This amendment is the same as a bill that passed the Senate last year by unanimous consent. There are a few changes. and those changes remove provisions that were contained in the previous version that are no longer necessary because of changes in agency practices to bring this bill in line with other laws. and to require promulgation of regulations and reporting of statistics on children affected by this bill. Now. in the Homeland Security Act. the responsibility for the care and placement of unaccompanied alien children was transferred from the Immigration and Naturalization Service to the Department of Health and Human Services. Office of Refugee Resettlement. This amendment provides guidance and instruction to the Office of Refugee Resettlement. the Department of Homeland Security. and the Department of Justice. for how to handle the custody. release. family reunification. and the detention of unaccompanied alien children. The amendment clarifies that any child who was deemed to be a national security risk. or who has committed a serious crime. will remain under the jurisdiction of the Department of Homeland Security or the Department of Justice and will not be released to the Office of Refugee Resettlement. For those who pose no danger to themselves or others. the amendment requires that the children be placed in the least restrictive setting possible. and it defines what those settings are. This is the order of preference: One. licensed family foster care. two. small group care: three. sheltered care: four. residential treatment center. five. secured detention.
Keywords matched
Refugee family reunification Naturalization Immigration