PROKID Act
Latest action · Feb 23, 2021 Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Progress
Where this bill reached, and when. A stage with no date was not reached; one that failed a vote and later carried shows the date it carried.
- IntroducedFeb 23, 2021
- Passed SenateNot reached
- Passed HouseNot reached
- To the PresidentNot reached
- Became lawNot reached
Summary
Protection of Kids in Immigrant Detention Act or PROKID Act
This bill establishes the Office of the Ombudsperson for Immigrant Children in Government Custody within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
The office shall ensure that if government detention of an immigrant child is necessary, that child is held in the least restrictive setting. The office shall also advocate for (1) the quick and safe release of such a detained child, and (2) a child who was detained with family to be released concurrently with a parent or legal guardian.
The office's duties shall include (1) monitoring facilities with immigrant children held in government custody to ensure compliance with applicable laws and standards, (2) investigating claims of mistreatment and complaints against foster care providers, (3) reviewing contested decisions about the placement of an immigrant child, and (4) reviewing data from HHS and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) relating to such children.
The office may also offer individual case assistance to such a detained child who requires expedited processing or elevated attention. The office may also issue subpoenas with HHS approval.
DHS and HHS must ensure that the office has the ability to conduct investigative and monitoring activities, including by providing unobstructed access to any detention facility with immigrant children.
The office and DHS shall enter into a memorandum of understanding to coordinate oversight between DHS and HHS.
The bill also establishes an expert advisory committee to assist the office and an interagency working group to identify and discuss concerns related to detained immigrant children.
Cosponsors 9
Members who signed on, in the order they did. Signatures ran from Feb 23, 2021 to Apr 5, 2022; 5 are original cosponsors, there from the day it was introduced.
| Seat | Cosponsor | Signed on | |
|---|---|---|---|
| D-NV | Catherine Cortez Masto | Original | Feb 23, 2021 |
| D-MD | Chris Van Hollen | Original | Feb 23, 2021 |
| D-MA | Elizabeth Warren | Original | Feb 23, 2021 |
| D-NV | Jacky Rosen | Original | Feb 23, 2021 |
| D-CT | Richard Blumenthal | Original | Feb 23, 2021 |
| D-VA | Tim Kaine | Mar 15, 2021 | |
| D-NJ | Cory A. Booker | Apr 13, 2021 | |
| D-MA | Edward J. Markey | Jul 14, 2021 | |
| D-OR | Jeff Merkley | Apr 5, 2022 |
Committees 1
Where it was sent and what each committee and subcommittee did with it, in order.
| Chamber | Committee | What it did |
|---|---|---|
| Senate | Judiciary Committee | Referred Feb 23, 2021 |
Actions 2
Everything that happened, newest first.
- Feb 23, 2021Introduced in Senate
- Feb 23, 2021Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Related bills 1
Companion bills and other measures the record links to this one.
| Bill | Title | Relationship | Latest action |
|---|---|---|---|
| HR 1238 | PROKID Act | Identical bill | Apr 28, 2021 |
Titles 3
Every title it has carried, official and short, at each stage.
- Official Title as Introduced
- A bill to establish the Office of the Ombudsperson for Immigrant Children in Government Custody, and for other purposes.
- Short Title(s) as Introduced
- PROKID Act
- Protection of Kids in Immigrant Detention Act
Subjects
Assigned by the Library of Congress. Policy area: Immigration.
- Administrative remedies
- Adoption and foster care
- Advisory bodies
- Border security and unlawful immigration
- Census and government statistics
- Child safety and welfare
- Congressional oversight
- Department of Health and Human Services
- Department of Homeland Security
- Detention of persons
- Domestic violence and child abuse
- Evidence and witnesses
- Executive agency funding and structure
- Family relationships
- Federal officials
- Government buildings, facilities, and property
- Government information and archives
- Government studies and investigations
- Human trafficking
- Immigration
- Immigration status and procedures
- Intergovernmental relations
- Refugees, asylum, displaced persons
- State and local government operations
- Telephone and wireless communication
Text 1
Each version as it was printed, newest first.
- Feb 23, 2021Introduced in Senate
Everything here is as published by Congress: the summary is the Congressional Research Service's, the action wording is the clerks', and the subjects are the Library of Congress's. How far it got is read from the actions themselves, taking the most recent one of each kind, so a bill that failed a vote and later passed is shown as having passed. Records come from this bill on Congress.gov and govinfo.gov; cost estimates are the Congressional Budget Office's, and the hearings are the printed hearings GovInfo publishes, which can appear months after the hearing.
