Introduced by Senator Ashley Moody (R-FL), the “Halo Act” mirrors legislation she championed previously as Florida’s Attorney General. The federal version seeks to criminalize the act of knowingly remaining within 25 feet of a federal immigration officer after being ordered to back away, provided the intent is to impede duties, threaten physical harm, or harass the agent.
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Proponents of the legislation argue that the political volatility surrounding immigration enforcement has made the job increasingly dangerous for field agents. Senator Blackburn cited internal figures suggesting a massive spike in physical altercations, claiming assaults on Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers have surged by more than 1,150% compared to the previous year.
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The text of the bill (S. 119th Congress) outlines specific legal thresholds for an arrest. It creates a new section in Title 18 of the United States Code, defining “harass” as conduct that intentionally causes “substantial emotional distress” and serves “no legitimate purpose.”
Under the proposed statute, a violation occurs only if a person defies a verbal warning to retreat and persists in close proximity with the intent to interfere. Those convicted under the act could face steep consequences, including fines and up to five years in federal prison.
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The framework is a direct export of Florida policy. The state’s existing “Halo Law” provides a similar 25-foot protective radius for local first responders. Moody is now attempting to federalize that standard, specifically tailoring it to the current climate facing immigration enforcement teams across the country.
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* Original Article:
tampafp.com/florida-sen-ashley-moody-demands-25-foot-halo-to-shield-agents-from-harassment/