H.R. 6304: Reunifying Separated Families Act of 2018

115th Congress · introduced 2018-07-03 · Immigration · Latest: Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Border Security.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

Where it came from: introduced 2018-07-03 · official record
Who proposed it: Rep. Crist, Charlie [D-FL-13] · what a sponsor is
What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
Where it stands now: Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Border Security. Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
If it becomes law and spends money: follow the money to money laws, then agencies and contracts and grants.

What does this mean?

Official title

Reunifying Separated Families Act of 2018

Plain summary

Reunifying Separated Families Act of 2018 This bill directs the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to reunite each alien child (i.e., under age 18 and no permanent immigration status) who was separated from a parent or legal guardian on or after April 6, 2018, unless a state court or child welfare agency determines that it is in the best interests of the child to remain separated from a parent or legal guardian or there are DHS findings of trafficking or abuse. DHS is subject to a fine of $1,000 per child for each day such child is not reunited with a parent. The bill prohibits an agent or officer of DHS, the Department of Justice, or the Department of Health and Human Services from removing a child from a parent or legal guardian at or near a port of entry or within 100 miles of the border, unless a state court, child welfare agency, or the Chief Patrol Agent or the Area Port Director make findings relating to the best interests of the child or the threat of trafficking or abuse. No such agent or officer may separate a child from a parent or legal guardian solely for the policy goals of deterring individuals from migrating to the United States or for promoting compliance with civil immigration laws.

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

What a vote does

A “Yea” vote

If it passes both chambers and is signed, it becomes law.

A “Nay” vote

If it is not passed, current law stays as it is.

PSI Sci description of the legislative step (not an opinion).

What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

Reunifying Separated Families Act of 2018

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House)

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The strongest published arguments

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How did my representative vote? · This bill's floor votes

Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. Crist, Charlie [D-FL-13] · 10 cosponsors

Cost estimate: No cost estimate published yet.

Cosponsors on this site

Jared Huffman (D-CA), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Darren Soto (D-FL), Frederica S. Wilson (D-FL), Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL), Kathy Castor (D-FL)

No linked floor roll calls in our collected records yet. This does not mean the bill has never had a vote. Check the official bill history.

Words on this page, explained (2)

Bill: A proposed law. It becomes law only if it passes the legislature and is signed by the president or governor (or a veto is overridden).
Securities: Financial investments that can be bought and sold, such as stocks and bonds.

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House)
Congress.gov
Data: GovInfo BILLSTATUS bulk data (Library of Congress), BILLSTATUS-115hr6304.xml <https://www.govinfo.gov/bulkdata/BILLSTATUS/115/hr>

Record fed-us-cong115-hr6304 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong115 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong115