After nearly ten years of prosecuting illegal alien criminals, I’ve noticed a troubling pattern—a widespread disregard for American immigration law among these individuals.
Many enter the country without hesitation, often returning multiple times after being deported. I’ve encountered offenders who have faced deportation more than ten times. When I talk to them, they generally admit that deportation isn’t a strong enough deterrent.
In fact, some criminals come back to the U.S. just weeks after being sent away, diving back into their unlawful activities. The real fear for illegal aliens doesn’t come from deportation, federal prosecutions, or immigration charges. It seems their sense of invincibility only falters when they face serious federal crime charges that could lead to substantial prison sentences.
Addressing this issue requires more than just a wall and deportation. To fill this legal gap, I’m introducing a bill aimed at preventing illegal aliens from committing crimes and from re-entering the U.S. unlawfully to continue their offenses.
Sadly, this law draws attention to a significant shortfall in our government’s ability to stop dangerous individuals from entering the country. Through my work with various law enforcement agencies, I’ve focused on a group of illegal aliens responsible for numerous crimes across the nation. Here are a couple of insights.
Firstly, illegal immigration worsens serious crime rates in the U.S. It contributes to human trafficking, drug trafficking, violent crime, property crime, fraud, organized retail theft, and crimes against children. Open borders coupled with harmful incentives have created a persistent crisis. Nowadays, the nature of criminal activities has escalated dramatically—from minor offenses involving known local criminals to severe cases involving sophisticated weaponry and large quantities of drugs.
Secondly, there’s a particular type of international criminal who continuously comes to the U.S. to harm its citizens. The lengths to which these individuals go, employing deception, corruption, and violence, can be shocking to many Americans.
Many criminals I have charged have been linked to severe acts—like grotesque torture and drug-related offenses. Decades of ineffective immigration enforcement have allowed these individuals and networks to thrive here without fear of detection. Many of them return repeatedly, often after deportation, largely due to lax enforcement and a blatant disregard for the law.
Just recently, I witnessed a Wisconsin judge being accused of assisting illegal alien Eduardo Flores Lewis in evading authorities. After legitimate proceedings, Flores Lewis was deported in 2013 but returned to the U.S., where he was arrested for multiple violent crimes. The two victims present in court that day wouldn’t have suffered if there had been measures to prevent his re-entry.
Clearly, the current penalties for re-entry are insufficient to deter individuals like Flores Lewis. That’s why I am putting forward the “Punishing Illegal Immigration Felony Crimes” bill, which aims to impose significant barriers on illegal criminals. The key points are straightforward:
- If an illegal alien commits a state or federal crime, that offense allows for a minimum of five years in federal prison.
- The maximum sentence for illegal re-entry into the U.S. increases to ten years for all illegal aliens, regardless of their past records.
- If an illegal alien is convicted of a felony, deported, and then re-enters the country unlawfully, they face a minimum of ten years in federal prison, potentially leading to life sentences.
The foundation of this legislation rests on the fact that anyone residing illegally in the U.S. engages in criminal behavior. Once someone is deported, returning illegally should be so daunting that it isn’t even considered.
At present, our laws fail to adequately deter illegal re-entry, and the nation is paying the price. Countless Americans have suffered harm or died due to addiction, while hospitals face financial strain from unpaid bills arising from caring for illegal aliens. Schools struggle to provide education for American citizens and legal immigrants in the face of large numbers of illegal entrants. We must address illegal immigration with seriousness. Investing in walls, swift deportations, and this new bill will significantly help in safeguarding our country from harm caused by crimes committed by illegal aliens.
