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119-hr-263119th Congress

Transnational Criminal Organization Illicit Spotter Prevention and Elimination Act

Sponsored By: Representative Ciscomani, Juan [R-AZ-6]

Introduced

Summary

Creates new criminal offenses to stop people from tipping off or sabotaging immigration, border, and customs enforcement. It would also extend firearm rules tied to alien smuggling and update related statutes for consistent penalties.

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  • Makes "illicit spotting" a federal crime to knowingly transmit the location, movement, or activities of Federal, State, local, or tribal law enforcement when the intent is to further a federal border-related crime. The offense carries a fine, up to 10 years in prison, or both.
  • Criminalizes knowingly destroying, altering, or constructing to defeat fences, barriers, sensors, cameras, or other physical or electronic devices used to control the border or ports of entry. The offense carries a fine, up to 10 years in prison, or up to 20 years if a firearm is used or possessed.
  • Expands 18 U.S.C. 924(c) to apply to "alien smuggling crimes," defines terms such as "brandish" and "crime of violence," and makes conforming changes across bankruptcy, criminal, and prison statutes while adding the new offense to certain statute of limitations rules.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

3 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 1 costs, 1 mixed.

New crimes for aiding border evasion

The bill would create two federal crimes tied to border enforcement. First, it would ban knowingly sharing law‑enforcement locations or movements to help crimes involving immigration, customs, drugs, agriculture, money, or other border controls. A conviction could mean a fine, up to 10 years in prison, or both. Second, it would ban damaging or defeating border fences, sensors, cameras, or similar devices; that could bring up to 10 years, or up to 20 years if a firearm is used, carried, or possessed in furtherance. Attempts and conspiracies would be punished the same. If enacted, these rules would take effect upon enactment.

Firearm penalties expanded to smuggling crimes

The bill would change the federal gun‑sentencing rule. It would add alien smuggling felonies to the crimes covered. It would also define what it means to brandish a gun, what counts as a crime of violence, and what is a drug trafficking crime. If enacted, more smuggling and related cases could trigger firearm sentencing rules. These changes would take effect upon enactment.

Longer time to prosecute new offenses

The bill would add the new Section 295 crimes to a special statute of limitations rule. Prosecutors would have a longer window to bring these immigration‑related charges. This would increase legal exposure for people accused of these offenses. If enacted, the change would take effect upon enactment.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Ciscomani, Juan [R-AZ-6]

AZ • R

Cosponsors

  • Rep. Kiggans, Jennifer A. [R-VA-2]

    VA • R

    Sponsored 1/9/2025

  • Rep. Lawler, Michael [R-NY-17]

    NY • R

    Sponsored 1/9/2025

  • Rep. Miller-Meeks, Mariannette [R-IA-1]

    IA • R

    Sponsored 1/9/2025

  • Rep. Kennedy, Mike [R-UT-3]

    UT • R

    Sponsored 3/24/2025

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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