Protect America Act

Summary

Conditions certain federal grants and contracts on state and local cooperation with federal immigration enforcement and bans local “sanctuary” policies as a prerequisite for receiving federal funds. It sharply increases criminal and civil penalties for illegal entry and unlawful reentry, requires mandatory detention for some illegal-entry charges, expands federal protections and mandatory minimums for attacks or interference with federal officers, and disqualifies organizations from 501(c)(3) status if they promote, incite, or materially support criminal violence (with a First Amendment carve‑out).

• Conditions certain DOJ, DHS, HUD, and DOT federal funds on state and local cooperation with federal immigration enforcement and prohibits 'sanctuary' policies as a condition of receiving those funds.
• Increases criminal penalties for illegal entry (1–5 years first offense; 2–10 years repeat offenses) and imposes civil fines of $25,000–$100,000 per (attempted) entry.
• Requires mandatory detention for aliens charged with illegal entry until completion of criminal proceedings (no bond or release permitted).
• Creates aggravated unlawful reentry penalties with mandatory imprisonment of 10–20 years for specified prior convictions or removal histories.
• Expands federal obstruction and assault statutes to protect federal officers, adds mandatory minimum sentences, and prohibits reductions below those minimums.
• Makes interference via loud noise devices that impede federal operations an offense, while including a carve-out protecting content-based speech.
• Disqualifies organizations from 501(c)(3) status if they promote, incite, or materially support criminal violence, with a clear First Amendment carve-out; effective for taxable years after enactment.
• False certifications by jurisdictions about cooperation are treated under the False Claims Act and federal officials may not waive the certification requirement.