A bill introduced in Congress on Wednesday would make illegal immigrant occupation a deportable crime and permanently ban criminals from entering the United States.
The legislation, titled the Protecting Homes from Illegal Entry, Occupation, and Dwelling Act, or the SHIELD Act, was introduced by Rep. Dan Meuser (R-Pennsylvania) in response to a spate of incidents involving illegal immigrants. They brazenly occupied homes, frustrating homeowners and calling attention to stricter property rights laws.
Influence of TikTok
Most notably, last month, several Venezuelan immigrants in New York City were found in possession of drugs and guns in a Bronx home, and a Venezuelan TikTok user called out fellow immigrants across the United States. He encouraged people to illegally occupy their homes.
Blue state squatters warn of ‘aggressive’ laws and mandate bills: ‘People are being killed’
A group of eight illegal immigrants were found squatting in a Bronx apartment and are facing firearms and other charges. All had previously been captured and released at the southern border, authorities said. (WNYW)
“The dramatic increase in the number of undocumented immigrants illegally residing in Americans’ homes reflects how dire conditions at the southern border are impacting communities across the country,” Muser said in a statement announcing the bill. This is another example of this.” “This law will serve as a deterrent to illegal aliens who seek to invade American citizens’ homes and property.”
He added that immigrants would “think twice” before attempting to trespass or illegally take over someone else’s property.
be subject to deportation
Under the bill’s provisions, any illegal immigrant convicted of a crime or admitted to illegally occupying a home would be subject to deportation and permanently barred from entering the United States.
A squatter’s paradise? Lawyer says America’s largest city is ‘playing with fire’ with new rules
Venezuelan TikToker Leonel Moreno appealed to illegal immigrants to occupy abandoned homes and enforce squatter rights. (@Leitooficial_26/Instagram)
In recent weeks, more cases of squatters have attracted media attention, and loopholes in the law have frustrated property owners.
Last month in New York City, police arrested eight immigrants on gun and drug charges after responding to a call about gun possession at a home in the Bronx. One of the migrants, Hector DeSousa Villata, 24, had been charged with attempted murder for allegedly shooting his fellow migrant in the leg during an argument over a woman in August.
Squatters are “not tenants”
All eight immigrants originally entered the country illegally through the southern border.
Sen. John Lieu of New York introduced a bill this week that would define the term “squatter” and make it clear that squatters do not have any rights or protections after 30 days.
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“Due to the gross and blatant act of squatting, this case attracted so much attention and caused so much outrage. That is why the law needs to be clear that squatters are tenants, not tenants. It’s a right that tenants in New York state have,” Liu told FOX News Digital.
