West Houston News

WASHINGTON, D.C.—  On September 13, Congressman Troy E. Nehls (R-TX-22) reintroduced the Justice for Angel Families Act, which would amend the Crime Victims Fund (CVF) to expand funds to angel families, who are immediate relatives to victims of homicide by an illegal alien, including drunk driving accidents. The introduction of this legislation comes after an illegal alien was involved in a hit-and-run crash in the 22nd Congressional District of Texas, resulting in the death of one of Congressman Nehls’ constituents in Stafford, Texas.

Congress passed the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) in 1984, establishing the CVF. The fund, administered by the Office for Victims of Crime, provides financial assistance, including medical bills, counseling services, and lost wages to victims of crime. This legislation would also reinstate and codify the Victims of Immigration Crime Engagement (VOICE) Office at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), established by an Executive Order signed by President Donald J. Trump in 2017.

Since President Joe Biden has been in office, over 7 million illegal border crossings have occurred. As a result, crime has continued to surge across the country. Currently, there is no official record that specifically tracks crimes committed by illegal aliens in the U.S., and little is done for the families of these victims. This legislation, the Justice for Angel Families Act, would require the VOICE Office to publish annual reports to Congress detailing the effects of crimes committed by criminal illegal aliens.

“Under the so-called ‘leadership’ of Joe Biden, terrorists, rapists, murderers, and other bad hombres are infiltrating our country and committing violent crimes, sometimes taking the life of an American citizen,” said Congressman Nehls. “Just this week, an illegal alien in my district was involved in a hit-and-run crash, resulting in the death of one of my constituents. Unfortunately, the relatives of my constituent are being left with the financial and emotional burden of the criminal acts of the illegal alien, with no support from the Biden Administration. Americans should not have to pay the consequences of an illegal alien’s criminal actions. I’m proud to reintroduce this legislation to support these families who fall victim to illegal alien crime so they can focus on what is important—grieving and rebuilding after losing their loved ones.

“Because of Joe Biden’s deadly open border policies, countless families have been ruined by the savage deaths of their loved ones caused by the millions of illegal aliens being welcomed into our country,” said Congressman Gosar. “Expanding the Crime Victims Fund to include angel families will help support those whose lives have been forever destroyed by lawbreakers crossing our border.”

This legislation is supported by the National Immigration Center for Enforcement (NICE), Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR), Advocates for Victims of Illegal Alien Crime (AVIAC), and Texans for Strong Borders.

“To help angel families – American citizens who have been permanently separated from their loved ones due to illegal alien crime – President Trump created the Victims of Immigrant Crime Engagement (VOICE) office,” said RJ Hauman, President of the National Immigration Center for Enforcement (NICE). “When it was fully operational, VOICE assisted thousands of angel families, connected them to critical services such as grief counseling, followed up their cases, and helped ensure that the criminal aliens who harmed their families so egregiously were arrested, detained, and removed. That all changed when President Biden took office. Our border was opened, and angel families were not only tossed to the side through the dismantling of VOICE, but more were tragically created due to the gutting of interior enforcement. With Democrats in control of the House, their pain was met with silence, and their plight with indifference. Congressman Nehls and a group of his colleagues are going the opposite route once again. These lawmakers correctly recognize that their first duty, and their highest loyalty, is to American citizens. They want a nation that is safe and secure and are trying to properly assist angel families, while making sure their loved ones did not die in vain. Everyone should join NICE in the backing the Justice for Angel Families Act – let’s get this to the House floor as soon as possible.”

“The Biden Administration’s open-border policies have created a free flow of illegal aliens, including criminal aliens, into the United States,” said Dan Stein, President of the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR). Under these policies, countless American families are experiencing the unimaginable grief of losing loved ones to crimes committed by illegal alien criminals. When the Victims of Immigrant Crime Engagement (VOICE) office was dismantled by the Biden Administration, angel families lost access to the critical assistance it provided in connecting them with counseling services and case assistance. The Justice for Angel Families Act takes important steps towards offering these families the relief they need and deserve by reinstating the VOICE office and expanding the funds available to angel families.”

"Nothing can redress the loss of a loved one at the hands of an illegal alien who should not even be in the country. But the "Justice for Angel Families Act" at least reduces the financial burden that no family should face while grieving the loss of a child or other family member," said Don Rosenberg, President of Advocates for Victims of Illegal Alien Crime (AVIAC). "The Biden Administration and more directly DHS Secretary Mayorkas's decision to convert the original VOICE Office established in 2017 to a service to aid illegal aliens was heartless and callous. The re-establishment of the VOICE office will provide an invaluable service to the countless victims of illegal alien crime."

“Too often in Washington, immigration debates focus on the experiences of illegal aliens and lose sight of the American men, women, and children who are the victims of the border crisis and lax interior enforcement. I am pleased to see Congressman Nehls, who represents my in-laws, taking action to make sure these Angel families are taken care of,” said Chris Russo, President of Texans for Strong Borders. "We hope to see a day very soon where things like this will not be needed, but until then, it is the responsibility of the federal government to help families who have been victimized by criminal aliens. Every member of the Texas delegation must get behind this proposal."

Original cosponsors of this legislation include Representatives Don Bacon (R-NE-02), Kat Cammack (R-FL-03), and Paul Gosar (R-AZ-09).

Original source can be found here.