No Kids as Bait Act

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [H.R. 11016 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 11016

To prohibit the Secretary of Homeland Security from using deceptive immigration enforcement practices involving taking a child into custody for the purpose of apprehending an alien parent of the child, and for other purposes.

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IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

November 12, 2026

Mr. Frost (for himself, Mr. Krishnamoorthi, Ms. Crockett, Mr. Lynch, Mr. Smith of Washington, Mr. Ivey, Ms. Simon, Mrs. Watson Coleman, Mr. Takano, Mr. Thanedar, Ms. Dexter, Ms. Tlaib, Ms. Norton, Ms. Clarke of New York, Ms. Schakowsky, Ms. Bonamici, Mr. Khanna, Mr. Casar, Ms. Williams of Georgia, Ms. Velazquez, Ms. Jacobs, Mr. Moulton, Mr. DeSaulnier, Ms. Tokuda, Mr. Quigley, Mr. Carson, Ms. Scanlon, and Ms. Randall) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Homeland Security, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

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A BILL

To prohibit the Secretary of Homeland Security from using deceptive immigration enforcement practices involving taking a child into custody for the purpose of apprehending an alien parent of the child, and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``No Kids as Bait Act''.

SEC. 2. PROHIBITION ON TAKING CHILDREN INTO CUSTODY FOR THE PURPOSE OF APPREHENDING AN ALIEN PARENT.

(a) In General.--The Secretary of Homeland Security may not take a child into custody for the purpose of apprehending, under the immigration laws, any of the following individuals: (1) A parent, step-parent, or legal guardian of the child. (2) An adult relative of the child. (3) In the case of a child who is an unaccompanied alien child, a sponsor of the child, or another adult member of the household of the sponsor. (b) Documentation Requirement.--Not later than 72 hours after taking a child into custody under the immigration laws, the Secretary shall document in writing the legal basis on which the child was detained, and provide such documentation to the child, the parent or legal guardian of the child, and the attorney for the child, if applicable. Such documentation shall include an applicable notice to appear and administrative warrant. (c) Additional Prohibition.--The Secretary may not compel any child to interpret or translate in an interview, conducted for the purpose of enforcing the immigration laws, of a parent of the child or any other individual. (d) Application to State and Local Law Enforcement.--The prohibitions under subsection (a) and (c) and the requirement under subsection (b) shall apply to a State or local law enforcement officer acting pursuant to an agreement under section 287(g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1357(g)). (e) Prohibition on Information Sharing for Immigration Enforcement.-- (1) Prohibition on sharing.--The Secretary of Health and Human Services may not share any information related to the status under the immigration laws of any sponsor, potential sponsor, or household member of a sponsor or potential sponsor of an unaccompanied alien child with the Secretary of Homeland Security for the purpose of civil enforcement of the immigration laws. (2) Prohibition on use.--The Secretary of Homeland Security may not use any information described in paragraph (1) received from the Secretary of Health and Human Services for the purpose of civil enforcement of the immigration laws. (f) Reporting Requirement.--Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, and every 180 days thereafter, the Inspector General of the Department of Homeland Security, in coordination with the Inspector General of the Department of Health and Human Services, shall submit to Congress and make publicly available a report on the compliance of the Secretary of Homeland Security, State and local law enforcement agencies acting pursuant to agreements under section 287(g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1357(g)), and the Secretary of Health and Human Services with this Act. (g) Definitions.--In this section: (1) The terms ``alien'' and ``immigration laws'' have the meanings given such terms in section 101 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101). (2) The term ``unaccompanied alien child'' has the meaning given such term in section 462(g) of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 279(g)). (3) The term ``child'' means an individual who has not attained the age of 18. <all>