Press Releases

 On Thursday, Rep. Mike Johnson (LA-04) helped pass H.R. 3697, the Criminal Alien Gang Member Removal Act, to combat gang violence and enhance public safety by removing transnational, criminal gang members. This common sense solution appropriately equips law enforcement officers to combat dangerous groups and ensure gangs like MS-13 are not allowed to thrive in communities and neighborhoods across the country. 

Earlier this week, Johnson carried the legislation before the House Rules Committee in order to move the bill to the House floor. His opening statement can be viewed here.

The bill passed the House by a vote of 233 to 175.

Johnson released the following statement:

“We know MS-13 has 10,000 members acting within the United States. Without our intervention, their criminal enterprise will continue to spread like a cancer across our communities. Their violence continues to cause chaos across America, yet current immigration law includes a number of dangerous loopholes that allow these violent, criminal aliens to escape justice and remain in the U.S. Rather than prohibiting our law enforcement officers from identifying and removing gang members until after a crime has occurred, this legislation ensures alien gang members are subject to removal proceedings on the grounds of that membership.”

Background

Under current law, known gang members must be both arrested and convicted of specific offenses before the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Immigration and Customs Enforcement may begin removal proceedings. However, many victims and witnesses are afraid of retaliation against them and their families, and therefore do not cooperate with police, allowing many gang members to never be convicted of their crimes despite being known to law enforcement.

The Criminal Alien Gang Member Removal Act helps ensure transnational gang members are kept off our streets by barring them from entering the United States and detaining and removing them if they are criminal gang members or participate in gang activity. This bill includes necessary due process standards and protections for those who legitimately seek asylum.