By a vote of 271 to 154, the House on Tuesday approved legislation that would toughen punishment for unauthorized immigrants who use a car to elude border security authorities. Sixty-six Democrats supported the legislation.
Sponsored by Rep. Juan Ciscomani (R-Ariz.), a border state representative, the bill would increase the severity of the penalties if the pursuit ends in death or significant harm. Additionally, any immigrant found guilty of such a crime would lose their eligibility to enter the country legally.
The measure bears the name of Border Patrol Agent Raul Gonzalez, Jr., who was killed in 2022 when his car crashed as he was chasing several illegal immigrants who were evading the law.
About The Punishment For Unauthorised Immigrants Bill
Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) stated in a tweet that he was not pursuing bombings on people but rather to “Target Tehran.”
This measure amends the federal criminal code to include driving a motor vehicle at a high speed and fleeing from an immigration or other law enforcement checkpoint.
The measure specifically prohibits flying from immigration or other law enforcement checkpoints. Still, it does away with the need that the flight be conducted in a motor vehicle at a high speed. The bill also includes fleeing from a law enforcement official implementing immigration rules in the list of offences about unlawful flight.
The move coincides with persistent animosity from certain Republicans against a developing Senate deal on border security that President Joe Biden just approved.
Generally speaking, an offence involving an unauthorised flight carries a fine, a maximum five-year jail sentence, or both. On the other hand, a high-speed motor vehicle flight that constitutes an unlawful flight offence carries a fine, an eight-year jail sentence, or both.