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H.R. 541: Keep Families Together Act

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H.R. 541: Keep Families Together Act

116th Congress · introduced 2019-01-14 · Immigration · Latest: Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Citizenship.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

  1. Where it came from: introduced 2019-01-14 · official record
  2. Who proposed it: Rep. Nadler, Jerrold [D-NY-10] · what a sponsor is
  3. What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
  4. Where it stands now: Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Citizenship. Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
  5. 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

Keep Families Together Act

Plain summary

Keep Families Together Act This bill limits the separation of families at or near U.S borders or ports of entry and imposes limits on the prosecution of asylum seekers. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Department of Justice (DOJ), and Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) shall not separate a child from a legal guardian at a port of entry or within 100 miles of a U.S. border unless a state court terminates the legal guardian's rights; a state child welfare agency or court determines it is in the child's best interests to be removed; or the child is determined to be a trafficking victim or at risk of becoming one, the accompanying adult is most likely not the legal guardian, or the child is in danger of abuse or neglect. Such separation shall end unless a licensed independent child welfare expert authorizes the separation within 48 hours. DHS, DOJ, or HHS may not separate a child from a 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 legal guardians may locate a separated child. HHS shall provide legal guardians weekly status updates about a separated child. An asylum seeker who has expressed a credible or reasonable fear of persecution may not be prosecuted for certain immigration law violations until the asylum application has been finally adjudicated.

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

Keep Families Together Act

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House)

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The strongest published arguments

Arguments for (supporters)

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Alternatives

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

Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. Nadler, Jerrold [D-NY-10] · 202 cosponsors

Cost estimate: No cost estimate published yet.

Cosponsors on this site

Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), Ted Lieu (D-CA), Jimmy Panetta (D-CA), Pete Aguilar (D-CA), Nanette Diaz Barragán (D-CA), Joyce Beatty (D-OH), Ami Bera (D-CA), Donald S. Beyer, Jr. (D-VA), Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (D-GA), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR), Brendan F. Boyle (D-PA), Julia Brownley (D-CA), Salud O. Carbajal (D-CA), André Carson (D-IN), Kathy Castor (D-FL), Joaquin Castro (D-TX), Judy Chu (D-CA), Gilbert Ray Cisneros, Jr. (D-CA), Katherine M. Clark (D-MA), Yvette D. Clarke (D-NY), Steve Cohen (D-TN), J. Luis Correa (D-CA), Jim Costa (D-CA), Joe Courtney (D-CT), Jason Crow (D-CO), Danny K. Davis (D-IL), Madeleine Dean (D-PA), Diana DeGette (D-CO), Rosa L. DeLauro (D-CT), Suzan K. DelBene (D-WA), Debbie Dingell (D-MI), Veronica Escobar (D-TX), Adriano Espaillat (D-NY), Dwight Evans (D-PA), Bill Foster (D-IL), Lois Frankel (D-FL) and 142 more.

Sponsor's campaign money: Rep. Nadler, Jerrold [D-NY-10] reported raising $258,402 (2025–2026). Details. Shown for context only; it does not mean any donor supported this bill.

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

Record fed-us-cong116-hr541 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong116 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong116