Transnational Criminal Organization Illicit Spotter Prevention and Elimination Act

Senate Bill

S. 50

119th Congress

Transnational Criminal Organization Illicit Spotter Prevention and Elimination Act

In Committee

Introduced:Jan 9, 2025

Primary Sponsor

Joni Ernst

Senator

Republican

IA

Cosponsors

4

Quick Stats

Policy Area

Immigration

Summary

This bill creates criminal penalties for conduct that interferes with U.S. border control measures. Anyone who knowingly transmits law enforcement locations or activities to further immigration, customs, or drug-related crimes can face up to 10 years imprisonment. Damaging or destroying border control devices also carries up to 10 years in prison. The bill includes enhanced penalties for carrying or using firearms in connection with criminal immigration violations, such as helping felons enter the country illegally. It targets cartel spotters who assist smuggling operations.

Latest Action

Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

AI Summary

Plain-English explanation of this bill

This bill creates criminal penalties for conduct that interferes with U.S. border control measures. Anyone who knowingly transmits law enforcement locations or activities to further immigration, customs, or drug-related crimes can face up to 10 years imprisonment. Damaging or destroying border control devices also carries up to 10 years in prison. The bill includes enhanced penalties for carrying or using firearms in connection with criminal immigration violations, such as helping felons enter the country illegally. It targets cartel spotters who assist smuggling operations.

Last updated: 1/4/2026

Official Summary

Congressional Research Service summary

Transnational Criminal Organization Illicit Spotter Prevention and Elimination ActThis bill provides for criminal penalties for certain conduct that interferes with U.S. border control measures.Specifically, a person who knowingly transmits the location or activities of law enforcement with the intent to further a crime related to immigration, customs, controlled substances, or other border controls may be imprisoned for a maximum of 10 years. A person who knowingly damages or destroys a device deployed to control the border or a port of entry may be imprisoned for a maximum of 10 years.Additionally, the bill provides for enhanced punishment for carrying or using a firearm in connection with certain criminal immigration violations such as assisting a non-U.S. national (alien under federal law) who is inadmissible due to a felony conviction enter the United States.

Key Points

Main provisions of the bill

Creates 10-year penalty for transmitting law enforcement locations to aid smuggling
Criminalizes damaging border control devices with up to 10 years imprisonment
Targets cartel spotters who assist transnational criminal organizations
Enhances penalties for using firearms in immigration crimes
Addresses those helping convicted felons illegally enter the U.S.

How This Impacts Americans

Potential effects on citizens and communities

For border agents: Legal tools against those who surveil and report their activities. For cartels: Increased risk for spotters and lookouts in smuggling operations. For border communities: Potential deterrent against local cooperation with criminal organizations. For civil liberties advocates: Concerns about scope of criminalizing information sharing. For prosecutors: New charges for border-related criminal activity.

Policy Areas

Primary Policy Area

Immigration

Scope & Jurisdiction

Jurisdiction Level

federal

Congressional Session

119th Congress

Citation Reference

50, 119th Congress (2025). "Transnational Criminal Organization Illicit Spotter Prevention and Elimination Act". Source: Voter's Right Platform. https://votersright.org/bills/118-s-50