Advocacy for the HELP Act S. 1399 Senate Version

On July 21, 2011, The Humane Enforcement and Legal Protections (HELP) for Separated Children Act (S.1399/H.R. 2607) was introduced in the both the U.S. Senate and the House.

The bill would ensure that parents and guardians apprehended by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) or its surrogates, are identified in a timely manner and provided the opportunity to make care arrangements for their minor children upon apprehension. The bill would prevent prolonged parent-child separation or the unnecessary loss of parental rights by ensuring that parents and guardians are able to regularly communicate with their children, the child welfare system and family courts. The legislation would minimize hardship on children and save taxpayers millions of dollars by reducing the likelihood that children will be placed unnecessarily into the foster care system.

• Read the Senate version of the HELP Act.
• Read our letter to Congress.