Halo Act
Congress Proposes New Federal Crime for Approaching Immigration Officers After a Warning
Stalled
No legislative action in over 90 days.
↔Companion bill: Rep. Rulli Introduces Halo Act to Create 25-Foot Buffer Zone Around Immigration OfficersLegislative Progress
Key Points
- Creates a new federal crime for getting within 25 feet of a federal immigration officer after the officer gives a verbal warning not to approach.
- To be guilty, a person must knowingly ignore the warning and be close to the officer with intent to interfere with the officer’s work, threaten physical harm, or harass the officer.
- Defines “harass” as a repeated pattern of behavior meant to cause serious emotional distress and having no legitimate purpose.
- Penalties could include a fine and up to 5 years in prison if convicted.
- This could affect protests, filming, or confronting officers during immigration operations, especially after an officer tells someone to stay back.
Impact Analysis
Personal Impact
How this policy affects specific groups of people
Milestones
Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Sent to a congressional committee for expert review. The committee decides whether this bill moves forward.
Introduced in Senate
The bill was officially filed and given a number. It now enters the legislative queue.
Votes
No votes have been recorded for this legislation yet.
Related News
5 articles
Moody moves to protect federal immigration officers with new penalty bill
Covers the Halo Act proposal creating penalties (up to 5 years) for approaching within 25 feet of federal immigration officers after a warning, with intent to interfere, threaten, or harass.
Florida-style ‘Halo Act’ heads to Capitol Hill amid ICE enforcement tensions
Explains Sen. Ashley Moody’s Halo Act: a 25-foot stand-back rule after a verbal warning, with penalties up to 5 years if intent is interference, threats, or harassment; notes Florida-law inspiration and free-speech debate.
Florida-style ‘Halo Act’ heads to Capitol Hill amid ICE enforcement tensions
Syndicated reporting on the Halo Act proposal creating a 25-foot buffer after a warning around federal immigration enforcement officers, with intent-based elements and up to 5 years in prison.
Source Information
Document Type
Congressional Bill
Official Title
Halo Act
Data Sources
Sponsor
Cosponsors
(12)Analysis generated by AI. Always verify with official sources.