# Plain Language Summary: Keep Families Together Act

This bill aims to prevent the government from separating immigrant children from their parents or guardians when they're detained at the border or in immigration custody. Specifically, it prohibits immigration officials from separating a child from their parent or legal guardian unless there's clear evidence that the child is being abused or neglected, or unless a judge orders the separation. The bill also requires the government to keep detailed records of any separations that do occur and to reunite families as quickly as possible.

The law applies to all children in immigration custody, whether they arrive at the border alone or with family members. It creates a legal requirement that immigration authorities must follow before they can separate anyone under 18 from their parents. This is a direct response to real situations where families have been split up during immigration enforcement actions, sometimes for extended periods. The bill also establishes that the government must provide information to separated children about their parents' location and legal status, and it requires officials to prioritize reunification efforts.

For families going through immigration proceedings, this means there's now a legal protection against family separation except in genuine child safety situations. Immigration officers would need to document and justify any separation, making it harder for families to be split up as a matter of routine enforcement. The bill essentially puts the burden on the government to prove why a family should be separated rather than allowing separations to happen without clear justification.