A bill to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to render inadmissible to the United States the extended family of international child abductors, and for other purposes.

Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

Congressional Research Service

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in Senate · Nov 14, 2002

Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to prohibit the U.S. admission of aliens supporting international child abductors and relatives of such abductors until the child is surrendered to the legal custodian and such child and custodian are permitted to return to the United States or the custodian's residence. (Currently such prohibition applies to relatives of abductors.) Expands the scope of "relatives" to include cousins, uncles, aunts, nephews, nieces, and grandparents. Includes the spouse of the abducted child within such prohibition.Directs the Secretary of State to: (1) identify inadmissible aliens supporting child abductors and relatives of abductors; and (2) provide notice, upon request, to custodial parents and guardians if such an alien has been authorized to enter the United States.

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People & committees

Who introduced it

Sen. Lincoln, Blanche L. [D-AR] · D–AR

Committees

Judiciary Committee

0 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Legislative record

Actions

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Nov 14, 2002
Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Nov 14, 2002
Introduced in Senate

Primary sources

Bill text & related measures

Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.

Introduced in Senate · Nov 14, 2002 Formatted Text PDF

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

No related bills are listed in this snapshot. This does not establish whether the proposal has appeared in earlier Congresses.

Source last updated: Aug 10, 2026. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

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Neutral evidence review

Objective

Analyze S.3159 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss S.3159, 107th Congress: A bill to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to render inadmissible to the United States the extended family of international child abductors, and for other purposes.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/107th-congress/senate-bill/3159

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2002-11-14.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/107/bills/s3159/BILLS-107s3159is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-08-10T11:52:54Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Analyze S.3159 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

Fairness and public impact

Progressive lens

Examine S.3159 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss S.3159, 107th Congress: A bill to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to render inadmissible to the United States the extended family of international child abductors, and for other purposes.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/107th-congress/senate-bill/3159

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2002-11-14.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/107/bills/s3159/BILLS-107s3159is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-08-10T11:52:54Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.3159 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

Institutions and government scope

Conservative lens

Examine S.3159 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss S.3159, 107th Congress: A bill to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to render inadmissible to the United States the extended family of international child abductors, and for other purposes.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/107th-congress/senate-bill/3159

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2002-11-14.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/107/bills/s3159/BILLS-107s3159is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-08-10T11:52:54Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.3159 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

Individual rights and government power

Liberty lens

Examine S.3159 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss S.3159, 107th Congress: A bill to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to render inadmissible to the United States the extended family of international child abductors, and for other purposes.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/107th-congress/senate-bill/3159

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2002-11-14.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/107/bills/s3159/BILLS-107s3159is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-08-10T11:52:54Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.3159 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.