Protecting Immigrant Victims of Domestic Violence Act

Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

Congressional Research Service

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in Senate · Feb 7, 2019

Protecting Immigrant Victims of Domestic Violence Act

This bill allows an abused spouse or child whose immigrant status is derived from another alien (the principal alien) to obtain immigrant status independent of the principal alien under the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA).

Such an abused spouse or child must be accompanying or following to join the principal alien, and have been subject to battery or extreme cruelty by the principal alien. An abused individual with immigrant status shall receive employment authorization, be eligible for renewal or extension of status, and become an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence under certain conditions.

Currently, the VAWA provides a path to immigrant status to abused individuals who derive their status from a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident, but not to those covered under this bill.

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People & committees

Who introduced it

Sen. Klobuchar, Amy [D-MN] · D–MN

Committees

Judiciary Committee

3 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Legislative record

Actions

A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.

Feb 7, 2019
Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Feb 7, 2019
Introduced in Senate

Primary sources

Bill text & related measures

Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.

Introduced in Senate · Feb 7, 2019 Formatted Text PDF Formatted XML

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

S 260 · Protecting Immigrant Victims of Domestic Violence Act

Source last updated: Aug 10, 2026. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

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Objective

Analyze S.415 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

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Discuss S.415, 116th Congress: Protecting Immigrant Victims of Domestic Violence Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/senate-bill/415

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2019-02-07.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/116/bills/s415/BILLS-116s415is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-08-10T11:51:27Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Analyze S.415 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

Fairness and public impact

Progressive lens

Examine S.415 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss S.415, 116th Congress: Protecting Immigrant Victims of Domestic Violence Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/senate-bill/415

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2019-02-07.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/116/bills/s415/BILLS-116s415is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-08-10T11:51:27Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.415 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

Institutions and government scope

Conservative lens

Examine S.415 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss S.415, 116th Congress: Protecting Immigrant Victims of Domestic Violence Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/senate-bill/415

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2019-02-07.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/116/bills/s415/BILLS-116s415is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-08-10T11:51:27Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.415 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

Individual rights and government power

Liberty lens

Examine S.415 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss S.415, 116th Congress: Protecting Immigrant Victims of Domestic Violence Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/senate-bill/415

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 2019-02-07.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/116/bills/s415/BILLS-116s415is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-08-10T11:51:27Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.415 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.