BE GONE Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 3064
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Immigration
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-04-29: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
- Last Updated
- 2025-12-05T21:58:18Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose of the Legislation
The BE GONE Act (H.R. 3064) aims to strengthen immigration enforcement by classifying sexual assault and aggravated sexual violence as aggravated felonies under U.S. immigration law. This would allow for quicker deportation (removal) of non-U.S. citizens (referred to as "aliens" in the law) convicted of these crimes, prioritizing public safety and efficient processing of serious offenders.
Key Provisions
- Short Title: The bill can be cited as the "Better Enforcement of Grievous Offenses by unNaturalized Emigrants" or the "BE GONE Act."
- Amendment to Immigration Law: It modifies Section 101(a)(43) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), which defines "aggravated felonies" for immigration purposes.
- Makes technical adjustments to existing subparagraphs (T and U) by adding punctuation to allow for a new addition.
- Adds a new subparagraph (V): Explicitly includes "sexual assault and aggravated sexual violence" in the list of aggravated felonies.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Under current INA rules, aggravated felonies trigger severe immigration consequences, such as mandatory deportation, ineligibility for asylum or other relief, and bars on re-entry. Some sexual crimes may already qualify under broader categories (e.g., crimes of violence), but this bill explicitly adds sexual assault and aggravated sexual violence as standalone categories.
- This expands the definition without altering other aspects of the INA, ensuring these offenses are treated uniformly as aggravated felonies regardless of state-level variations in how they are defined or sentenced.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: U.S. immigration authorities, such as Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), would gain clearer authority to expedite removal proceedings, potentially reducing processing times and backlogs for cases involving these crimes. This could streamline enforcement but may require updated training or guidelines.
- On Citizens and Residents: U.S. citizens and lawful residents could see indirect benefits through faster removal of convicted non-citizens, potentially enhancing community safety. However, it does not directly affect citizens' rights or obligations.
- On International Relations: Increased deportations of non-citizens from other countries could strain diplomatic ties, particularly with nations receiving higher numbers of returnees. It might also influence bilateral agreements on criminal record sharing or extradition.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Non-U.S. Citizens Convicted of Specified Crimes: Immigrants, visa holders, or undocumented individuals facing conviction for sexual assault or aggravated sexual violence would face heightened deportation risks, with limited paths to remain in the U.S.
- Immigration Enforcement Agencies: ICE and related bodies would enforce the changes, handling more expedited cases.
- Victims and Advocacy Groups: Organizations supporting crime victims or immigrant rights may be impacted; victims could benefit from quicker offender removal, while immigrant advocates might oppose the broader deportation effects.
- State and Local Law Enforcement: Courts and police would interact more with federal immigration processes when reporting convictions.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal Implications: The change reinforces the INA's framework for classifying crimes, potentially leading to more consistent application across jurisdictions. It could result in litigation if convictions are challenged as not meeting the new federal definition (e.g., due to varying state laws on "sexual assault").
- Constitutional Implications: Non-citizens have due process rights under the U.S. Constitution, so expedited removals must still allow for hearings. This bill does not alter those protections but could raise concerns about fair trials or retroactivity for past convictions.
- Political Implications: The legislation reflects a focus on stringent immigration policies targeting serious crimes, aligning with debates on border security and public safety. It was introduced in the 119th Congress (2025) and referred to the House Judiciary Committee, indicating potential for partisan discussions on immigration reform.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (2)
Rep. Malliotakis, Nicole [R-NY-11], Rep. Brecheen, Josh [R-OK-2]
Recent Actions
- 2025-04-29: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
- 2025-04-29: Introduced in House
- 2025-04-29: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Better Enforcement of Grievous Offenses by unNaturalized Emigrants — issued 2025-04-29 — PDF (2 pages)