Sponsors (12)
The bill centralizes certain homicide prosecutions in federal courts to provide victims with consistent sentencing and give federal prosecutors broader authority, at the trade‑off of greater exposure to harsher federal penalties for some noncitizens, higher federal costs, and potential conflicts with state and local authorities.
Homicide victims and their families: murder cases involving covered noncitizens can be tried in federal court, giving victims access to federal jurisdiction and more consistent sentencing outcomes across states.
Federal prosecutors and law‑enforcement: DOJ gains authority to pursue uniform penalties (including life or capital sentences for first‑degree murder) in covered-alien murder cases that cross state or jurisdictional lines.
Noncitizens identified as inadmissible or deportable: they may face harsher federal prosecution (including exposure to the death penalty) than similar defendants prosecuted only in state courts.
State and local prosecutors and law‑enforcement: shifting jurisdiction to federal courts could create duplicative jurisdictional conflicts and complicate coordination between federal, state, and immigration authorities.
Taxpayers and the Department of Justice: moving more homicide cases into federal court (and potential death‑penalty litigation) will likely increase prosecution and litigation costs borne by taxpayers and federal resources.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Specifies that certain inadmissible or deportable noncitizens who commit first- or second-degree murder are subject to existing federal murder penalties nationwide.
Official title: To amend title 18, United States Code, to assert jurisdiction over murders committed by certain inadmissible or deportable aliens.
Introduced May 8, 2025 by Morgan Luttrell · Last progress May 8, 2025
Makes certain noncitizens who are inadmissible or deportable under the Immigration and Nationality Act subject to federal murder penalties if they commit first- or second-degree murder anywhere under U.S. jurisdiction. The bill adds a new clause to the federal murder statute to specify that aliens inadmissible under INA 212(a)(6)(A), 212(a)(6)(C), or 212(a)(7) or deportable under INA 237(a)(1)(B) or 237(a)(1)(C)(i) who commit murder may be punished under existing federal penalties (including death or life imprisonment for first-degree murder).