Today, U.S. Congressman Scott Peters (CA-52) helped introduce the Keep Families Together Act, which would immediately halt the Trump Administration’s horrific and cruel practice of separating families who arrive at the United States border.

“Ripping terrified children away from their parents’ arms at the border is horrifying and un-American. These children have endured so much already and should not suffer even more at the hands of this Administration’s cruel policies. Children are being held hostage to the Trump/Ryan border wall. To be clear, the President could end this right now with the stroke of a pen, but he won’t, so Congress must act. I urge my colleagues in the House and Senate to support and pass this bill so we can end this injustice. I remind my Republican colleagues that the world is watching us,” said Rep. Peters. 

The bill prohibits Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officials from separating children from their parents, except in extraordinary circumstances, like trafficking indicators or other concerns of risk to the child. It also requires DHS to develop policies and procedures allowing parents and children to locate each other and reunite if they have been separated. 

This announcement follows Rep. Peters’ work to oppose family separation at the border and calls for immediate action to stop the practice. Last week, Rep. Peters spoke out on the House floor to demand an immediate change to the separation policy. In early June, Rep. Peters joined his colleagues to ask that the Appropriations Committee limit the Department of Homeland Security’s ability to use funds allocated to separate children and parents.

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Watch Rep. Peters call for an immediate end to family separation on the House floor HERE.