Justice for Victims of Illegal Alien Murders Act
- Bill Number
- S. 2413
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Crime and Law Enforcement
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-07-23: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
- Last Updated
- 2025-12-05T22:53:52Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The legislation aims to establish federal jurisdiction over murders committed by certain aliens who are inadmissible or deportable under U.S. immigration law, allowing for federal prosecution and specified penalties regardless of where the crime occurs.
Key Provisions
- Short Title: The Act is named the "Justice for Victims of Illegal Alien Murders Act."
- Amendment to Existing Law: It adds a new subsection (d) to Section 1111 of Title 18, United States Code.
- Covered Individuals: Applies to aliens who are:
- Inadmissible under specific provisions of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), including paragraphs (6)(A), (6)(C), or (7) of section 212(a).
- Deportable under subparagraph (B) or (C)(i) of section 237(a)(1) of the INA.
- Penalties:
- First-degree murder: Death or life imprisonment.
- Second-degree murder: Imprisonment for any term of years or life.
- Jurisdiction: Extends to any jurisdiction within the United States, even outside the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This bill introduces a new federal criminal provision by amending the federal murder statute to explicitly cover certain immigration-related aliens. It creates a distinct category of federal murder offenses tied to immigration status, which previously fell primarily under state jurisdiction unless occurring in federal enclaves.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: Increases involvement of federal prosecutors and courts in cases traditionally handled by states; may require coordination between immigration enforcement and criminal justice systems.
- Citizens: Provides a federal avenue for prosecution of murders by specified aliens, potentially affecting victims' families through access to federal penalties.
- International Relations: Could influence U.S. interactions with foreign nationals and their home countries regarding extradition or deportation of individuals facing these charges.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Victims of such murders and their families.
- Federal law enforcement and judicial branches.
- State and local governments handling overlapping criminal cases.
- Aliens subject to the specified inadmissibility or deportability criteria.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
The measure expands federal authority over crimes that may otherwise be state matters, raising questions about the balance between federal and state powers in criminal law. It ties immigration violations directly to enhanced federal murder penalties, potentially affecting due process considerations for noncitizens in the criminal justice system.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (4)
Sen. Britt, Katie Boyd [R-AL], Sen. Budd, Ted [R-NC], Sen. Justice, James C. [R-WV], Sen. Scott, Tim [R-SC]
Recent Actions
- 2025-07-23: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
- 2025-07-23: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- Justice for Victims of Illegal Alien Murders Act — issued 2025-07-23 — PDF (2 pages)