Sec. 7. Establishment of Office for Locating and Reuniting Children with apprehended parents or legal guardians
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The Secretary of Homeland Security, the Attorney General, and the Secretary of Health and Human Services (referred to collectively in this section as the Secretaries ) shall jointly establish an interagency office, which shall be known as the Office for Locating and Reuniting Children with Parents (referred to in this section as the Office ) and shall be responsible for expediting and facilitating the reunification of children and apprehended parents or legal guardians after entering the United States.
The Office shall— expeditiously implement guidance designated for its jurisdiction; establish 24-hour priority data and information communication networks between HHS, DHS, and the Department of Justice; and identify and immediately inform Congress if the Office determines that insufficient appropriations, or any other statutory or regulatory condition hinders the safe and timely reunion of separated children with their apprehended parents or legal guardians. The Office shall submit a weekly report to Congress that includes— the number and location of children in the physical custody of DHS or HHS who have been separated from an apprehended parent or legal guardian; the number of such children who have been physically reunified with their apprehended parent or legal guardian; the physical location of apprehended parents and legal guardians who have yet to be reunited with their child, including the apprehended parents and legal guardians who have been deported without their child; the number of such children who have not yet been physically reunited with their apprehended parent or legal guardian; and an outline of the progress made in implementing the rule published pursuant to section 3(a).