,i  #aaf? ,,congress  #b;d ,session  ,h4
 ,r4 #ijdj  ,,9 ,,! ,,h\se ,,(          
,,repres5tatives  ,decemb] #ba1         
#bjbj,mr4 ,ama% introduc$ ! foll[+ bill2
 :i* 0 ref]r$ to ! ,committee on !      
,judici>y1 & 9 addition to ! ,committee 
on ,homel& ,security1 = a p]iod to be   
subsequ5tly det]m9$ by ! ,speak]1 9 ea* 
case = consid]ation ( su* provisions z  
fall )9 ! jurisdiction ( ! committee    
conc]n$  ,a ,,bill  ,to protect ali5s   
seek+ asylum 9 ! ,unit$ ,/ates1 & = o!r 
purposes4  #a4 ,%ort title ,?is ,act may
 be cit$ z ! ,protect ,asylum ,seek]s   
,act4  #b4 ,limitation on prosecution ( 
asylum seek]s ,section #bge ( !         
,immigration & ,nationality ,act 7#h    
,u4,s4,c4 #acbe7 is am5d$-- 7#a7 9      
subsection 7a71 by /rik+ ,any ali5 &    
ins]t+ ,except z provid$ 9 subsection   
7e71 any ali52  7#b7 9 subsection 7b71  
by /rik+ ,any ali5 & ins]t+ ,except z   
provid$ 9 subsection 7e71 any ali52 &   
7#c7 by add+ at ! end ! foll[+3  7e7    
7#a7 ,subsections 7a77#a7 & 7b7 %all n  

apply 9 ! case ( an ali5 :o pres5ts     
himself to an immigration (fic] or an   
asylum (fic] )\t unnecess>y delay aft]  
ent]+ ! ,unit$ ,/ates1 & indicates an   
int5tion to apply = asylum "u section   
#bjh or a fe> ( p]secution 7z def9$ 9   
section #bce7;b77#a77;,b77v774  7#b7 ,! 
exception "u ?is subsection applies     
reg>dless ( :e!r ! ali5 is f\nd to h a  
cr$ible fe> ( p]secution1 or is grant$  
asylum1 except 9 ! case t an asylum     
(fic] det]m9es t ! ali5's claim = asylum
 or fe> ( p]secution 0 fraudul5t4 ,9 !  
case t an asylum (fic] det]m9es t a     
claim = asylum is fraudul5t "u ?is      
p>agraph1 ! (fic] %all docum5t su*      
det]m9ation1 & ! reason = su*           
det]m9ation1 9 writ+4  7#c7 ,a claim =  
asylum or a fe> ( p]secution may n be   
det]m9$ to be fraudul5t "u p>agraph 7#b7
 on ! basis t-- 7,a7 ! ali5 ent]$ or    
attempt$ to ent] ! ,unit$ ,/ates at any 
"t or place o!r ?an z designat$ by      
immigration (fic]s2  7,b7 ! ali5's claim
 is bas$ on fe>+ gang viol5ce or dome/ic

 viol5ce2 or  7,c7 ! ali5 ent]$ or      
attempt$ to ent] ! ,unit$ ,/ates ) !    
ali5's *ild :o _h n atta9$ ! age ( #ah4 
4  #c4 ,transf] ( asylum seek]s to      
asylum int]view locations ,an ali5 :o   
pres5ts himself to an immigration (fic] 
or an asylum (fic] z describ$ 9 section 
#bge7;e77#a7 ( ! ,immigration &         
,nationality ,act %all be transf]r$ to a
 port ( entry or place designat$ =      
asylum int]views "u section             
#bce7;b77#a77;,b77i7 ( t ,act to und]go 
an int]view by an asylum (fic] "u su*   
section #bce1 unless ! ali5 pres5ts     
himself at su* a location4  #d4         
,limitation on ! sep>ation ( families   
7a7 ,9 g5]al ,an ag5t or (fic] ( a      
designat$ ag5cy may n remove a *ild f 8 
or h] p>5t or legal gu>dian if ! p>5t or
 legal gu>dian has n be5 ref]r$ =       
prosecution1 unless "o ( ! foll[+ has   
occurr$3 7#a7 ,a ,/ate c\rt1 au?oriz$ "u
 ,/ate law1 t]m9ates ! rights ( a p>5t  
or legal gu>dian1 det]m9es t x is 9 !   
be/ int]e/s ( ! *ild to be remov$ f 8 or

 h] p>5t or legal gu>dian1 9 accordance 
) ! ,adoption & ,safe ,families ,act (  
#aiig 7,public ,law #aje-hi71 or makes  
any simil> det]m9ation t is legally     
au?oriz$ "u ,/ate law4  7#b7 ,an (ficial
 f ! ,/ate or c\nty *ild welf>e ag5cy ) 
exp]tise 9 *ild trauma & developm5t     
makes a det]m9ation t x is 9 ! be/      
int]e/s ( ! *ild to be remov$ f 8 or h] 
p>5t or legal gu>dian because ! *ild is 
9 dang] ( abuse or neglect at ! h&s ( ! 
p>5t or legal gu>dian1 or is a dang] to 
himself or o!rs4  7#c7 ,! ,*ief ,patrol 
,ag5t or ! ,area ,port ,director1 9 _!  
(ficial & undelegat$ capacity1 au?orizes
 sep>ation ^u ! recomm5dation by an ag5t
 or (fic] ( a designat$ ag5cy1 bas$ on a
 f9d+ t-- 7,a7 ! *ild is a victim (     
traffick+ or is at significant risk (   
becom+ a victim ( traffick+2  7,b7 !re  
is a /rong likelihood t ! adult is n !  
p>5t or legal gu>dian ( ! *ild2 or  7,c7
 ! *ild is 9 dang] ( abuse or neglect at
 ! h&s ( ! p>5t or legal gu>dian1 or is 
a dang] to himself or o!rs4  7b7        

,prohibition on sep>ation ,a designat$  
ag5cy may n remove a *ild f a p>5t or   
legal gu>dian solely = ! policy goal (  
det]r+ individuals f migrat+ to ! ,unit$
 ,/ates or = ! policy goal ( promot+    
compliance ) civil immigration laws4    
7c7 ,docum5tation requir$ ,! ,secret>y  
%all ensure t a sep>ation "u subsection 
7a77#c7 is docum5t$ 9 writ+ & includes1 
at a m9imum1 ! reason = su* sep>ation1  
toge!r ) ! /at$ evid5ce = su* sep>ation4
  #e4 ,recomm5dations = sep>ation by    
ag5ts or (fic]s  7a7 ,9 g5]al ,n lat]   
?an #ahj days aft] ! date ( ! enactm5t (
 ?is ,act1 ! ,secret>y1 9 consultation )
 ! ,secret>y ( ,heal? & ,human ,s]vices1
 %all develop tra9+ & guidance1 ) an    
emphasis on ! be/ int]e/s ( ! *ild1     
*ildhood trauma1 atta*m5t1 & *ild       
developm5t1 = use by ag5ts & (fic]s (   
designat$ ag5cies1 9 ord] to /&>dize !  
implem5tation ( section #d7;a77#c74  7b7
 ,annual review ,n less frequ5tly ?an   
annually1 ! ,secret>y ( ,heal? & ,human 
,s]vices %all review ! guidance develop$

 "u subsection 7a7 & make recomm5dations
 to ! ,secret>y to ensure su* guidance  
is 9 accordance ) curr5t evid5ce & be/  
practices 9 *ild welf>e1 *ild           
developm5t1 & *ildhood trauma4  7c7     
,requirem5t ,! guidance "u subsection   
7a7 %all incorporate ! presumptions     
describ$ 9 subsection 7e74  7d7         
,additional requirem5ts  7#a7           
,evid5ce-bas$ ,! guidance & tra9+       
develop$ "u ?is section %all incorporate
 evid5ce-bas$ practices4  7#b7 ,tra9+   
requir$  7,a7 ,all ag5ts & (fic]s (     
designat$ ag5cies1 ^u hire1 & annually  
!reaft]1 %all complete tra9+ on adh]5ce 
to ! guidance "u ?is section4  7,b7 ,all
 ,*ief ,patrol ,ag5ts & ,area ,port     
,directors1 ^u hire1 & annually !reaft]1
 %all complete-- 7i7 tra9+ on adh]5ce to
 ! guidance "u ?is section2 &  7ii7 #ij 
m9utes ( *ild welf>e practice tra9+ t is
 evid5ce-bas$ & trauma-in=m$4  7e7      
,presumptions ,! presumptions describ$ 9
 ?is subsection are ! foll[+3 7#a7      
,family unity ,!re %all be a /rong      

presumption 9 favor ( family unity4     
7#b7 ,sibl+s ,to ! maximum ext5t        
practicable1 ! ,secret>y %all ensure t  
sibl+ gr\ps rema9 intact4  7#c7         
,det5tion ,9 g5]al1 !re is a presumption
 t det5tion is n 9 ! be/ int]e/s (      
families & *ildr54  #f4 ,requir$ policy 
= locat+ sep>at$ *ildr5  7a7 ,9 g5]al ,n
 lat] ?an #ahj days aft] ! date ( !     
enactm5t ( ?is ,act1 ! ,secret>y %all   
publi% f9al public guidance t describes1
 ) specificity1 ! mann] 9 :i* a p>5t or 
legal gu>dian may locate a *ild :o 0    
sep>at$ f ! p>5t or legal gu>dian "u    
section #c7;a74 ,9 develop+ ! public    
guidance1 ! ,secret>y %all consult ) !  
,secret>y ( ,heal? & ,human ,s]vices1   
immigrant advocacy organizations1 *ild  
welf>e organizations1 & ,/ate *ild      
welf>e ag5cies4  7b7 ,writt5            
notification ,! ,secret>y %all provide  
ea* p>5t or legal gu>dian ( a *ild :o 0 
sep>at$ f ! *ild ) writt5 notice ( !    
public guidance to locate ! *ild4  7c7  
,language access ,all guidance %all be  

available 9 ,engli% & ,spani%1 & at !   
reque/ ( ! p>5t or legal gu>dian1 9 !   
language or mann] t is und]/&able by !  
p>5t or legal gu>dian4  #g4 ,requir$    
in=mation = sep>at$ families ,n less    
frequ5tly ?an once e mon?1 ! ,secret>y  
%all provide ! p>5t or legal gu>dian ( a
 *ild :o 0 sep>at$ f ! *ild ! foll[+    
in=mation1 at a m9imum3 7#a7 ,a /atus   
report on ! mon?ly activities ( ! *ild4 
7#b7 ,in=mation ab\t ! education & heal?
 ( ! *ild1 includ+ any m$ical treatm5t  
provid$ to ! *ild or m$ical treatm5t    
recomm5d$ = ! *ild4  7#c7 ,in=mation    
ab\t *anges to ! *ild's immigration     
/atus4  7#d7 ,o!r in=mation ab\t ! *ild1
 design$ to promote & ma9ta9 family     
reunification1 z ! ,secret>y det]m9es 9 
8 or h] discretion4  #h4 ,annual report 
on family sep>ation ,n lat] ?an #a ye>  
aft] ! date ( ! enactm5t ( ?is ,act1 &  
annually !reaft]1 ! ,secret>y %all      
submit a report to ! committees (       
jurisdiction t describes ea* in/ance 9  
:i* a *ild 0 sep>at$ f a p>5t or legal  

gu>dian & includes1 = ea* su* in/ance1 !
 foll[+3 7#a7 ,! relation%ip ( ! adult &
 ! *ild4  7#b7 ,! age & g5d] ( ! adult &
 *ild4  7#c7 ,! l5g? ( sep>ation4  7#d7 
,:e!r ! adult 0 *>g$ ) a crime1 & if !  
adult 0 *>g$ ) a crime1 ! type ( crime4 
7#e7 ,:e!r ! adult made a claim =       
asylum1 express$ a fe> to return1 or    
appli$ = o!r immigration relief4  7#f7  
,:e!r ! adult 0 prosecut$ if *>g$ ) a   
crime & ! associat$ outcome ( su* *>ges4
  7#g7 ,! /at$ reason =1 & evid5ce 9    
support (1 ! sep>ation4  7#h7 ,if ! *ild
 0 "p ( a sibl+ gr\p at ! "t (          
sep>ation1 :e!r ! sibl+ gr\p has _h     
physical contact & visitation4  7#i7    
,:e!r ! *ild 0 r5d]$ an unaccompani$    
ali5 *ild4  7#aj7 ,o!r in=mation 9 !    
,secret>y's discretion4  ,! ,secret>y   
%all ensure t any in=mation collect$1   
publi%$1 or o!rwise made available "u   
?is section does n reveal p]sonally     
id5tifiable in=mation4  #i4             
,cl>ification ( p>5tal rights ,if a *ild
 is sep>at$ f a p>5t or legal gu>dian1 &

 a ,/ate c\rt has n made a det]m9ation t
 ! p>5tal rights h be5 t]m9at$1 !re is a
 presumption t-- 7#a7 ! p>5tal rights   
rema9 intact2 &  7#b7 ! sep>ation does n
 con/itute an affirmative det]m9ation ( 
abuse or neglect "u ,f$]al or ,/ate law4
  #aj4 ,cl>ification ( exi/+ law  7a7   
,f$]al law ,no?+ 9 ?is ,act %all be     
int]pret$ to sup]s$e or modify ,f$]al   
*ild welf>e law1 :]e applicable1 includ+
 ! ,adoption & ,safe ,families ,act (   
#aiig 7,public ,law #aje-hi74  7b7 ,/ate
 law ,no?+ 9 ?is ,act %all be int]pret$ 
to sup]s$e or modify ,/ate *ild welf>e  
laws :]e applicable4  #aa4 ,,gao report 
on prosecution ( asylum seek]s  7a7     
,/udy ,! ,comptroll] ,g5]al ( ! ,unit$  
,/ates %all conduct a /udy ( !          
prosecution ( asylum seek]s dur+ ! p]iod
 beg9n+ on ,janu>y #a1 #bjjh1 & end+ on 
,decemb] #ca1 #bjbj1 includ+-- 7#a7 !   
total numb] ( p]sons :o claim$ a fe> (  
p]secution1 receiv$ a favorable cr$ible 
fe> det]m9ation1 & 7 ref]r$ =           
prosecution2  7#b7 an ov]view & analysis

 ( ! metrics us$ by ! ,dep>tm5t (       
,homel& ,security & ! ,dep>tm5t (       
,ju/ice to track ! numb] ( asylum seek]s
 ref]r$ = prosecution2  7#c7 ! total    
numb] ( asylum seek]s ref]r$ =          
prosecution1 a breakd[n & description ( 
! crim9al *>ges fil$ aga9/ asylum seek]s
 dur+ su* p]iod1 & a breakd[n &         
description ( ! convictions secur$2     
7#d7 ! total numb] ( asylum seek]s :o 7 
sep>at$ f _! *ildr5 z a result ( be+    
ref]r$ = prosecution2  7#e7 a breakd[n (
 ! res\rces sp5t on prosecut+ asylum    
seek]s dur+ su* p]iod1 z well z any     
div]sion ( res\rces requir$ to prosecute
 asylum seek]s1 & any co/s impos$ on    
,/ates & localities2  7#f7 ! total numb]
 ( asylum seek]s :o 7 ref]r$ =          
prosecution & also w5t ?r\gh immigration
 proce$+s2 &  7#g7 ! total numb] (      
asylum seek]s ref]r$ = prosecution :o 7 
deport$ be=e go+ ?r\gh immigration      
proce$+s4  7b7 ,report ,n lat] ?an #a   
ye> aft] ! date ( ! enactm5t ( ?is ,act1
 ! ,comptroll] ,g5]al %all submit to    

,congress a report t describes ! results
 ( ! /udy conduct$ pursuant to          
subsection 7a74 ,su* report %all n      
reveal p]sonally id5tifiable in=mation4 
#ab4 ,def9itions ,9 ?is ,act3 7#a7      
,ag5t2 (fic] ,! t]ms ag5t & (fic]       
include contractors ( ! ,f$]al          
,gov]nm5t4  7#b7 ,*ild ,! t]m *ild means
 an individual :o-- 7,a7 has n rea*$ !  
age ( #ah2 &  7,b7 has no p]man5t       
immigration /atus4  7#c7 ,committees (  
jurisdiction ,! t]m committees (        
jurisdiction means-- 7,a7 ! ,committee  
on ! ,judici>y1 ! ,committee on ,heal?1 
,education1 ,labor1 & ,p5sions1 & !     
,committee on ,homel& ,security &       
,gov]nm5tal ,affairs ( ! ,s5ate2 &  7,b7
 ! ,committee on ! ,judici>y1 !         
,committee on ,en]gy & ,comm]ce1 & !    
,committee on ,ov]sight & ,re=m ( !     
,h\se ( ,repres5tatives4  7#d7 ,dang] ( 
abuse or neglect at ! h&s ( ! p>5t or   
legal gu>dian ,! t]m dang] ( abuse or   
neglect at ! h&s ( ! p>5t or legal      
gu>dian does n include migrat+ to or    

cross+ ! ,unit$ ,/ates bord]4  7#e7     
,designat$ ag5cy ,! t]m designat$ ag5cy 
means-- 7,a7 ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,homel&      
,security2  7,b7 ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,ju/ice2 
&  7,c7 ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,heal? & ,human   
,s]vices4  7#f7 ,f9d+ ,! t]m f9d+ means 
an individualiz$ writt5 assessm5t or    
scre5+ by ! tra9$ ag5t or (fic] t       
includes a consultation ) a *ild welf>e 
speciali/1 =maliz$ z requir$ "u section 
#d7;c7 & consi/5t ) sections #e & #i4   
7#g7 ,secret>y ,unless o!rwise specifi$1
 ! t]m ,secret>y means ! ,secret>y (    
,homel& ,security4