CLARIFICATION OF PARENTAL RIGHTS.
If a child is separated from a parent or legal guardian, and a
State court has not made a determination that the parental rights have
been terminated, there is a presumption that--
(1) the parental rights remain intact; and
(2) the separation does not constitute an affirmative
determination of abuse or neglect under Federal or State law.
SEC. 10. CLARIFICATION OF EXISTING LAW.
(a) Federal Law.--Nothing in this Act shall be interpreted to
supersede or modify Federal child welfare law, where applicable,
including the Adoption and Safe Families Act of 1997 (Public Law 105-
89).
(b) State Law.--Nothing in this Act shall be interpreted to
supersede or modify State child welfare laws where applicable.
SEC. 11. GAO REPORT ON PROSECUTION OF ASYLUM SEEKERS.
(a) Study.--The Comptroller General of the United States shall
conduct a study of the prosecution of asylum seekers during the period
beginning on January 1, 2008, and ending on December 31, 2020,
including--
(1) the total number of persons who claimed a fear of
persecution, received a favorable credible fear determination,
and were referred for prosecution;
(2) an overview and analysis of the metrics used by the
Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Justice
to track the number of asylum seekers referred for prosecution;
(3) the total number of asylum seekers referred for
prosecution, a breakdown and description of the criminal
charges filed against asylum seekers during such period, and a
breakdown and description of the convictions secured;
(4) the total number of asylum seekers who were separated
from their children as a result of being referred for
prosecution;
(5) a breakdown of the resources spent on prosecuting
asylum seekers during such period, as well as any diversion of
resources required to prosecute asylum seekers, and any costs
imposed on States and localities;
(6) the total number of asylum seekers who were referred
for prosecution and also went through immigration proceedings;
and
(7) the total number of asylum seekers referred for
prosecution who were deported before going through immigration
proceedings.
(b) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment
of this Act, the Comptroller General shall submit to Congress a report
that describes the results of the study conducted pursuant to
subsection (a). Such report shall not reveal personally identifiable
information.
SEC. 12. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Agent; officer.--The terms ``agent'' and ``officer''
include contractors of the Federal Government.
(2) Child.--The term ``child'' means an individual who--
(A) has not reached the age of 18; and
(B) has no permanent immigration status.
(3) Committees of jurisdiction.--The term ``committees of
jurisdiction'' means--
(A) the Committee on the Judiciary, the Committee
on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, and the
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs
of the Senate; and
(B) the Committee on the Judiciary, the Committee
on Energy and Commerce, and the Committee on Oversight
and Reform of the House of Representatives.
(4) Danger of abuse or neglect at the hands of the parent
or legal guardian.--The term ``danger of abuse or neglect at
the hands of the parent or legal guardian'' does not include
migrating to or crossing the United States border.
(5) Designated agency.--The term ``designated agency''
means--
(A) the Department of Homeland Security;
(B) the Department of Justice; and
(C) the Department of Health and Human Services.
(6) Finding.--The term ``finding'' means an individualized
written assessment or screening by the trained agent or officer
that includes a consultation with a child welfare specialist,
formalized as required under section 4(c) and consistent with
sections 5 and 9.
(7) Secretary.--Unless otherwise specified, the term
``Secretary'' means the Secretary of Homeland Security.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Homeland Security, 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.
Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Homeland Security, 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.
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