Recent Legislative Developments on Alien Smuggling

From CRS by way of OpenCRS: Alien Smuggling: Recent Legislative Developments (May 22, 2008)(pdf).

Summary: The primary statutory provision proscribing alien smuggling is §274 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). INA §274 proscribes a broad spectrum of activities that would aid aliens to enter and live within the United States without proper legal status. Recently in Congress, a flurry of proposed legislation has been introduced addressing alien smuggling. H.R. 4088/S. 2366/S. 2368 (the SAVE Act), the House-passed H.R. 2399, its companion bill S. 2463, and the House-passed H.R. 2830 all contain similar language that would amend both the INA and Title 18 of the U.S. Code. These bills would significantly alter the wording and structure of INA §274, expanding its scope. They would also add alien smuggling provisions in §2237 of Title 18, which would enhance sentencing for disobeying federal officials on the high seas while engaging in alien smuggling.