The HELP Separated Children Act establishes protective procedures for parents arrested during immigration enforcement operations to prevent family separations. The law requires immigration officials to provide detained parents with unlimited phone calls to arrange child care, offer information about legal services and consulates in their preferred language, and prohibit the use of excessive force, child interpreters, or deception when children are present. Officials generally cannot transfer a parent for 48 hours after apprehension if a child is present, and must attempt to place parents in detention facilities near their children's locations while considering the child's best interests. The law also requires parental consent before notifying child welfare agencies, except in cases where a child faces imminent serious harm. A severability clause ensures that if any provision is struck down as unconstitutional, the remainder of the law continues to apply.
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