West Houston News

WASHINGTON, D.C.– On June 7, Congressman Troy E. Nehls (R-TX-22) reintroduced two border security bills, the Prioritizing the Removal of Migrants Act and the Asylum Claims Improvement Act of 2023. These bills come at a critical time as our nation faces the worst border crisis in American history.

Last year, the Biden Administration released guidance requiring federal immigration prosecutors to begin exercising prosecutorial discretion in dismissing older cases of immigrants who they do not believe threaten public safety, national security, or border security. This means a higher number of criminal aliens who are in the country illegally will no longer be prioritized for deportation. The Prioritizing the Removal of Migrants Act would codify a 2017 Executive Order signed by President Trump, in order to limit this prosecutorial discretion and ensure the faithful execution of the immigration laws of the United States against all removable aliens.

“President Biden has created the worst border crisis in our nation’s history,” said Congressman Nehls. “It’s critical we do everything we can to keep our border and communities safe, starting by removing the bad hombres. The individuals coming across our border are no longer your average Joe’s. My bill would codify one of President Trump’s most effective border policies to remove these dangerous criminal aliens and put the safety of the American people first.”

This legislation is supported by the Texas Public Policy Foundation.

“The mounting abuse of the privilege of prosecutorial discretion in the enforcement of federal immigration law needs to end, and Congressman Nehls’ legislation would do just that,” said Greg Sindelar, CEO of the Texas Public Policy Foundation. “This measure is a timely and necessary corrective to the collapse of interior enforcement that has compounded the current border crisis. This is a bill that should be welcomed and supported across party lines.”

Additionally, in 2022, Attorney General Merrick Garland announced immigration judges can now consider the mental health status of an illegal immigrant convicted of an aggravated felony when considering their asylum claim or whether to withhold their deportation. This overruled a 2014 decision by a DOJ appeals board that said that mental health should not be considered when considering the seriousness of a crime. Rep. Nehls’ Asylum Claims Improvement Actof 2023 would prevent judges from taking the mental health of an alien into account when considering these criminal individuals’ asylum claims or whether to withhold their removal by amending Section 208(b)(2) of the Immigration and Nationality Act to add a “Mental Health Consideration.”

"America is already facing an immigration and a mental health crisis,” said Congressman Nehls. “We cannot exacerbate both by giving criminal immigrants who claim mental illness a free pass into our country.This is common sense for most Americans, but not Attorney General Garland. His decision to require judges to consider the mental health factors of dangerous immigrant criminals will not be tolerated. Time after time, the Biden Administration has shown they have no interest in stopping the border crisis. In fact, their policies indicate that they welcome it. If the Biden Administration refuses to act, Republicans will."

“Under Joe Biden's watch, Americans have endured the devastating impact of unfettered and unattainable illegal immigration,” said Congressman Donalds. “It should not be the policy of the American government to encourage, embolden, or entrench illegal immigration, and any law to do this must end. I am proud to support my friend from Texas and his plan that enforces commonsense solutions that put the American people first and stand up to the Democrats' open borders agenda.”  

This legislation is supported by the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR) and the Advocates for Victims of Illegal Alien Crime (AVIAC).

"Instead of addressing any real pull-factors that are fueling the crisis on the border, the Biden Administration seems intent on granting asylum to every applicant who makes a credible fear claim, all while reducing the detention and deportations that are mandated by law," said Dan Stein, President of the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR). "Just one example of this strategy is Attorney General Merrick Garland telling immigration judges to second guess criminal court convictions and, instead, evaluate the mental health of aliens convicted of serious crimes when evaluating their eligibility for asylum. Congressman Nehls' bill provides a simple solution to deter abuse in the system – it prevents immigration judges from invalidating the consequences of a serious criminal conviction on the basis of the perceived mental health status of the criminal alien. We applaud his efforts to address one of the countless attempts of the Biden Administration to undermine the rule of law and subvert the asylum process."

“It would be ludicrous to allow mental health to be considered for an asylum claim or withholding of deportation,” said Don Rosenburg, President of Advocates for Victims of Illegal Alien Crime. “Our country already cannot sufficiently support all Americans with mental health concerns, let alone those who are criminal illegal aliens. Without this legislation, we will become swamped with criminal asylum seekers who will further tax our systems and more likely end up homeless on the streets with the potential to commit further crime.”

Original cosponsors of the Asylum Claims Improvement Act of 2023 include Representatives Pete Sessions (R-TX- 17), Tom Tiffany (R-WI-07), Byron Donalds (R-FL-19), and Jeff Van Drew (R-NJ-02).

Original source can be found here.