I 

111TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 2837 

To amend section 276 of the Immigration and Nationality Act to impose 

mandatory sentencing ranges with respect to aliens who reenter the 

United States after having been removed, and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JUNE 11, 2009 

Mr. ISSA introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee 

on the Judiciary 

A BILL 

To amend section 276 of the Immigration and Nationality 

Act to impose mandatory sentencing ranges with respect 

to aliens who reenter the United States after having 

been removed, and for other purposes. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Criminal Alien Ac5 countability Act’’. 

6 SEC. 2. MANDATORY SENTENCING RANGES RELATED TO 

7 REENTRY BY REMOVED ALIEN. 

8 (a) FINDINGS.—The Congress finds as follows: 


jbell on PROD1PC69 with BILLS
2 

•HR 2837 IH

1 (1) The security of the United States is depend2 ent on the Nation’s ability to regulate the immigra3 tion of aliens into the United States. 

4 (2) Removal from the United States of certain 

5 criminal aliens is necessary, and the unauthorized 

6 reentry of those aliens constitutes a threat to the 

7 people of the United States. 

8 (3) The Congress should deter such reentry by 

9 specifying mandatory sentencing ranges for these 

10 crimes. 

11 (b) MANDATORY SENTENCING RANGES FOR REEN12 TERING ALIENS.—Section 276 of the Immigration and 

13 Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1326) is amended— 

14 (1) in subsection (a), in the matter following 

15 paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘imprisoned not more 

16 than 2 years,’’ and insert ‘‘imprisoned for a term of 

17 not less than 1 year and not more than 2 years,’’; 

18 and 

19 (2) in subsection (b)— 

20 (A) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘impris21 oned not more than 10 years,’’ and insert ‘‘im22 prisoned for a term of not less than 5 years and 

23 not more than 10 years,’’; 

24 (B) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘impris25 oned not more than 20 years,’’ and insert ‘‘imVerDate Nov 24 2008 07:17 Jun 12, 2009 Jkt 079200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H2837.IH H2837

jbell on PROD1PC69 with BILLS
3 

•HR 2837 IH

1 prisoned for a term of not less than 10 years 

2 and not more than 20 years,’’; and 

3 (C) in paragraph (4), by striking ‘‘impris4 oned for not more than 10 years,’’ and insert 

5 ‘‘imprisoned for a term of not less than 5 years 

6 and not more than 10 years,’’. 

7 (c) MANDATORY SENTENCING RANGES FOR PERSONS

8 AIDING OR ASSISTING CERTAIN REENTERING ALIENS.— 

9 Section 277 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 

10 U.S.C. 1327) is amended— 

11 (1) by striking ‘‘Any person’’ and inserting ‘‘(a) 

12 Subject to subsection (b), any person’’; and 

13 (2) by adding at the end the following: 

14 ‘‘(b)(1) Any person who knowingly aids or assists any 

15 alien violating section 276(b) to reenter the United States, 

16 or who connives or conspires with any person or persons 

17 to allow, procure, or permit any such alien to reenter the 

18 United States, shall be fined under title 18, United States 

19 Code, or imprisoned for a term imposed under paragraph 

20 (2), or both. 

21 ‘‘(2) The term of imprisonment imposed under para22 graph (1) shall be within the range to which the reentering 

23 alien is subject under section 276(b).’’. 

Æ 


jbell on PROD1PC69 with BILLS