S. 5071 · Where this bill is now
In committee
Introduced in the Senate, Jul 22, 2026
119th Congress
2nd SessionS. 5071
2nd SessionS. 5071
A BILL
Children's Safe Welcome Act of 2026
In the SenateNo vote yet
Sponsor: Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR) · Introduced Jul 22, 2026 · Immigration · 1 version of the text
Sources: Congress.gov actions and votes · bill text from GovInfo · latest official action Jul 22, 2026: “Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.”
Sections
Title I — Procedures and temporary placements following apprehension · 6
- Sec. 101Prohibition on family separationNo change
- Sec. 102Protections for noncitizen childrenNo change
- Sec. 103Nonadversarial asylum processing for noncitizen childrenNo change
- Sec. 104Standards for U.S. Customs and Border Protection detention of noncitizen childrenNo change
- Sec. 105Standards for U.S. Customs and Border Protection facilities housing noncitizen childrenNo change
- Sec. 106Modification of term asylum officer to exclude officers of U.S. Customs and Border ProtectionNo change
Title II — Standards for Department of Health and Human Services custody of unaccompanied noncitizen children · Subtitle A — Standards for foster care homes and childcare facilities · 3
Title II — Standards for Department of Health and Human Services custody of unaccompanied noncitizen children · Subtitle B — Services for unaccompanied noncitizen children · 4
Title II — Standards for Department of Health and Human Services custody of unaccompanied noncitizen children · Subtitle C — Placement of children · 7
- Sec. 221Phasing out large congregate care facilitiesNo change
- Sec. 222Least restrictive settingNo change
- Sec. 223Foster family careNo change
- Sec. 224Additional requirements relating to children with disabilities and children with mental health needsNo change
- Sec. 225Minimizing transfersNo change
- Sec. 226Restrictive placementsNo change
- Sec. 227Judicial review of placementNo change
Title II — Standards for Department of Health and Human Services custody of unaccompanied noncitizen children · Subtitle D — Family reunification and standards relating to sponsors · 3
Title II — Standards for Department of Health and Human Services custody of unaccompanied noncitizen children · Subtitle E — Release · 4
Title III — Emergencies and influxes · 6
Title IV — Legal representation for unaccompanied noncitizen children · 2
Title V — Appointment of child advocates and improvements to immigration courts · 2
Title VI — Oversight, monitoring, and enforcement · 5
- Sec. 601Office of the Ombudsperson for Unaccompanied Noncitizen Children in Immigration CustodyNo change
- Sec. 602Data collection and reportingNo change
- Sec. 603EnforcementNo change
- Sec. 604Protection from retaliationNo change
- Sec. 605Mandatory access to detention facilities for Members of CongressNo change