Following a report revealing that tens of thousands of illegal immigrants with criminal convictions, including sexual assault, are in the U.S., Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) and Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) joined with 18 colleagues to introduce the bipartisan ‘BE GONE’ Act.
This legislation would allow authorities to deport convicted sexual offenders and prevent others with similar records from entering the country.
“Led by Border Czar Kamala Harris, the Biden-Harris administration has left our southern border wide open to dangerous criminals and national security threats,” said Senator Blackburn. “Our Be GONE Act would ensure that illegal immigrants who commit sexual assault and aggravated sexual violence are deported to keep American citizens safe.”
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“These violent criminals never would have entered America in the first place if we had real border security, but now that they’re in our communities, they need to BE GONE,” said Senator Ernst. “Since Border Czar Kamala Harris won’t protect this country, then I will. My legislation will combat sexual violence by ensuring predators are identified, stopped, and deported.”
The Better Enforcement of Grievous Offenses by unNaturalized Emigrants (BE GONE) Act would amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to classify sexual assault and aggravated sexual violence as “aggravated felonies,” allowing for expedited deportation of offenders.
Co-Sponsors and Congressional Support
The BE GONE Act is co-sponsored by a bipartisan group including Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), and Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.).
This coalition aims to strengthen national security and public safety by addressing concerns raised by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) data.
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ICE Data Highlights Growing Concern
Recent data from ICE, shared with Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-Texas), underscores the severity of the issue. Among the non-detained illegal immigrants on ICE’s national docket, over 660,000 have criminal records, including 13,099 convicted of homicide and 15,811 of sexual assault.
ICE has expressed frustration with so-called “sanctuary cities,” which limit cooperation with federal deportation efforts. “Sanctuary policies can shield dangerous criminals, often victimizing the same communities they claim to protect,” ICE noted.
Rising Numbers and Policy Changes under the Biden-Harris Administration
Under the Biden administration, the non-detained docket has expanded significantly, from 3.7 million in FY 2021 to over 7 million in FY 2023. While deportations increased to 142,580 in FY 2023, they remain below levels seen during the Trump administration, when deportations reached 267,258 in FY 2019.
Critics, including House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Mark Green, argue that changes to Trump-era policies have worsened the crisis, with large numbers of criminal immigrants being released into communities nationwide.
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“It is shocking that the Biden-Harris administration is releasing thousands of criminal illegal aliens into our communities,” Rep. Green said. “Under President Biden and ‘border czar’ Vice President Harris, DHS has been directed to mass-release individuals with serious criminal convictions. This defies common sense and is dangerous for every city and state across America.”
With the BE GONE Act, supporters hope to address these safety concerns by prioritizing the deportation of those with serious criminal convictions and bolstering America’s border security.
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