On Wednesday, Congressman Abe Hamadeh and his colleagues, Representatives Ashley Hinson and Brad Knott introduced the Protect and Respect ICE Act, which will double criminal penalties for assaulting, resisting, or impeding an ICE officer or employee.
“I want to thank Representative Hinson and Representative Knott for introducing the Protect and Respect ICE Act to protect our selfless ICE Agents as they protect our nation from illegal invaders. I am proud to be an original cosponsor of this bill and support of President Trump’s law and order agenda,” said Hamadeh.
Senator Eric Schmitt (R-MO) led the Senate version of this legislation.
As of July 9, the White House reported a 700% increase in assaults against ICE agents. This past July, ICE agents were attacked brutally in Portland, Oregon by three protestors fueled by leftist rhetoric and in possession of an incendiary device.
In Texas, 11 people attacked an ICE facility and fired shots at federal agents. Violent perpetrators are becoming more brazen, particularly in liberal cities where decorum and public safety go unenforced. This bill’s expanded penalties are essential for deterrence and are the duly appropriate consequence for assaults on ICE agents.
“America’s courageous ICE agents put their lives on the line every day to uphold the rule of law and protect our citizens from violent, criminal illegal aliens. Instead of standing with law enforcement, the radical Left sides with dangerous illegal aliens and even wants to strip ICE agents of the gear that keeps them safe. That’s unacceptable. Anyone who assaults an ICE agent must face the harshest possible punishment. That’s why I am fighting to double the federal penalty for attacks on ICE agents. We will never back down in defending our law enforcement, we will never tolerate unhinged assaults on ICE, and we will not stop until every single illegal alien is deported, and our communities are safe,” said Hinson.
“Pro-illegal immigration advocates have called for doxxing ICE agents and fueled dangerous rhetoric to inspire violence against them. Law enforcement officers already have the most dangerous and difficult job as they work tirelessly to protect our communities. We must do everything we can to stand with them in their mission and severely punish anyone who attacks an ICE agent. I am proud to join Congresswoman Hinson in introducing the Protect and Respect ICE Act to send clear signal about the unacceptability of harming the brave men and women serving our nation,” said Knott.
“Protecting America starts with protecting those sworn to defend it. While the brave men and women of ICE risk their lives to arrest and deport dangerous criminal illegal aliens, assaults on our agents have skyrocketed because of the radical Left’s rhetoric. That’s why I’m joining my colleagues in an effort to double the penalty for assaulting an ICE agent. If someone dares to attack our law enforcement officers, there needs to be real, serious consequences,” concluded Harshbarger.