PlainBillCongress, translated.Legislation. Context. Public interest.Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Congressional Research Service
Version 00 · Introduced in Senate · Dec 7, 2011
Families First Immigration Enforcement Act - Requires the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), in a workplace enforcement operation that is calculated to apprehend or does apprehend at least 50 aliens, to do the following: (1) give state agencies sufficient notice to arrange for representatives who speak the detainees' language and to provide for any special needs; (2) afford access to state social service agencies to screen and interview detainees to determine if medical risks or risks to relatives exist; (3) consider, upon recommendation, the release of detainees on age, medical, or family related humanitarian grounds; and (4) provide a toll-free number for families of detainees to report their relationship to DHS or state social services.
Requires that such aliens have access to legal orientation presentations through the Executive Office for Immigration Review's legal orientation program.
States that detainees should be held within the jurisdiction of the local U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement field office to the extent that space allows.
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Requires a detainee's release within 72 hours of apprehension if such alien is not subject to mandatory detention, does not pose a flight risk, or is subject to humanitarian release. States that such alien shall be released: (1) on his or her own recognizance, (2) by posting a minimum bond, (3) on parole under the Immigration and Nationality Act, or (4) through the intensive supervision appearance or similar program.
People & committees
Sen. Kerry, John F. [D-MA] · D–MA
Legislative record
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Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Introduced in Senate
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Source last updated: Aug 10, 2026. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.
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