Thread: Bayh: Make immigrant smuggling a felony

Bayh: Make immigrant smuggling a felony

Under current law, it is a misdemeanor to smuggle illegal immigrants into the United States.

Sen. Bayh wants to make it a felony, punishable by five years in prison, and has introduced a bill to do so called the Alien Smuggling and Terrorism Prevention Law Enforcement Act of 2007. Sen. Lindsay Graham, R-S.C. is the co-sponsor.

Family members trying to bring relatives across the border still would fall under misdemeanor provisions.

"Alien smuggling is a transnational crime problem that poses a significant risk to national security and public safety," Bayh said in a statement. "Those who break our immigration laws for financial gain deserve more than a slap on the wrist. This legislation sends a message to U.S. attorneys that we want these offenders federally prosecuted to the maximum extent of the law."

The senator cited a Pew Research Center estimate that 700,000 to 800,000 people enter this country illegally every year. Many come from smuggling operations, but there have been only 2,661 prosecutions this year under the federal law, according to Bayh.

A similar bill, sponsored by Rep. Baron Hill, D-9th District, Indiana, passed the House in May.
http://www.courier-journal.com/apps/pbc ... 008/NEWS01

There are a bazillion bills for all manner of stopping , enforcing and ending illegal immigration

NONE OF THEM will even get called up for a vote , nothing for enforcement

But I bet we will sure see more amnesty and illegal alien give aways come up

Family members trying to bring relatives across the border still would fall under misdemeanor provisions.

Is a 5th cousin a relative? How about step-relatives?
Felony discrimination--smuggling is smuggling.
That's like rationalizing stealing a van is a felony but stealing a compact car is a misdemeanor. Same crime but different charges depending on the subject.

And whether you're an honest man, or whether you're a thief, Depends on whose solicitor has given me my brief.
Benjamin Franklin

Family members trying to bring relatives across the border still would fall under misdemeanor provisions.

Now that makes a lot of sense! Like MyAmerica said, smuggling is smuggling. Isn't lady justice is supposed to be blind?

It's Indiana's "BAYH"...Not to be trusted...Only doing this to look like he is doing something about illegal immigration.

Family members trying to bring relatives across the border still would fall under misdemeanor provisions.

The whole bill is meaningless with the provision above. How does one prove there related or not...