House · HR 9374 · 119th Congress
Find Our Families Act of 2026
Summary
This bill requires the Department of Homeland Security to build a public website where anyone can search for a person held by immigration agencies. The site must show where the person is held and update within 8 hours of any move. Families and lawyers must also be told within 5 hours if a detainee is sent to get medical care.
In Favor
Right now, families often have no way to find a loved one after immigration agents make an arrest. This bill creates a free public search tool so families can quickly locate detained relatives and get contact information for the holding facility. That access helps people find legal help faster and reduces the harm caused by sudden disappearances.
Against
The bill forces agencies to update a public database within 8 hours of every arrest or transfer, which adds a heavy workload to already stretched staff. Errors in rushed data entry could mislead families or create privacy risks. Contractors who miss deadlines lose their contracts, which could shrink the pool of available detention facilities.
Additional Considerations
Purpose & Problem
Is the problem real and worth federal action?
This bill requires the Department of Homeland Security to build and keep a public website where anyone can search for people held by border and immigration agencies. It targets the problem of families not knowing where a detained person is located.
Scope & Related Provisions
Does it stay focused, or carry unrelated add-ons?
The bill stays focused on detainee tracking, medical transfer notices, and reporting on border enforcement operations. All three sections connect to the core goal of making detention and arrest information available to the public.
Who Is Affected
Who benefits, and who bears the cost?
Detained individuals and their families benefit from faster access to location and medical information. U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and private detention contractors take on new data reporting and compliance duties.
Cost & Funding
Is it affordable and responsibly funded?
The bill does not authorize or appropriate a specific dollar amount. It shifts costs onto federal agencies by requiring them to build and maintain a new public website, update records within eight hours of detention, and conduct compliance investigations.
Risks & Implementation
What could go wrong in practice?
The bill requires agencies to update detainee records within eight hours of any detention or transfer, which may be difficult given the number of daily arrests. Coordinating accurate data from private contractors and other law enforcement agencies adds another layer of logistical challenge.
For the actual bill text, see congress.gov.
AI-generated · Published 10/1/2026