House Passes Bipartisan Legislation to Protect Law Enforcement Officers with Immigration Control and Enforcement (POLICE) Act of 2023

Strategic Insights -

The U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 2494, the Protect Our Law Enforcement with Immigration Control and Enforcement (POLICE) Act of 2023, by a bipartisan vote of 255-175. The legislation, introduced by Congressman Andrew R. Garbarino (R-NY-02), aims to make police officers safer by removing criminal non-citizens from the United States.

Key Takeaways:

  • The POLICE Act amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to make an assault on a law enforcement officer by an alien a deportable offense, providing clear guidelines for what qualifies a migrant for removal.
  • The legislation is supported by law enforcement organizations, including the National Association of Police Organizations (NAPO) and the Major Cities Chiefs Association (MCCA).
  • The act defines "assault" based on the jurisdiction where the act occurred and considers a law enforcement officer as any person authorized to apprehend, arrest, or prosecute individuals for any criminal violation.
  • The legislation aims to improve officer safety and make it easier to remove migrants who have demonstrated flagrant criminal violence while on U.S. soil.
  • The 28 co-sponsors of the legislation, including Representatives Nicole Malliotakis, Dan Bishop, and Chris Smith, emphasize the need to hold violent illegal immigrants accountable and deport them immediately.
  • The passage of the bill is seen as a crucial step in addressing the border crisis and ensuring the safety of law enforcement officers.

Statistics:

  • The House vote was 255-175 in favor of the POLICE Act.
  • The legislation aims to address the rise in assaults on law enforcement officers, which has seen a significant increase in recent years.
  • Approximately 50 unaccompanied minors were placed at MercyFirst in Long Island, NY, leading to the injury of two law enforcement officers, including a concussion and a broken hand.
  • The POLICE Act is supported by law enforcement organizations and aims to improve officer safety and make it easier to remove migrants who have demonstrated flagrant criminal violence.

Sources:

  • New York Rep. Andrew Garbarino: "Tonight, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 2494, the Protect Our Law enforcement with Immigration Control and Enforcement (POLICE) Act of 2023..."
  • Rep. Nicole Malliotakis: "The Biden Administration is putting our law enforcement officers and every American citizen at risk by failing to secure our border..."
  • Rep. Daniel Meuser: "If you are in this country illegally and you assault a police officer, you deserve to be deported. Period."
  • Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks: "Making violence against law enforcement officers a deportable offense is a commonsense proposal that I am proud to support."