Congress·In Committee·H.R. 263

Congress targets “spotters” and border equipment damage with new federal crimes and longer prison terms

Transnational Criminal Organization Illicit Spotter Prevention and Elimination Act

about 1 year ago·View on Congress.gov

⏸

Stalled

No legislative action in over 90 days.

Legislative Progress

House

Senate

President

Law

Key Points

Makes it a federal crime to share law enforcement locations or movements if your goal is to help crimes tied to the border (like smuggling drugs or people). Penalty can be up to 10 years in prison.
Creates new penalties for damaging or trying to defeat border control equipment like fences, barriers, sensors, and cameras. Penalty can be up to 10 years in prison.
Raises the maximum penalty to up to 20 years if someone uses, carries, or possesses a firearm while committing the border-equipment destruction offense.
Punishes attempts and conspiracies the same as completing the act, meaning planning or trying can bring the full penalty.
Treats using a firearm during certain human smuggling felonies as a special added offense under federal law, which can increase prison time. Also updates related laws to match these changes.

ImmigrationCriminal JusticeDrug PolicyNational Security

Impact Analysis

Personal Impact

How this policy affects specific groups of people

Negative Impacts(3)

Undocumented

Hurts

Criminal Record

Hurts

Gun Owner

Hurts

Mixed Impacts(6)

Immigrant

Neutral

Green Card

Neutral

Visa Holder

Neutral

Child Tax Credit

Neutral

Federal Employee

Neutral

Tribal Member

Neutral

Milestones

2 milestones2 actions

Jan 9, 2025House

Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Jan 9, 2025

Introduced in House

What Happens Next

Projected impacts based on AI analysis

As soon as the law takes effect after being signed

If enacted, the new federal crime for “illicit spotting” becomes enforceable

Sharing law enforcement location/movement to help certain border-related federal crimes could lead to up to 10 years in prison and fines, even for attempts or conspiracy

As soon as the law takes effect after being signed

If enacted, damaging or bypassing federal border equipment becomes a specific federal offense with higher penalties when firearms are involved

Destroying or trying to defeat fences, sensors, or cameras could bring up to 10 years in prison, or up to 20 years if a firearm is used/carried/possessed in furtherance

Applies to qualifying cases after the effective date

If enacted, firearm penalties expand to cover felony alien-smuggling crimes under federal law

People charged with alien-smuggling felonies who also used/carried a firearm could face added federal prison time under the firearm sentencing rules