People who cross the border without inspection commit a crime for improper entry but not an ongoing violation. The government can prosecute you for crossing but not for existing after having done so. This section. section 203. makes virtually any violation of the immigration laws an ongoing criminal act. In one stroke. it would subject the entire undocumented population. estimate by some to be 11 million people. to criminal liability. Now the amendment before us changes the degree of punishment. but it does not alter the underlying issue of criminalizing being alive in the country without documents. I would like to note that. in addition to adults. this would criminalize children who had no decision about coming to the United States.
Keywords matched
undocumented immigration