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119-s-1675119th Congress

Justice for American Victims of Illegal Aliens Act

Sponsored By: Senator Cornyn, John [R-TX]

Introduced

Summary

Adds immigration status as a capital sentencing aggravating factor. This bill would create a new aggravating circumstance in federal death-penalty law for a defendant who is unlawfully present and convicted of killing, attempting to kill, or conspiring to kill a U.S. citizen.

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  • Noncitizen defendants: A person who entered, remained in, or came to the United States in violation of federal law and is convicted of those crimes would have that status listed as an additional factor prosecutors and judges can weigh when deciding whether to seek or impose the death penalty.
  • Prosecutors and judges: The change gives courts one more enumerated factor in 18 U.S.C. 3592(c) to consider during capital sentencing hearings.
  • Scope and limits: The text adds paragraph (17) to the existing list of aggravating factors in Section 3592(c) and leaves the rest of the statutory list intact. It includes no funding, new programs, or procedural amendments in the text provided.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

1 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.

New death‑penalty factor for noncitizens

This bill would add an "illegal alien" aggravating factor to federal death penalty sentencing. It would apply when a defendant is a noncitizen who came to, entered, or remains in the United States in violation of federal law. It would also require that the person was convicted of killing, attempting to kill, or conspiring to kill a U.S. citizen. If enacted, prosecutors and juries could consider this factor when deciding whether to seek or impose a death sentence in qualifying federal murder cases. The bill does not change other aggravating factors or provide funding or implementation rules.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Cornyn, John [R-TX]

TX • R

Cosponsors

  • Sen. Banks, Jim [R-IN]

    IN • R

    Sponsored 5/8/2025

  • Sen. Crapo, Mike [R-ID]

    ID • R

    Sponsored 5/8/2025

  • Sen. Daines, Steve [R-MT]

    MT • R

    Sponsored 5/8/2025

  • Sen. Ricketts, Pete [R-NE]

    NE • R

    Sponsored 5/8/2025

  • Sen. Risch, James E. [R-ID]

    ID • R

    Sponsored 5/8/2025

  • Sen. Scott, Tim [R-SC]

    SC • R

    Sponsored 5/8/2025

  • Sen. Tuberville, Tommy [R-AL]

    AL • R

    Sponsored 5/8/2025

  • Sen. Justice, James C. [R-WV]

    WV • R

    Sponsored 5/8/2025

  • Sen. Tillis, Thomas [R-NC]

    NC • R

    Sponsored 5/8/2025

  • Sen. Blackburn, Marsha [R-TN]

    TN • R

    Sponsored 5/8/2025

  • Sen. Hagerty, Bill [R-TN]

    TN • R

    Sponsored 5/8/2025

  • Sen. Budd, Ted [R-NC]

    NC • R

    Sponsored 5/13/2025

  • Sen. Britt, Katie Boyd [R-AL]

    AL • R

    Sponsored 5/13/2025

  • Sen. McCormick, David [R-PA]

    PA • R

    Sponsored 11/18/2025

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

View on Congress.gov
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