PRIA Logo™
119-s-3571119th Congress

Keeping Our Agents on the Line Act

Sponsored By: Senator Murphy, Christopher [D-CT]

Introduced

Summary

Limits U.S. Border Patrol’s authority to within 25 miles of the border. It would also bar most delegation of that authority and require public reporting on interior arrests, training, and checkpoint performance.

Show full summary
  • People encountered more than 25 miles inland would generally be outside Border Patrol’s stop, search, and arrest authority under 8 U.S.C. 1357. Exceptions allow operations beyond 25 miles for an appropriate state or local emergency request or a presidential major disaster declaration.
  • The bill defines Border Patrol personnel to include employees, contractors, and detailees who perform services for the agency and bars delegating authority to operate beyond 25 miles.
  • The Department of Homeland Security must publish a checkpoint performance model and supporting data at least annually and set milestones within 90 days. Within 30 days the agency must report how many agents operate in the interior, detail each agent’s Fourth Amendment training, and disclose the disposition of each interior encounter for U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents, and other aliens.

Personalized for You

How does this bill affect your finances?

Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this bill means for your household, plus every other piece of legislation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.

Free to download

Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Limit Border Patrol inland authority

If enacted, the bill would bar immigration officers and any Border Patrol employees, contractors, or detailees from using section 287 authority more than a "reasonable distance," defined as not greater than 25 miles from any U.S. land border or territorial sea. It would also bar delegating or deputizing agents to operate beyond that 25-mile zone. Two exceptions would apply: a lawful state or local request to assist in an emergency where lives are in immediate or imminent danger, and a Presidential major disaster declaration.

More border checkpoint and agent reports

If enacted, the bill would require the CBP Commissioner to publish new data and controls about checkpoints and interior agents. Within 90 days the agency would set milestones to test a checkpoint performance model, post findings and supporting data at least annually, add internal controls, and report how many people were stopped at checkpoints, split by U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents, and aliens. Within 30 days the agency would report how many Border Patrol agents operate in the interior, detail each agent's training on Fourth Amendment searches and seizures, and report the outcome of each interior contact (arrested, detained, stopped, or charged).

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Murphy, Christopher [D-CT]

CT • D

Cosponsors

  • Sen. Schiff, Adam B. [D-CA]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 12/18/2025

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

View on Congress.gov
Back to Legislation