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HR 2312 105th Congress House

Immigrant Slave Trade Punishment Act of 1997

Official title: To amend section 1584 of title 18, United States Code, to clarify that forcing immigrants into slave labor by withholding immigration documents, or by threaten… Show full official titleShow less

Official title: To amend section 1584 of title 18, United States Code, to clarify that forcing immigrants into slave labor by withholding immigration documents, or by threatening to involve immigration authorities, is a violation of such section.

Introduced: July 30, 1997 Introduced by: Schumer, Charles E. Democratic · New York See on congress.gov
Crime and Law Enforcement Alien laborExtortionForced laborIllegal aliens
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ImmigrationInternational AffairsLabor and EmploymentPassportsSentences (Criminal procedure)Visas
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This bill died when the 105th Congress ended
It never became law before the 105th Congress (1997–1998) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 3 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Sep 19, 1997
Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime.
Jul 30, 1997
Introduced in House
Jul 30, 1997
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
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 Latest action September 19, 1997

Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Immigrant Slave Trade Punishment Act of 1997 - Amends Federal criminal law to subject to at least 20 years in prison a person who for pecuniary gain with respect to five or more persons, coerces any legal or illegal immigrant to work by withholding such immigrant's immigration papers, or by threatening to involve the immigration authorities.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
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APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 2312: Immigrant Slave Trade Punishment Act of 1997. 105th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/105-HR-2312/
MLA
"H.R. 2312: Immigrant Slave Trade Punishment Act of 1997." 105th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/105-HR-2312/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 2312, 105th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/105-HR-2312/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 2312: Immigrant Slave Trade Punishment Act of 1997](https://openamerica.io/bill/105-HR-2312/)
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