State Rep. Chip Brown (R-Hollinger's Island) is seeking to pass a bill in the 2025 legislative session mandating increased penalties for all felony crimes if the offender is in the country illegally.
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Current state law does not have mandatory penalty enhancement related to an offender's immigration status. House Bill 3 (HB3) would create a series of mandated enhancements applied to offenders convicted of a felony if the offender is an illegal alien.
The bill would also provide that an illegal alien who is convicted of a misdemeanor where the victim was a minor shall be sentenced under the guidelines consistent with that of a Class C felony.
In the bill, "illegal alien" means an "individual not entitled to lawfully reside or work in the United States."
The enhancements require that upon conviction of a Class D felony, an illegal alien will be sentenced to a Class C felony. If convicted of a Class C felony, the offender would be sentenced congruent with a Class B offense. A Class B felony would be punished as a Class A.
For an illegal alien convicted of a Class A felony, the punishment will be life in prison or a term longer than 15 years and shorter than 99 years.
Additionally, any misdemeanor crime committed by an illegal alien will be punished as a Class C felony, which carries with it a sentence of one to ten years and a maximum fine of $15,000.
To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email craig.monger@1819news.com.
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