S3179-119

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Halo Act.

2. Criminal penalty for obstructing immigration enforcement activities Chapter 73 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: In this section: The term Federal immigration enforcement officer means any officer, agent, or employee of the United States authorized by law or by a government agency to engage in or supervise the prevention, detection, investigation, or prosecution of any violation of Federal immigration law. The term harass means to knowingly engage in a course of conduct directed at a Federal immigration enforcement officer that intentionally causes substantial emotional distress in that Federal immigration enforcement officer and serves no legitimate purpose. It shall be unlawful for a person, after receiving a verbal warning not to approach from an individual whom the person knows or reasonably should know is a Federal immigration enforcement officer, and who is engaged in the lawful performance of a legal duty, to knowingly violate the warning and approach or remain within 25 feet of the Federal immigration enforcement officer with the intent to— impede or interfere with the ability of the Federal immigration enforcement officer to perform that legal duty; threaten the Federal immigration enforcement officer with physical harm; or harass the Federal immigration enforcement officer. Any person who violates subsection (b) shall be fined under this title, imprisoned for not more than 5 years, or both. The table of sections for chapter 73 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: 1522.Obstructing immigration enforcement activities (a)DefinitionsIn this section: (1)Federal immigration enforcement officerThe term Federal immigration enforcement officer means any officer, agent, or employee of the United States authorized by law or by a government agency to engage in or supervise the prevention, detection, investigation, or prosecution of any violation of Federal immigration law. (2)HarassThe term harass means to knowingly engage in a course of conduct directed at a Federal immigration enforcement officer that intentionally causes substantial emotional distress in that Federal immigration enforcement officer and serves no legitimate purpose. (b)OffenseIt shall be unlawful for a person, after receiving a verbal warning not to approach from an individual whom the person knows or reasonably should know is a Federal immigration enforcement officer, and who is engaged in the lawful performance of a legal duty, to knowingly violate the warning and approach or remain within 25 feet of the Federal immigration enforcement officer with the intent to— (1)impede or interfere with the ability of the Federal immigration enforcement officer to perform that legal duty; (2)threaten the Federal immigration enforcement officer with physical harm; or (3)harass the Federal immigration enforcement officer. (c)PenaltyAny person who violates subsection (b) shall be fined under this title, imprisoned for not more than 5 years, or both.. 1522. Obstructing immigration enforcement activities..

1522. Obstructing immigration enforcement activities In this section: The term Federal immigration enforcement officer means any officer, agent, or employee of the United States authorized by law or by a government agency to engage in or supervise the prevention, detection, investigation, or prosecution of any violation of Federal immigration law. The term harass means to knowingly engage in a course of conduct directed at a Federal immigration enforcement officer that intentionally causes substantial emotional distress in that Federal immigration enforcement officer and serves no legitimate purpose. It shall be unlawful for a person, after receiving a verbal warning not to approach from an individual whom the person knows or reasonably should know is a Federal immigration enforcement officer, and who is engaged in the lawful performance of a legal duty, to knowingly violate the warning and approach or remain within 25 feet of the Federal immigration enforcement officer with the intent to— impede or interfere with the ability of the Federal immigration enforcement officer to perform that legal duty; threaten the Federal immigration enforcement officer with physical harm; or harass the Federal immigration enforcement officer. Any person who violates subsection (b) shall be fined under this title, imprisoned for not more than 5 years, or both.