H.R. 3781: Visa Overstays Penalties Act (119th Congress) Bill Summary

This bill, known as the Visa Overstays Penalties Act, aims to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to introduce stricter penalties for individuals who overstay their visas or are unlawfully present in the United States. Here are the key points of what the bill proposes:

Expanded Penalties for Illegal Entry or Presence

The bill seeks to enhance penalties specifically for:

Individuals who have illegally entered the United States.
Those who have overstayed their nonimmigrant visas.

Changes in Penalties

The bill makes several specific amendments, including:

Increasing the fines for those who violate immigration laws from a range of $50 to $250 to a new range of $500 to $1,000.
Introducing a provision that allows for more severe penalties for individuals who have previously violated immigration laws.

New Provisions for Visa Overstays

The bill defines specific violations related to visa overstays, stating that:

An individual admitted as a nonimmigrant who fails to maintain their immigration status for an aggregate of 10 days will be considered in violation.
For a first-time offence of this violation, the individual may face a fine or a prison sentence of up to 6 months.
For subsequent violations or if the individual has previous convictions, the penalties could increase to a fine and/or imprisonment for up to 2 years.
In addition, each violation could incur a civil penalty of at least $500, with potential increases for repeat offenders.

Implementation and Legislative Process

This bill was introduced in the House of Representatives and is currently under consideration by the Committee on the Judiciary. The sponsors and co-sponsors of the bill include several members of Congress, indicating a group support for the proposed changes.

Summary of Impacts

Overall, this bill looks to provide stricter enforcement against immigration violations through increased fines and prison time. It specifically targets those who overstay their visa durations, aiming to deter what is seen as misuse of nonimmigrant status in the U.S.