As President Donald Trump signed an executive order Wednesday to stop the separation of families at the U.S.-Mexican border, Tennessee’s Bob Corker, along with 25 other U.S. senators, introduced legislation that promotes keeping immigrant children and their parents together.
Like the executive order, The Keep Families Together and Enforce the Law Act would require that families are kept together during legal proceedings, while “ensuring the integrity of our nation’s immigration laws.”
“While the issues surrounding our immigration system are complex, we can all agree that innocent children should be protected, and I am hopeful the administration will take executive action to halt the separation of families on our southern border,” Corker said. “Congress also must act and provide a longer term solution to the many challenges facing our nation’s immigration system. The Keep Families Together and Enforce the Law Act is an important step in the right direction.”
The law includes provisions to ensure fair treatment of migrant families by setting mandatory standards of care at residential centers. Under the law, families would be required to have access to proper living accommodations, food and water, medical assistance, and other necessary services.
The legislation also authorizes the hire of 225 new immigration judges to help resolve the cases of families housed in residential centers faster.
