PRICE Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 5113
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Crime and Law Enforcement
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-09-03: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
- Last Updated
- 2025-12-11T09:07:43Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The "Protect and Respect ICE Act" (or "PRICE Act") aims to enhance protections for officers and employees of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) by increasing criminal penalties for assaults, resistance, or interference against them. This legislation seeks to deter such actions and emphasize the seriousness of crimes targeting ICE personnel.
Key Provisions
- Amendment to Existing Law: The bill modifies Section 111 of Title 18, United States Code (which covers crimes against federal officers), by adding a new subsection (c).
- Enhanced Penalties: For violations involving ICE officers or employees, the maximum term of imprisonment is doubled, and the maximum fine is adjusted proportionally to match the increased prison term.
- Structural Changes: The current subsection (c) of Section 111 is redesignated as subsection (d) to accommodate the new provision.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Under current law (18 U.S.C. § 111), penalties for assaulting, resisting, or impeding federal officers range from fines and up to 1 year in prison for simple offenses, up to 8 years or more if a deadly weapon is used or serious injury occurs.
- This bill introduces targeted enhancements specifically for ICE personnel, doubling the maximum imprisonment (e.g., from 1 year to 2 years for basic offenses, or from 8 years to 16 years for aggravated ones) and scaling fines accordingly, without altering penalties for other federal officers.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: Strengthens ICE's operational safety, potentially reducing risks to personnel during immigration enforcement activities and aiding recruitment/retention in the agency.
- On Citizens: Increases deterrence for individuals who might resist or assault ICE officers, leading to harsher sentences for offenders, which could disproportionately affect communities involved in immigration matters.
- On International Relations: Minimal direct impact, though it may signal a firmer U.S. stance on protecting immigration enforcement, potentially influencing perceptions of U.S. border policies abroad.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- ICE Officers and Employees: Primary beneficiaries, gaining stronger legal protections against violence or interference.
- Federal Law Enforcement and Judiciary: The Department of Justice and courts will enforce and adjudicate these elevated penalties, requiring updates to sentencing guidelines.
- Citizens and Immigrants: Individuals facing ICE (e.g., during arrests or deportations) may face steeper consequences for resistance, affecting due process in immigration encounters.
- Congress and Policymakers: Sponsors (e.g., Rep. Hinson and co-introducers) represent interests in bolstering immigration enforcement.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: The bill creates a subclass of enhanced penalties within a general federal statute, which could raise questions about uniform application of laws but aligns with existing provisions for specific officer protections (e.g., for FBI or Secret Service). No explicit constitutional challenges are evident, as it builds on established federal authority over officer safety.
- Constitutional: Potential scrutiny under the Equal Protection Clause if seen as singling out ICE without justification, though courts have upheld similar agency-specific enhancements as rationally related to protecting vital government functions.
- Political: Reflects priorities in immigration policy debates, emphasizing support for ICE amid controversies over enforcement tactics; passage could influence partisan discussions on law enforcement funding and border security.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (12)
Rep. Knott, Brad [R-NC-13], Rep. Harshbarger, Diana [R-TN-1], Rep. Flood, Mike [R-NE-1], Rep. Hamadeh, Abraham J. [R-AZ-8], Rep. Moore, Barry [R-AL-1], Rep. Rutherford, John H. [R-FL-5], Rep. Bacon, Don [R-NE-2], Rep. Lee, Laurel M. [R-FL-15], Rep. Jackson, Ronny [R-TX-13], Rep. Nehls, Troy E. [R-TX-22], Rep. Guest, Michael [R-MS-3], Rep. Carter, John R. [R-TX-31]
Recent Actions
- 2025-09-03: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
- 2025-09-03: Introduced in House
- 2025-09-03: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Protect and Respect ICE Act — issued 2025-09-03 — PDF (2 pages)