Updated 49 minutes ago
Last progress July 17, 2025 (6 months ago)
Creates a new criminal statute and removes the usual time limit for prosecuting certain espionage- and citizenship-related crimes so that, in specified circumstances, prosecutions for those covered offenses can be started at any time. It also updates the Title 18 table of sections to list the new provision and makes a small wording change to the Internal Security Act of 1950. The change mainly affects people accused of espionage or of obtaining U.S. citizenship unlawfully, and it affects prosecutors and courts by extending the period during which they may bring charges; it does not authorize new spending or create large new administrative programs.
Adds a new section numbered 3302, titled “Espionage offenses,” to title 18, United States Code.
Provides that, notwithstanding any other law, an indictment may be found or an information may be instituted at any time without limitation (i.e., no statute-of-limitations time limit) for a violation of section 951 or a conspiracy to violate that section.
Provides that an indictment or information may be filed at any time without limitation for a violation of section 794 or a conspiracy to violate that section.
Provides that an indictment or information may be filed at any time without limitation for a violation of section 1425, but only if the unlawful-naturalization offense was committed to facilitate a violation of section 951.
Makes a clerical amendment by adding the new section to the table of sections for title 18.
Who is affected and how:
People accused of the covered offenses: Individuals alleged to have committed the specified espionage offenses or to have unlawfully procured U.S. citizenship are most directly affected because prosecutors may initiate charges at any time under the new provision. That increases the period during which they may be investigated and charged.
Federal prosecutors and investigators: The Department of Justice, federal law enforcement, and national-security investigators gain broader authority to pursue prosecutions in covered cases without being barred by the usual statute-of-limitations deadlines. This may change investigative priorities for long-standing or reopened matters.
Courts and the judiciary: Federal courts will see any resulting cases and may need to resolve procedural or constitutional questions that arise from removing or extending limitation periods for specific crimes (for example, challenges based on due process or fairness in delayed prosecutions).
Intelligence and national‑security stakeholders: Agencies that investigate espionage may find it administratively and operationally useful to know prosecutions can be pursued regardless of elapsed time, particularly for cases uncovered long after the alleged misconduct.
Civil liberties and defense counsel concerns: Defense attorneys, civil‑liberties groups, and affected communities may raise concerns about indefinite exposure to prosecution, evidentiary reliability in long‑delayed prosecutions, and fairness if key witnesses or records are lost over time.
Overall effect: The change narrows in scope (applies to particular espionage- and citizenship-related offenses) but has outsized legal impact for those specific cases by eliminating the usual time-bar defenses; it does not impose new fiscal obligations on governments or create new administrative grant or programmatic burdens.
Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Last progress July 9, 2025 (7 months ago)
Introduced on July 9, 2025 by John Cornyn