Title page
Contents
Introduction 7
Key Findings 8
Background 10
Amendment 802 11
Measuring the Impact of the Amendment 15
Conclusion 28
Appendix A: Snapshot of §2L1.2 Sentencings 29
Appendix B: Application of Specific Offense Characteristics for §2L1.2 Offenders 31
Endnotes 33
Table 1. Appeals Relating to Application of the Categorical Approach (Fiscal Years 2016-2021) 25
Figure 1. Number of Offenders Sentenced Annually in Major Crime Types 10
Figure 2. Pre-Amendment Guideline (2015 Guidelines Manual) 11
Figure 3. Post-Amendment Guideline (2016 Guidelines Manual) 13
Figure 4. §2L1.2 Sentences Under the Guidelines Manual 15
Figure 5. Sentence Relative to the Guideline Range by Specific Offense Characteristic Increase Pre-Amendment (Fiscal Years 2012-2016) 16
Figure 6. Sentence Relative to the Guideline Range by Total Specific Offense Characteristic Increase Post-Amendment (Fiscal Years 2017-2021) 17
Figure 7. Number of §2L1.2 Offenders by Total Specific Offense Characteristic Increase 17
Figure 8. Criminal History Category for §2L1.2 Offenders 18
Figure 9. Proportion of §2L1.2 Offenders in Criminal History Category I 18
Figure 10. Average Total Specific Offense Characteristic Increases by Criminal History Category 19
Figure 11. Sentence Relative to the Guideline Range 20
Figure 12. Sentence Relative to the Guideline Range for §2L1.2 Offenders 21
Figure 13. Average Guideline Minimum and Average Sentence for §2L1.2 Offenders 22
Figure 14. Application of Specific Offense Characteristics Potentially Involving the Categorical Approach 23
Figure A-1. Demographic Characteristics of Offenders Sentenced under §2L1.2 and All Other Guidelines (Fiscal Year 2021) 29
Figure A-2. Top Judicial Districts for §2L1.2 Sentencings (Fiscal Year 2021) 29
Figure A-3. Statutory Maximums for §2L1.2 Offenders (Fiscal Year 2021) 30
Figure A-4. Average Sentence Imposed by Statutory Maximum for §2L1.2 Offenders (Fiscal Year 2021) 30
Figure B-1. SOC Increases Under §2L1.2 (Fiscal Years 2012-2016) 31
Figure B-2. Increases Under §2L1.2(b)(1): Prior Immigration Convictions (Fiscal Years 2017-2021) 31
Figure B-3. Increases Under §2L1.2(b)(2): Convictions/Criminal Conduct Before First Deportation or Removal (Fiscal Years 2017-2021) 32
Figure B-4. Increases Under §2L1.2(b)(3): Convictions/Criminal Conduct After First Deportation or Removal (Fiscal Years 2017-2021) 32