Ensuring United Families at the Border Act

This bill sets federal rules for how the government detains families who cross the border with children. It says there is no default rule against detaining a child who arrives with a parent or guardian, and that these cases must follow specific immigration laws rather than other court rulings or settlements. It also requires the Department of Homeland Security to keep a parent and child together in custody when the parent is charged only with the misdemeanor of unlawful entry.

Key points

• Who is affected: Non‑U.S. citizen families with children, the Department of Homeland Security, and states where family detention centers are located.
• What changes: No presumption against detaining children who are with a parent; DHS must detain the parent and child together if the only charge is a minor unlawful entry; states cannot require their own licenses for federal detention facilities that hold these children or families.
• When: Takes effect as soon as it becomes law and applies to actions in the past, present, and future.