Garbarino Introduces The POLICE Act of 2023 To Hold Migrants Accountable For Violence Against Law Enforcement
WASHINGTON, D.C. —Congressman Andrew R. Garbarino (R-NY-02) has introduced The Protect Our Law enforcement with Immigration Control and Enforcement (POLICE) Act of 2023. This bill would amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to explicitly state that assaulting a law enforcement officer is a deportable offense.
Original cosponsors of the bill include Representatives Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY), Chris Smith (R-NJ), Kat Cammack (R-FL), Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA), Dan Bishop (R-NC), and Dan Meuser (R-PA).
"As the Biden Border Crisis rages on, I have serious concerns about the ramifications for law enforcement officers who are on the front lines dealing with migrants," said Rep. Garbarino. "Whether on Long Island or at the southern border, there should be no ambiguity that assaulting a police officer is a deportable offense for non-citizens. The POLICE Act would ensure that we can hold criminals accountable for violence against law enforcement officers who are simply doing their jobs."
Rep. Garbarino first introduced this bill last Congress in the wake of reportsthat two law enforcement officers were injured when responding to a disturbance at MercyFirst—where about 50 unaccompanied minors were placed on Long Island, NY. One officer suffered a concussion and the other had a broken hand.
Just last month, a female Border Patrol agent was violently attacked by an illegal immigrant while attempting to make an arrest. The POLICE Act would ensure that any non-citizen who assaults a law enforcement officer is subject to deportation.
"The Biden Administration is putting our law enforcement officers and every American citizen at risk by failing to secure our border and allowing millions of illegal immigrants, smugglers, convicted felons, and suspected terrorists to sneak into communities across our country in the dead of night," said Rep. Malliotakis. "I’m proud to join my colleagues in introducing legislation that holds violent illegal immigrants accountable by requiring that the Immigration and Nationality Act explicitly state that assaulting a law enforcement officer is a deportable offense."
“The chaos at our southern border opens the door to human traffickers, gang members and other dangerous criminals who enter our country with malicious intentions, threatening the safety of our citizens and our police officers who serve as our first line of defense against crime,” said Rep. Chris Smith. “We must ensure our courageous law enforcement officers—who selflessly put their lives on the line each and every day—have the protections they need to keep our neighborhoods safe.”
"I am proud to support the POLICE Act, which would make assaulting a law enforcement officer a deportable offense. I want to thank my friend Rep. Garbarino for introducing this bill to provide this much-needed update to our immigration laws," said Rep. Cammack.
"Our law enforcement officers need our support, now more than ever," said Rep. Miller-Meeks. "Whether the Administration admits it or not, there is a crisis at our southern border and Americans are less safe because of it. While apprehensions are up, we have no idea how many individuals are evading border agents and making it into the interior of the United States. Making violence against law enforcement officers a deportable offense is a commonsense proposal that I am proud to support. The POLICE Act will help hold criminals accountable and keep our officers safe. Thank you to Congressman Garbarino for his leadership on this issue, I look forward to working with my colleagues to always support our heroic law enforcement officers."
"I am proud to lend my support to the POLICE Act," said Rep. Bishop. "This legislation makes explicit that assaulting a police officer is a deportable offense. Our men and women in uniform should not have to pay the consequences of Biden’s disastrous open border policies."
“President Biden’s border crisis threatens our communities and makes the jobs of the brave men and women of law enforcement more dangerous,” Rep. Meuser said. “The POLICE Act will help ensure the safety of those who protect and serve by making an assault on law enforcement a deportable offence for those in the country illegally. As the son of a former police officer, I applaud Congressman Garbarino’s work on this important issue.”
The text of the bill can be viewed here.
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