Justice for American Victims of Illegal Aliens Act

This bill, titled the Justice for American Victims of Illegal Aliens Act, would amend federal law to add a new aggravating factor to be considered when determining whether a sentence of death is warranted in federal cases. Specifically, it creates a new factor for defendants who are illegal aliens (i.e., individuals who entered or remained in the United States in violation of federal law) and who have killed, attempted to kill, or conspired to kill a United States citizen. In practical terms, if the defendant meets these criteria, prosecutors could rely on this factor when seeking the death penalty in federal murders. The bill is a proposal that would modify the list of aggravating factors used in death penalty determinations (found in 18 U.S.C. 3592(c)); it has been introduced in the House and referred to the Judiciary Committee. It is not a stand-alone crime or a new offense; it changes how certain cases are evaluated for possible capital punishment.