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House bill · H.R. 61 (119th Congress)

Ensuring United Families at the Border Act

U.S. House of Representatives

Latest action Jan 3, 2025

Sponsor: Andy Biggs (U.S. Representative, AZ-5, Republican)

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From Congress.gov and official rosters. This record was last updated Jul 30, 2026. About our data

Summary

Ensuring United Families at the Border Act This bill addresses the treatment of children who are non-U.S. nationals ( aliens under federal law), including by statutorily establishing that there is no presumption that such a child (other than an unaccompanied child) should not be detained for immigration purposes. Specifically, the bill states that the detention of such minors shall be governed by specified sections of the Immigration and Nationality Act and not any other provision of law, judicial ruling, or settlement agreement. (A 1997 settlement agreement, commonly known as the Flores agreement, imposes requirements relating to the treatment of detained alien minors, including requiring such minors to be released or placed in a nonsecure facility after a certain amount of time in detention.) If an adult enters the United States unlawfully with their child, the Department of Homeland Security must detain the adult and child together if the only criminal charge against the adult is a misdemeanor for unlawful entry. This bill also prohibits states from imposing licensing requirements on immigration detention facilities used to detain minors or families with minors.

Summary from the Congressional Research Service. How we handle summaries

Where it stands

Assigned to a committee for review.

  1. Introduced
  2. In committee
  3. Up for a vote
  4. Passed one chamber
  5. Passed
  6. Enacted

Committee

House Committee on the Judiciary · U.S. House of Representatives

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Cosponsors

3

Cosponsors listed on Congress.gov, shown A to Z.

  • Republican3

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Related bills

As identified by Congress.gov.

Full history

  1. Jan 3, 2025

    Introduced

    Introduced in House

    U.S. House of Representatives

  2. Jan 3, 2025

    Introduced

    Introduced in U.S. House

    U.S. House

  3. Jan 3, 2025

    Referred to committee

    Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

    U.S. House of Representatives

Read the record