S. 292: Keep Families Together Act

116th Congress · introduced 2019-01-31 · Immigration · Latest: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S802-803)

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

Where it came from: introduced 2019-01-31 · official record
Who proposed it: Sen. Feinstein, Dianne [D-CA] · what a sponsor is
What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
Where it stands now: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S802-803) Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
If it becomes law and spends money: follow the money to money laws, then agencies and contracts and grants.

What does this mean?

Official title

Keep Families Together Act

Plain summary

Keep Families Together Act This bill limits the separation of families at or near U.S. borders or ports of entry. The Departments of Homeland Security (DHS), Justice, and Health and Human Services shall not separate a child from a parent or legal guardian at a port of entry or within 100 miles of a U.S. border unless a state court terminates the parent or legal guardian's rights; a state child welfare agency or court determines it is in the child's best interests to be removed; or the child is determined to be a trafficking victim or at risk of becoming one, the accompanying adult is most likely not the parent or legal guardian, or the child is in danger of abuse or neglect. An agency may not separate a child from a parent or legal guardian solely to deter migration into the United States or to promote compliance with immigration laws. DHS shall develop (1) training related to the bill's family separation requirements, and (2) guidance for how parents and legal guardians may locate a separated child. DHS shall provide parents and legal guardians periodic status updates about a separated child. The Government Accountability Office shall report to Congress on the criminal prosecution of asylum seekers.

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in Senate), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

What a vote does

A “Yea” vote

If it passes both chambers and is signed, it becomes law.

A “Nay” vote

If it is not passed, current law stays as it is.

PSI Sci description of the legislative step (not an opinion).

What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

Keep Families Together Act

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in Senate)

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The strongest published arguments

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Alternatives

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How did my representative vote? · This bill's floor votes

Officials and money

Sponsor: Sen. Feinstein, Dianne [D-CA] · 41 cosponsors

Cost estimate: No cost estimate published yet.

Cosponsors on this site

Patty Murray (D-WA), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Angus S. King, Jr. (I-ME), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Bernard Sanders (I-VT), Michael F. Bennet (D-CO), Christopher A. Coons (D-DE), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Jack Reed (D-RI), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Margaret Wood Hassan (D-NH), Edward J. Markey (D-MA), Christopher Murphy (D-CT), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Cory A. Booker (D-NJ), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), Kirsten E. Gillibrand (D-NY), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Tina Smith (D-MN), Mark R. Warner (D-VA), Gary C. Peters (D-MI), Brian Schatz (D-HI)

No linked floor roll calls in our collected records yet. This does not mean the bill has never had a vote. Check the official bill history.

Words on this page, explained (2)

Bill: A proposed law. It becomes law only if it passes the legislature and is signed by the president or governor (or a veto is overridden).
Securities: Financial investments that can be bought and sold, such as stocks and bonds.

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in Senate)
Congress.gov
Data: GovInfo BILLSTATUS bulk data (Library of Congress), BILLSTATUS-116s292.xml <https://www.govinfo.gov/bulkdata/BILLSTATUS/116/s>

Record fed-us-cong116-s292 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong116 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong116