Suffolk Reporter

WASHINGTON, D.C. – 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), wouldmake police officers safer and make it easier to remove criminal non-citizens from the United States. Original cosponsors of the legislation are Representatives Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY-11), Dan Bishop (R-NC-08), Christopher Smith (R-NJ-04), Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA-01), Daniel Meuser (R-PA-09), and Kat Commack (R-FL-03).

"As the border crisis rages on unchecked and assaults against law enforcement officers continue to rise, this legislation sends a crystal clear message that any non-citizen who commits acts of violence against police should be subject to deportation." said Rep. Garbarino. "The POLICE Act codifies 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. I applaud my colleagues in the House for approving this common sense measure and I urge the Senate to take up the POLICE Act without delay to show our men and women in law enforcement that we have their backs as they continue to battle the criminal element currently taking advantage of our unsecured southern border."

Rep. Garbarino, a Member of the Homeland Security Committee, first introduced the POLICE Act last Congress in the wake of reports that 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. Prior to its reintroduction in April, a female Border Patrol agent was violently attacked by an illegal immigrant while attempting to make an arrest. These are just some of the stories connecting migrants to violence against law enforcement.

The POLICE Act would ensure that any non-citizen who assaults a law enforcement officer is subject to deportation. Specifically, H.R. 2494 amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to 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. Under this act, “assault” has the meaning as defined in the jurisdiction where the act occurred. The term “law enforcement officer” is a person who is authorized by the law to apprehend, arrest, or prosecute an individual for any criminal violation, or is a firefighter or other first responder. 

The POLICE Act is endorsed by the National Association of Police Organizations (NAPO) and the Major Cities Chiefs Association (MCCA).

"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," said Rep. Malliotakis. "By passing this legislation, the House is demonstrating that we will do what the Biden Administration won’t: hold violent illegal immigrants who assault a law enforcement officials accountable and have them deported immediately.”

Rep. Meuser said, “In recent years, we’ve sadly seen a rise in anti-police rhetoric and violence. We cannot sit idly by and allow assaults on our brave men and women of law enforcement to go unpunished. 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. I support Congressman Garbarino’s efforts to get the POLICE Act to the Floor, and I was pleased to vote in favor of it.”  

"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."

“The chaos at our southern border is a grave national security and humanitarian crisis that 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,” said Rep. Chris Smith. “The critical legislation we passed today will help ensure our courageous law enforcement officers—who serve as our first line of defense against crime—have the legal backing they need to do their job and keep our communities safe.”

Additional cosponsors of the legislation include Representatives Elise Stefanik (R-NY-21), Ralph Norman (R-SC-05), Claudia Tenney (R-NY-24), Guy Reschenthaler (R-PA-14), Anthony D'Esposito (R-NY-04), Debbie Lesko (R-AZ-08), Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA-14), Beth Van Duyne (R-TX-24), Nick LaLota (R-NY-01), and Chuck Edwards (R-NC-11).

Original source can be found here.