Sponsors (10)
The bill strengthens federal tools to deter and punish dangerous vehicle evasion—potentially improving public safety and clarifying enforcement—at the cost of expanded criminal and immigration consequences for noncitizens (and some people near the border), increased government enforcement and reporting costs, and heightened due-process and privacy risks for vulnerable individuals.
People in border and nearby communities face reduced risk from high-speed vehicle chases and dangerous evasion because the bill creates stronger deterrents and penalties for vehicle evasion.
Federal, state, and local law enforcement and immigration/public-safety agencies gain clearer statutory authority to prosecute vehicle-evasion offenses and to remove or deny admission to noncitizens who commit or admit to such offenses, potentially simplifying enforcement decisions.
Victims of chases that cause injury or death gain access to stronger criminal penalties against responsible drivers, including the possibility of lengthy imprisonment for fatal incidents.
Noncitizens convicted of, or who admitted to, vehicle-evasion conduct would become inadmissible or deportable and lose eligibility for asylum and related relief, reducing protections for asylum-seekers and others facing persecution.
People fleeing law enforcement near the border — including migrants and drivers — face new federal criminal exposure and the prospect of lengthy prison terms, expanding criminalization of border-area encounters.
Admissions, plea statements, or other admissions of conduct could bar people from immigration relief even when those statements were coerced, mistaken, or later recanted, increasing the risk of wrongful removal and due-process concerns.
Based on analysis of 4 sections of legislative text.
Makes fleeing Border Patrol (or assisting officers) by vehicle within 100 miles of the border a federal crime with prison terms, adds immigration removal consequences, and requires annual DOJ–DHS reporting.
Official title: Impose criminal and immigration penalties for intentionally fleeing a pursuing Federal officer while operating a motor vehicle.
Introduced February 11, 2025 by Rafael Edward Cruz · Last progress February 11, 2025
Creates a new federal crime for driving a vehicle within 100 miles of any U.S. border while intentionally fleeing a pursuing U.S. Border Patrol agent or any federal/state/local officer assisting Border Patrol, with escalating prison terms based on injury or death. It also makes convictions or admissions under that new offense a categorical basis for inadmissibility, deportability, and denial of asylum and other relief, and requires annual reporting to Congress on counts, charging, apprehension, and penalty outcomes.