Justice for Victims of Illegal Alien Murders Act

This bill would amend the federal murder statute (18 U.S.C. § 1111) to create federal jurisdiction over murders committed by certain noncitizens who are either inadmissible or deportable under the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). Specifically, it would apply to aliens who are inadmissible under certain INA grounds or deportable under specific removal provisions, and who are found guilty of murder. For those killers, the bill mandates severe penalties: death or life imprisonment for first-degree murder, and imprisonment for any term of years or life for second-degree murder. The provision would apply in any jurisdiction within the United States, including areas outside the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction, effectively allowing federal courts to prosecute these murders regardless of where the crime occurred in the country. In short, the bill expands federal authority to prosecute murders committed by certain illegal or removable aliens and ties those convictions to very harsh penalties, regardless of where the crime took place in the U.S.