Title 6, Domestic SecurityRelease 119-110

§241 Prevention of International Child Abduction

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

Last updated Sep 22, 2026|Official source

Summary

Creates a program led by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, working with the State Department, the Justice Department, and the FBI, that tries to stop a child from leaving the United States when a parent or guardian shows a court order to a CBP officer in enough time to prevent the child’s departure. The program also uses other existing tools to deal with cases where a child was wrongfully taken and to help return the child. The Secretary of State must lead a working group of top officials 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 pick someone to work with the State Department and handle abduction cases involving active-duty service members.

Full Legal Text

Title 6, §241

Domestic Security, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Program established

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)Interagency coordination

(1)In general

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)Department of Defense

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

Sep 22, 2026

Release point: 119-110