Memphis Standard

U.S. Senators Marsha Blackburn and Joni Ernst have introduced a bipartisan bill aimed at deporting illegal immigrants convicted of sexual crimes. This move follows a report indicating that many such individuals are currently residing in the United States.

Senator Blackburn criticized the current administration, stating, "Led by Border Czar Kamala Harris, the Biden-Harris administration has left our southern border wide open to dangerous criminals and national security threats." She emphasized that the proposed legislation, known as the Be GONE Act, seeks to ensure that offenders are deported to protect American citizens.

Senator Ernst echoed these sentiments, saying, "These violent criminals never would have entered America in the first place if we had real border security, but now that they’re in our communities, they need to BE GONE." She added that her legislation aims to combat sexual violence by identifying and deporting predators.

The Better Enforcement of Grievous Offenses by unNaturalized Emigrants (BE GONE) Act proposes amendments to the Immigration and Nationality Act. These changes would categorize sexual assault and aggravated sexual violence as "aggravated felonies."

The bill is co-sponsored by several senators from both parties: Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Tim Scott (R-S.C.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), and Mike Braun (R-Ind.).