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S 2871 108th Congress Senate

Human Trafficking and Smuggling Penalty Enhancement Act of 2004

Official title: A bill to provide for enhanced criminal penalties for crimes related to slavery and alien smuggling.

Introduced: September 30, 2004 Introduced by: Graham, Lindsey Republican · South Carolina See on congress.gov
Crime and Law Enforcement AliensCapital punishmentChild sexual abuseCivil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
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DeathFamiliesFines (Penalties)Forced laborHomicideImmigrationInternational AffairsKidnappingLabor and EmploymentProstitutionSentences (Criminal procedure)Sentencing guidelinesSlaverySmugglingTerrorism
This bill died when the 108th Congress ended
It never became law before the 108th Congress (2003–2004) 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 30, 2004
Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Sep 30, 2004
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S10068-10069)
Sep 30, 2004
Introduced in Senate
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 Latest action September 30, 2004

Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

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.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
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APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). S. 2871: Human Trafficking and Smuggling Penalty Enhancement Act of 2004. 108th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/108-S-2871/
MLA
"S. 2871: Human Trafficking and Smuggling Penalty Enhancement Act of 2004." 108th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/108-S-2871/.
Bluebook (legal)
S. 2871, 108th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/108-S-2871/.
Markdown link
[S. 2871: Human Trafficking and Smuggling Penalty Enhancement Act of 2004](https://openamerica.io/bill/108-S-2871/)
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