Halo Act

This bill, known as the "Halo Act," establishes a new criminal penalty for obstructing Federal immigration enforcement activities by amending title 18 of the United States Code. It defines a "Federal immigration enforcement officer" as any authorized individual engaged in preventing, detecting, investigating, or prosecuting Federal immigration law violations. The core offense involves knowingly violating a verbal warning from such an officer, who is performing a lawful duty, by approaching or remaining within 25 feet of them. This action becomes unlawful if done with the intent to impede or interfere with the officer's duties, threaten them with physical harm, or harass them. "Harass" is specifically defined as knowingly engaging in conduct causing substantial emotional distress without legitimate purpose. Any person found in violation of these provisions faces a criminal penalty. This includes fines, imprisonment for not more than 5 years , or both.