Title 6 — Domestic SecurityRelease 119-73

§241 Prevention of international child abduction

Title 6 › Chapter CHAPTER 1— - HOMELAND SECURITY ORGANIZATION › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER IV— - BORDER, MARITIME, AND TRANSPORTATION SECURITY › Part Part C— - Miscellaneous Provisions › § 241

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Secretary of Homeland Security, using the head of U.S. Customs and Border Protection and working with the Secretary of State, the Attorney General, and the FBI Director, must create a program to stop a child from leaving the United States when a parent or legal guardian brings a court order to a CBP officer in time to block the trip. The program must also use other existing tools and processes to deal with wrongful removals and help return children. The Secretary of State must lead an interagency working group made up of officials chosen by the President and approved by the Senate from the State Department; the Department of Homeland Security (including CBP and ICE); and the Department of Justice (including the FBI). The Secretary of Defense must name a Defense Department official to work with State and handle cases involving active duty service members.

Full Legal Text

Title 6, §241

Domestic Security — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)The Secretary, through the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (referred to in this section as “CBP”), in coordination with the Secretary of State, the Attorney General, and the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, shall establish a program that—

(1)seeks to prevent a child (as defined in section 1204(b)(1) of title 18) from departing from the territory of the United States if a parent or legal guardian of such child presents a court order from a court of competent jurisdiction prohibiting the removal of such child from the United States to a CBP Officer in sufficient time to prevent such departure for the duration of such court order; and

(2)leverages other existing authorities and processes to address the wrongful removal and return of a child.

(b)(1)The Secretary of State shall convene and chair an interagency working group to prevent international parental child abduction. The group shall be composed of presidentially appointed, Senate confirmed officials from—

(A)the Department of State;

(B)the Department of Homeland Security, including U.S. Customs and Border Protection and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement; and

(C)the Department of Justice, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

(2)The Secretary of Defense shall designate an official within the Department of Defense—

(A)to coordinate with the Department of State on international child abduction issues; and

(B)to oversee activities designed to prevent or resolve international child abduction cases relating to active duty military service members.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

6 U.S.C. § 241

Title 6 — Domestic Security

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73