Why This Bill Should Be Opposed 

While framed as an anti-trafficking measure, this bill dangerously conflates human trafficking with immigration enforcement, creating sweeping new felonies that will harm vulnerable people, families, and service providers — while doing little to stop real trafficking.

 Key Problems 

1. Criminalizes humanitarian aid and everyday help 

The definition of “human smuggling” is so broad it can criminalize: 

• Church volunteers driving migrants to shelters 
• Neighbors giving rides or housing 
• Domestic violence shelters, food banks, or nonprofit workers 
• Employers offering temporary housing 
• Community members helping migrants reach medical care 

This turns compassion into a felony. 

2. Redefines immigration as violent crime 

Transporting or harboring an undocumented adult becomes a felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison, even without force, coercion, fraud, or exploitation. This is not trafficking. It is immigration enforcement by another name. 

 3. Creates mass incarceration and extreme sentencing 

The bill imposes: 

• Mandatory prison sentences 
• No-parole provisions 
• Asset forfeiture 
• Long determinate sentences (up to 50 years) 

These penalties are wildly disproportionate and will overwhelm courts, jails, and families. 

 4. Asset forfeiture invites abuse 

Vehicles, homes, and property can be seized if used to “facilitate” smuggling. This creates financial incentives for over-policing and wrongful seizures. 

 5. Undermines real trafficking investigations 

By flooding law enforcement with immigration-related cases, the bill diverts resources away from actual trafficking, coercion, and sexual exploitation. 

It weakens — not strengthens — protections for trafficking victims. 

 6. Harms victims and witnesses 

Undocumented victims may avoid: 

• Reporting abuse 
• Seeking medical care 
• Cooperating with police 

Out of fear that helpers or family members will be prosecuted. 

 7. Federal overreach into immigration law Immigration is a federal matter. 

This bill risks constitutional challenges, legal chaos, and costly litigation. 

 Bottom Line 

This bill: 

• Does not meaningfully improve anti-trafficking enforcement 
• Criminalizes humanitarian assistance 
• Expands mass incarceration 
• Invites asset-forfeiture abuse 
• Scares victims away from help 
• Duplicates and conflicts with federal law It should be rejected or stripped of all “human smuggling” provisions.