H. R. 578

Sarah’s Law

Shown here: Introduced in House (2025-01-21)

To require U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to take into custody certain aliens who have been charged in the United States with a crime that resulted in the death or serious bodily injury of another person, and for other purposes.

1. Short title

This Act may be cited as “Sarah’s Law”.

2. Mandatory detention of certain aliens charged with a crime resulting in death or serious bodily injury

Section 236(c) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1226(c)) is amended—

(1) in paragraph (1)—

(A) in subparagraph (C)—

(i) by striking “sentence” and inserting “sentenced”; and

(ii) by striking “or”;

(B) in subparagraph (D), by striking the comma at the end and inserting “, or”; and

(C) by inserting after subparagraph (D) the following:

(I) is inadmissible under paragraph (6)(A), (6)(C), or (7) of section 212(a),
(II) is deportable under section 237(a)(1)(B) as an alien whose nonimmigrant visa (or other documentation authorizing admission into the United States as a nonimmigrant) has been revoked under section 221(i), or
(III) is deportable under section 237(a)(1)(C)(i), and
(i)
(ii) is charged with, is arrested for, is convicted of, admits having committed, or admits committing acts which constitute the essential elements of any offense that resulted in the death or serious bodily injury (as defined in section 1365(h)(3) of title 18, United States Code) of another person,
(E)

(2) by adding at the end the following:

(3) Notification requirement
Upon encountering or gaining knowledge of an alien described in paragraph (1), the Secretary of Homeland Security shall—
(A) obtain information from law enforcement agencies and from other available sources regarding the identity of any victims of the crimes for which such alien was charged, arrested, or convicted; and
(B) provide the victim or, if the victim is deceased, a parent, guardian, spouse, or closest living relative of such victim, with information, on a timely and ongoing basis, including—
(i) the alien’s full name, aliases, date of birth, and country of nationality;
(ii) the alien’s immigration status and criminal history;
(iii) the alien’s custody status and any changes related to the alien’s custody; and
(iv) a description of any efforts by the United States Government to remove the alien from the United States.
(4) Detainer
The Secretary of Homeland Security shall issue a detainer for an alien described in paragraph (1)(E) and, if the alien is not otherwise detained by Federal, State, or local officials, shall effectively and expeditiously take custody of the alien.

3. Savings provision

Nothing in this Act, or the amendments made by this Act, may be construed to limit the rights of crime victims under any other provision of law, including section 3771 of title 18, United States Code.

2. Mandatory detention of certain aliens charged with a crime resulting in death or serious bodily injury

Section 236(c) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1226(c)) is amended—

(1) in paragraph (1)—

(A) in subparagraph (C)—

(i) by striking “sentence” and inserting “sentenced”; and

(ii) by striking “or”;

(B) in subparagraph (D), by striking the comma at the end and inserting “, or”; and

(C) by inserting after subparagraph (D) the following:

(I) is inadmissible under paragraph (6)(A), (6)(C), or (7) of section 212(a),

(II) is deportable under section 237(a)(1)(B) as an alien whose nonimmigrant visa (or other documentation authorizing admission into the United States as a nonimmigrant) has been revoked under section 221(i), or

(III) is deportable under section 237(a)(1)(C)(i), and

(i)

(ii) is charged with, is arrested for, is convicted of, admits having committed, or admits committing acts which constitute the essential elements of any offense that resulted in the death or serious bodily injury (as defined in section 1365(h)(3) of title 18, United States Code) of another person,

(E)

(2) by adding at the end the following:

(3) Notification requirement

Upon encountering or gaining knowledge of an alien described in paragraph (1), the Secretary of Homeland Security shall—

(A) obtain information from law enforcement agencies and from other available sources regarding the identity of any victims of the crimes for which such alien was charged, arrested, or convicted; and

(B) provide the victim or, if the victim is deceased, a parent, guardian, spouse, or closest living relative of such victim, with information, on a timely and ongoing basis, including—

(i) the alien’s full name, aliases, date of birth, and country of nationality;

(ii) the alien’s immigration status and criminal history;

(iii) the alien’s custody status and any changes related to the alien’s custody; and

(iv) a description of any efforts by the United States Government to remove the alien from the United States.

(4) Detainer

The Secretary of Homeland Security shall issue a detainer for an alien described in paragraph (1)(E) and, if the alien is not otherwise detained by Federal, State, or local officials, shall effectively and expeditiously take custody of the alien.