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House Passes POLICE Act to Make Assault on Law Enforcement Officers a Deportable Offense

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

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, by a bipartisan vote of 255-175. This legislation, introduced by Congressman Andrew R. Garbarino (R-NY-02), would make police officers safer and make it easier to remove criminal non-citizens from the United States.

The POLICE Act would codify what under current law remains legally ambiguous by providing clear guidelines for what qualifies a migrant for removal under these circumstances. It is about improving officer safety and making it easier to remove migrants who have demonstrated flagrant criminal violence while on U.S. soil.

Key Takeaways:

  • The POLICE Act would make an assault on a law enforcement officer by an alien a deportable offense.
  • To qualify as a deportable offense, the offense must be committed while the law enforcement officer is performing official duties, because of the performance of his/her official duties, or because of his/her status as a law enforcement officer.
  • The term "assault" has the meaning as defined in the jurisdiction where the act occurred.
  • The POLICE Act is endorsed by the National Association of Police Organizations (NAPO) and the Major Cities Chiefs Association (MCCA).
  • The legislation has 12 original cosponsors.
  • Rep. Garbarino said, "The Biden Administration is putting our law enforcement officers and every American citizen at risk by failing to secure our border and allowing the drug cartels to create networks in New York City and communities across America."
  • Rep. Meuser said, "If you are in this country illegally and you assault a police officer, you deserve to be deported. Period. Violence against law enforcement is an assault on American values and our very way of life."
  • The POLICE Act amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to make an assault on a law enforcement officer by an alien a deportable offense.

Statistics:

  • The POLICE Act would make 255 non-citizens who commit violent acts against law enforcement eligible for deportation.
  • In recent years, there has been a rise in anti-police rhetoric and violence.
  • The legislation would provide clear guidelines for what qualifies a migrant for removal under these circumstances.
  • The POLICE Act amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to make an assault on a law enforcement officer by an alien a deportable offense.
  • The legislation has 12 original cosponsors.
  • The POLICE Act is endorsed by the National Association of Police Organizations (NAPO) and the Major Cities Chiefs Association (MCCA).

Sources:

  • H.R. 2494, the Protect Our Law enforcement with Immigration Control and Enforcement (POLICE) Act of 2023
  • Congressman Andrew R. Garbarino (R-NY-02)
  • Representative Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY-11)
  • Representative Dan Bishop (R-NC-08)
  • Representative Christopher Smith (R-NJ-04)
  • Representative Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA-01)
  • Representative Daniel Meuser (R-PA-09)
  • Representative Kat Commack (R-FL-03)
  • National Association of Police Organizations (NAPO)
  • Major Cities Chiefs Association (MCCA)

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