S. 2871: Human Trafficking and Smuggling Penalty Enhancement Act of 2004

108th Congress · introduced 2004-09-30 · Crime and Law Enforcement · Latest: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

Where it came from: introduced 2004-09-30 · official record
Who proposed it: Sen. Graham, Lindsey [R-SC] · what a sponsor is
What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
Where it stands now: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
If it becomes law and spends money: follow the money to money laws, then agencies and contracts and grants.

What does this mean?

Official title

Human Trafficking and Smuggling Penalty Enhancement Act of 2004

Plain summary

Human Trafficking and Smuggling Penalty Enhancement Act of 2004 - Amends the Federal criminal code to provide for enhanced penalties, including the death penalty, for slavery. Modifies alien smuggling prohibitions under the Immigration and Nationality Act to cover engaging in specified actions with knowledge that the violator is acting in reckless disregard of the fact that a person is an alien. Prohibits bringing or attempting to bring an alien to the United States at a place other than a designated port of entry or a place designated by the Under Secretary for Border and Transportation Security, regardless of: (1) whether the alien received prior official authorization to enter the United States; (2) whether the person bringing the alien intended to violate any criminal law; or (3) any future official action which may be taken with respect to that alien. Prohibits the commission of an offense with knowledge or reason to believe that the alien unlawfully brought to or into the United States has engaged in or intends to engage in terrorist activity. Directs the U.S. Sentencing Commission to review and amend the Federal Sentencing Guidelines and related policy statements to implement this Act and to reflect the serious nature of the offenses and penalties referred to in this Act, the growing incidence of alien smuggling, and the need to deter, prevent, and punish such offenses.

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in Senate), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

What a vote does

A “Yea” vote

If it passes both chambers and is signed, it becomes law.

A “Nay” vote

If it is not passed, current law stays as it is.

PSI Sci description of the legislative step (not an opinion).

What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

Human Trafficking and Smuggling Penalty Enhancement Act of 2004

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in Senate)

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The strongest published arguments

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Alternatives

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How did my representative vote? · This bill's floor votes

Officials and money

Sponsor: Sen. Graham, Lindsey [R-SC] · 1 cosponsors

Cost estimate: No cost estimate published yet.

Cosponsors on this site

John Cornyn (R-TX)

No linked floor roll calls in our collected records yet. This does not mean the bill has never had a vote. Check the official bill history.

Words on this page, explained (2)

Authorization: A law that creates or continues a government program and says what it may do, often with a suggested spending ceiling. An authorization alone does not provide money; a separate appropriation does.
Securities: Financial investments that can be bought and sold, such as stocks and bonds.

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in Senate)
Congress.gov
Data: GovInfo BILLSTATUS bulk data (Library of Congress), BILLSTATUS-108s2871.xml <https://www.govinfo.gov/bulkdata/BILLSTATUS/108/s>

Record fed-us-cong108-s2871 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong108 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong108