June 20, 2018

Today Representative Dina Titus of Nevada’s First Congressional District released the following statement regarding introduction of the Keep Families Together Act (H.R. 6135). The legislation is a response to the policy instituted by the Trump Administration to separate children from their parents at the U.S. border. 

“Today I stand with fellow Democrats to introduce the Keep Families Together Act. Although President Trump now claims he is temporarily ending his cruel policy of family separation, the details about timing and implementation remain unclear. That is why we need the Keep Families Together Act. This bill prohibits family separation by the Department of Homeland Security, requires our government to develop policies and procedures that allow parents and children to locate each other and reunite, and makes clear that family unity is paramount in our nation’s immigration policy. If Congressional Republicans are serious about ending family separation, they should speak out and join House Democrats on this legislation. Ripping children from their parents’ arms is not what this nation stands for.”

President Trump has referred to immigrants as “infesting” the United States. His administration continues to attack legal immigration, has significantly slowed approval of VISA applications, and attempted to end the DACA program threatening 800,000 DACA recipients, including 13,000 in Nevada, before federal courts intervened. In response, Congresswoman Titus has taken a series of actions including:

• Cosponsor of H.Res. 927 along with 150 other Members to condemn President Trump’s “zero-tolerance” policy.

• Cosponsor of H.R. 5950, the HELP Separated Children Act and H.R. 5414, the Help Separated Families Act, two bills that would strengthen protections for children whose parents are detained so that parents can stay in touch with their children and arrange for their care before they are taken into custody, and to reduce barriers to keeping children united with family members.

• Signed a letter to the Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee asking that no money in the DHS FY2019 appropriations bill be used to separate families. The letter also encourages investments in non-detention alternatives. 

• Signed a letter to the Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee asking that no money in the DHS FY2019 appropriations bill be used to deport DREAMers.

• Signed a letter to the Appropriations Committee Chairman and Ranking Member, asking that no money in the relevant appropriations bills be used for family separation.

• Signed a letter to DHS and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) asking what the agencies are doing to protect unaccompanied children from abduction and exploitation.

• Signed a letter to DHS and HHS regarding the whereabouts and wellbeing of separated girls in the government’s care.

• Signed the “queen-of-the-hill” rule discharge petition to bring four immigration bills to the House floor for a vote, including the DREAM Act.

• Cosponsor of H.R. 3923, the Dignity for Detained Immigrants Act which would end mandatory detention, increase accountability in civil detention standards, and require the government to pursue alternatives to detention programs.