WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Senator Jim Banks introduced the Visa Overstay Penalties Act. This legislation closes a dangerous loophole in U.S. immigration law by classifying visa overstays as a criminal offense, on par with illegal border crossings. The bill imposes up to six months of jail time for first-time offenders and up to two years for repeat offenders, while dramatically increasing civil fines from as little as $50 to a maximum of $1,000, with penalties doubling for repeat violations. It ensures that unlawful presence is treated as the serious national security threat it is.

Senator Jim Banks (R-Ind.) said, “The Boulder terrorist and 9/11 hijackers didn’t sneak in, they overstayed visas. That’s just as serious and just as dangerous. My bill cracks down on visa overstays with crim

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