A bill for an act establishing the criminal offense of human smuggling, and providing penalties.

This bill establishes human smuggling as a criminal offense in Iowa. It makes it illegal to knowingly transport, harbor, or conceal someone entering the U.S. without proper documentation when the person benefits financially and knows the individual is likely to be exploited. Standard human smuggling is a class D felony (up to 5 years in prison and fines up to $10,245), while aggravated cases involving weapons, bodily harm, or sexual exploitation are class B felonies (up to 25 years in prison). The law directly affects individuals who facilitate undocumented immigration for financial gain, particularly those who exploit vulnerable people.