Monday, July 20, 2026

U.S. senator proposes new bill to criminalise visa overstay with up to two years’ jail

“This is about national security. The Boulder terrorist and 9/11 hijackers didn’t sneak in. They overstayed visas,” Mr Banks said.

• June 5, 2025
Jim Banks
Jim Banks

U S. Senator Jim Banks is clamouring for visa overstay to be classified as a federal offence that should carry the same penalties as those imposed on persons who enter the United States illegally in a new bill titled the Visa Overstay Penalties Act.

The bill seeks to criminalise visa overstay and penalise offenders in the same manner as those crossing the U.S. border illegally and proposes a two-year jail term for violators.

Following the tragic Molotov cocktail attack on pro-Israel protesters in Colorado last weekend when eight victims aged between 52 and 88 were injured, Mr Bank stated that such attacks could be averted if the government bore down on persons who overstayed their visa given the main suspect, Mohamed Sabry Soliman, an Egyptian citizen who travelled to the U.S. in 2023 remained there despite his visa expiring.

Mr Soliman allegedly targeted Run The Group demonstrators calling for the release of Israeli hostages held by Palestine militant group Hamas, using Molotov cocktails.

The U.S. senator made references to the 9/11 attack that claimed scores of lives to support the bill, stating that the attackers were persons whose visas had expired.

“This is about national security. The Boulder terrorist and 9/11 hijackers didn’t sneak in. They overstayed visas,” Mr Banks said in a statement to Fox News on Wednesday. “That’s just as serious and just as dangerous. My bill cracks down on visa overstays with criminal penalties to stop threats before they happen.”

The bill proposes a six-month jail term for first-time offenders, and repeat offenders could be imprisoned for up to two years.

Civil penalties would start at $500 to $1,000 and would double with each subsequent offence. The current penalty for visa overstay in the United States begins at just $50.

We have recently deactivated our website's comment provider in favour of other channels of distribution and commentary. We encourage you to join the conversation on our stories via our Facebook, Twitter and other social media pages.

More from Peoples Gazette

farmers

Agriculture

FG tasks ECOWAS on leveraging financing strategies for agroecology

The federal government has urged stakeholders in the agriculture and finance sectors in the West Africa region to leverage financing strategies to enhance agroecology practices

Katsina State

Politics

Katsina youths pledge to deliver over 2 million votes to Atiku

“Katsina State is Atiku’s political base because it is his second home.”

FRSC personnel on highway

Abuja

FRSC launches operation ‘Sauka Lafiya’ to curb road crashes in FCT, Niger

FRSC deployed 3,339 personnel, 69 patrol vehicles, 18 ambulances, four tow trucks and 24 motorcycles. 

Attendees at the Induction

Lagos

Lagos council inducts 156 financial inclusion experts

The chairman urged the inductees to use the digital devices provided to them with integrity.

Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC)

Heading 1

FCCPC resumes implementation of digital lending regulations

WASPAN had challenged the Commission’s authority to issue and implement the DEON Regulations.

Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamzat

Heading 5

Lagos seeks stronger ties with Turkey to boost investment opportunities

Mr Hamzat described the longstanding relationship between Lagos and Turkish firms as productive. 

National Assembly Complex

NationWide

FG, NASS reiterate commitment to support roles of electricity regulators

Mr Babalola said the Electricity Act decentralises aspects of governance.

Fidelis Chiwara at the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) for the Africa Tech 50 (AT50) Market Open panel discussion

Economy

Flutterwave’s Fidelis Chiwara advocates stronger ecosystem collaboration at AT50 Market Open

Mr Chiwara stressed that Africa’s long-term opportunity lies in creating stronger connections between markets.