KIDS Act
Sponsored By: Representative Neguse, Joe [D-CO-2]
Introduced
Summary
Protecting children and caregivers from immigration detention and restricting enforcement at sensitive public sites. The bill would limit Department of Homeland Security detention of children, people with cognitive disabilities, and primary caregivers and bar enforcement actions near many community locations.
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- Families and primary caregivers would face a presumption against detention unless DHS shows clear and convincing evidence that release is unsafe or impracticable. DHS would have to prioritize release to a parent, a designated caregiver, state child or adult protective services, or the HHS Office of Refugee Resettlement.
- Children and people with cognitive disabilities could not be detained except in cases tied to criminal warrants. If detained the bill would require confirmed notification to a parent or legal guardian and DHS must report all such detentions to Congress within 24 hours.
- Enforcement would be barred within a 1,000-foot radius of a long list of sensitive locations, including schools, medical facilities, child care, places of worship, polling places, courthouses, Social Security and unemployment offices, libraries, and labor union facilities. The Secretary could add locations and courts may oversee compliance.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Limits on detaining children and caregivers
If enacted, the bill would bar the Department of Homeland Security from detaining a child, a person with a cognitive disability, or a primary caregiver except under a criminal arrest or search warrant. A primary caregiver would be a noncitizen parent or legal guardian who mainly cares for one or more minor children in the U.S. The bill would create a presumption against detaining a primary caregiver unless the Secretary documents, with clear and convincing evidence given to the caregiver, that release is unreasonable or impracticable. If DHS detains a child or person with a cognitive disability under the warrant exception, DHS would have to confirm notification to a parent or legal guardian and report the detention to Congress within 24 hours. The bill would require DHS to prioritize quick release of wrongfully detained children or disabled individuals to a parent, a named caregiver, state protective services, or HHS Office of Refugee Resettlement when practicable, and to accept written delegation papers (like powers of attorney) without unreasonable delay.
No immigration enforcement near sensitive sites
If enacted, the bill would bar the Department of Homeland Security from carrying out immigration enforcement at, focused on, or within 1,000 feet of many "sensitive locations." Examples include hospitals and mental health clinics; public and private schools (and school buses or stops when children are present); child care and youth recreation sites; disaster relief and shelters; organizations that help victims or people with disabilities; places of worship, funerals, and public demonstrations; courthouses including immigration courts; Social Security, public assistance, and DMV offices; polling places, union halls, and libraries. The bill would treat travel to or from these places the same as being at the place. The prohibition would not apply to enforcement done under a criminal arrest or criminal search warrant, and it would create remedies for violations such as excluding evidence, ordering release, or allowing motions to end or enforce proceedings.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Neguse, Joe [D-CO-2]
CO • D
Cosponsors
Rep. Pettersen, Brittany [D-CO-7]
CO • D
Sponsored 5/29/2026
Rep. Crow, Jason [D-CO-6]
CO • D
Sponsored 5/29/2026
Rep. DeGette, Diana [D-CO-1]
CO • D
Sponsored 6/2/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov