Transnational Criminal Organization Illicit Spotter Prevention and Elimination Act

This bill, called the Transnational Criminal Organization Illicit Spotter Prevention and Elimination Act, aims to stop people from helping others dodge immigration, border, and customs controls. It creates new crimes and tough penalties for “spotting” and for damaging border equipment.

It makes it a federal crime to knowingly share the location or activities of law enforcement to help crimes tied to immigration, customs, drugs, or other border controls, with penalties up to 10 years in prison. It also sets up to 10 years in prison for damaging or destroying devices used to control the border or a port of entry, like sensors or cameras. Punishments increase if someone carries or uses a gun while committing certain immigration crimes, such as helping a person with a felony record who is not allowed to enter the United States to come in anyway.

• Who is affected: People who share officer locations to help crimes; people who damage border control equipment; people who use or carry guns during certain immigration crimes.
• What changes: New federal crimes for “spotting” and for damaging border devices; tougher penalties tied to firearms in related crimes.